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
6
Traditions
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5th
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Identical Convergent Partial Divergent Opposed Unknown
Post-Nicene · AD 400–500
16 records
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 400
Augustine of Hippo
Christ and the Church are as one person — head and body together
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 405
Augustine of Hippo
Schism from the Catholic Church is a grave sin even if the schismatic group holds correct doctrine
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Grace is necessary for every act of salvation and cannot be merited
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
The grace that assists the Christian in daily life is distinct from and greater than mere moral instruction
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Pelagianism is not only wrong about grace but destroys the necessity of the Incarnation and cross
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 418
Council of Carthage
Pelagius was wrong — humans cannot achieve salvation by their own free will without grace
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 426
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine teaches that God predestines some to salvation by grace alone, not by foreknown merits
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 451
Council of Chalcedon
Christ has two complete natures, divine and human, united in one person without confusion
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 500
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed anathematises those who confuse the persons or divide the substance of the Trinity
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 529
Council of Orange
The Council of Orange (529) condemned Semi-Pelagianism — grace must precede every good act of the will
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 589 ⚔ HOSTILE WITNESS
Council of Toledo III
The Council of Toledo (589) adds the Filioque to the Nicene Creed in the West
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 649
Pope Martin I
The Lateran Synod under Martin I (649) condemned Monothelitism and affirmed two wills in Christ
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 681
Council of Constantinople III
The Council of Chalcedon affirmed that Christ has two wills — one divine and one human — acting in concert
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 681
Council of Constantinople III
The divine and human wills in Christ are distinct but always in harmony
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ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 730
John of Damascus
John of Damascus systematises the theology of icons against the iconoclasts
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ECCLESIOLOGY AD 787
Council of Nicaea II
Icons and sacred images are legitimate aids to Christian worship
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