Historical Theology · Patristic Database

The Christian
Belief Map

What the first five centuries believed — and who still believes it today.

217
Belief Records
46
Figures
500
Years
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Traditions
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Eva
Identical Convergent Partial Divergent Opposed Unknown
Nicene Era · AD 300–400
4 records
CHRISTOLOGY AD 325
Council of Nicaea
Christ is homoousios — of the same substance as the Father — not a lesser or created divine being
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CHRISTOLOGY AD 325
Council of Nicaea
The Council of Nicaea is clear that the Son is not a creature — Arius is wrong that there was a time when the Son was not
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CHRISTOLOGY c. AD 356
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius defends homoousios against the Arian majority — the entire council cannot override the truth
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CHRISTOLOGY c. AD 381
Gregory of Nazianzus
Gregory of Nazianzus argues that Christ assumed a complete human soul and mind — or the mind is not redeemed
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Post-Nicene · AD 400–500
4 records
CHRISTOLOGY c. AD 430
Cyril of Alexandria
Cyril of Alexandria insists the one subject who suffers in the Passion is the eternal Word made flesh
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CHRISTOLOGY AD 431
Council of Ephesus
The Virgin Mary is rightly called Theotokos — God-bearer — because the one born of her is truly God
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CHRISTOLOGY AD 449
Pope Leo I
Leo I teaches the two-natures doctrine in the Tome — Chalcedon endorses it as the voice of Peter
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CHRISTOLOGY AD 451
Council of Chalcedon
Christ is one person with two natures — fully divine and fully human — without confusion or separation
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