CJ
Council of Jerusalem
c. AD 49
The Council of Jerusalem decided doctrinal questions by the assembly of apostles and elders together
affirmed
DD
Didache
c. AD 90
Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, not on the days the hypocrites fast
affirmed
DD
Didache
c. AD 90
The Lord's Prayer is to be prayed three times each day
affirmed
CR
Clement of Rome
c. AD 96
Bishops hold authority by apostolic succession from the apostles
affirmed
IA
Ignatius of Antioch
c. AD 107
Each local church gathered around its bishop embodies the fullness of the Catholic Church
affirmed
IA
Ignatius of Antioch
c. AD 107
The monarchical episcopate — one bishop per city — is the apostolic structure
affirmed
IA
Ignatius of Antioch
c. AD 107
Deacons serve the bishop and presbyters in the hierarchical order of the Church
affirmed
JM
Justin Martyr
c. AD 155
Christians assemble on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection and the first day of creation
affirmed
JM
Justin Martyr
c. AD 155
Justin Martyr teaches that the Logos became incarnate but was not diminished — the Father lacks nothing
affirmed
JM
Justin Martyr
c. AD 155
The Sunday assembly includes both the reading of Scripture and the Eucharist as the two essential parts
affirmed
PS
Polycarp of Smyrna
c. AD 156
Polycarp of Smyrna, aged 86, refuses to deny Christ and is burned at the stake — a model of martyrdom
affirmed
IL
Irenaeus of Lyon
c. AD 180
The Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic
affirmed
IL
Irenaeus of Lyon
c. AD 180
Apostolic succession requires both physical continuity of ordination and continuity of apostolic doctrine
affirmed
IL
Irenaeus of Lyon
c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon uses the recapitulation theory — Christ recapitulates all of human history in himself
affirmed
IL
Irenaeus of Lyon
c. AD 180
Heresy — departing from the episcopal Church — invalidates a community's claim to apostolic faith
affirmed
IL
Irenaeus of Lyon
c. AD 190
The Quartodeciman controversy shows that diversity in liturgical practice does not break unity of faith
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 197
The martyrs' blood is seed — persecution multiplies rather than destroys the Church
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 200
Fasting is among the primal ordinances imposed on man from the beginning
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 211
The sign of the cross is used by Christians in all the ordinary actions of daily life
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 213
God is one substance in three persons — the Trinity
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 213
Tertullian coins the term trinitas to describe God as one substance in three persons
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 213
The Logos existed eternally before the Incarnation as the Son of God
affirmed
TT
Tertullian
c. AD 213
Monarchianism — the view that Christ is merely a mode of the Father — is a deviation from apostolic teaching
affirmed
OA
Origen of Alexandria
c. AD 230
Outside the Church no one is saved, just as outside Noah's ark no one survived the flood
affirmed
OA
Origen of Alexandria
c. AD 233
Prayer should be directed towards the east as an image of the rising sun and the resurrection
affirmed
OA
Origen of Alexandria
c. AD 233
The intercession of the saints in heaven is real and profitable to those on earth
affirmed
OA
Origen of Alexandria
c. AD 240
Origen teaches that the Church is the bride of Christ and the individual soul is wedded to the Logos
affirmed
CC
Cyprian of Carthage
c. AD 250
The veneration of martyrs and saints is a legitimate Christian practice
affirmed
CC
Cyprian of Carthage
c. AD 251
The unity of the Church is maintained through the bishop
affirmed
CC
Cyprian of Carthage
c. AD 255
Excommunication is a valid and serious ecclesial penalty
affirmed
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. AD 318
God became man so that man might become divine — the exchange at the heart of the Incarnation
affirmed
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. AD 318
The Logos became incarnate — God truly took human flesh
affirmed
AA
Arius
c. AD 318
Arianism — the Son is a creature, not co-eternal with the Father — is heresy
denied
⚔ HOSTILE
CN
Council of Nicaea
AD 325
The Son is consubstantial with the Father — truly and fully God
affirmed
CN
Council of Nicaea
AD 325
The Council of Nicaea ruled that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday, not on the Jewish calendar date
affirmed
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. AD 356
Councils called by emperors do not thereby receive their authority from the emperor
affirmed
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. AD 356
The emperor has no authority over the Church in matters of doctrine
affirmed
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
c. AD 357
Anthony sold his possessions, entrusted himself to ascetic discipline, and practised solitary life devoted to Scripture
affirmed
BC
Basil of Caesarea
c. AD 360
Basil of Caesarea teaches that monks who live in community are more perfect than hermits
affirmed
BC
Basil of Caesarea
c. AD 370
Basil founded the first organised complex of hospitals and charitable institutions outside Caesarea
affirmed
BC
Basil of Caesarea
c. AD 375
Basil of Caesarea defines the Holy Spirit as co-equal with Father and Son in worship and glory
affirmed
GN
Gregory of Nazianzus
c. AD 380
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, not after the manner of the Son, but by procession
implied
GN
Gregory of Nazianzus
c. AD 380
Gregory of Nazianzus cautions against adding new formulas to the inherited credal language
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
c. AD 380
Wealth kept while others starve is effectively stolen from the poor
affirmed
CI
Council of Constantinople I
AD 381
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and is equally God
affirmed
GN
Gregory of Nazianzus
c. AD 382
Gregory of Nazianzus insists Christ took a complete human nature — including a human mind — to save the whole person
affirmed
GN
Gregory of Nyssa
c. AD 385
Salvation is transformation into the divine nature, not merely forgiveness of sins
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
c. AD 385
Ambrose of Milan is the first to argue that Christ's death was a ransom paid to the devil
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
AD 386
Relics of martyrs deserve reverence and their tombs are places of holy presence
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
c. AD 386
Ambrose introduces antiphonal singing of psalms in Milan — which spread throughout the Western Church
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
c. AD 388
Ambrose teaches that the bishop must defend the poor against the powerful even at personal cost
affirmed
JC
John Chrysostom
c. AD 390
John Chrysostom warns that wealth accumulated without charity is a form of violence against the poor
affirmed
JC
John Chrysostom
c. AD 390
John Chrysostom condemns the wealthy who feast while the poor starve outside the church doors
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
c. AD 390
The emperor is within the Church, not above it
affirmed
AM
Ambrose of Milan
AD 390
Ambrose imposes public penance on Emperor Theodosius for the Thessalonian massacre before readmitting him to Communion
affirmed
JC
John Chrysostom
c. AD 395
God does not predetermine the wicked to damnation — they condemn themselves by their own choices
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 400
Christ and the Church are as one person — head and body together
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 405
Schism from the Catholic Church is a grave sin even if the schismatic group holds correct doctrine
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 415
Grace is necessary for every act of salvation and cannot be merited
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 415
The grace that assists the Christian in daily life is distinct from and greater than mere moral instruction
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 415
Pelagianism is not only wrong about grace but destroys the necessity of the Incarnation and cross
affirmed
CC
Council of Carthage
AD 418
Pelagius was wrong — humans cannot achieve salvation by their own free will without grace
affirmed
AH
Augustine of Hippo
c. AD 426
Augustine teaches that God predestines some to salvation by grace alone, not by foreknown merits
affirmed
CC
Council of Chalcedon
AD 451
Christ has two complete natures, divine and human, united in one person without confusion
affirmed
AC
Athanasian Creed
c. AD 500
The Athanasian Creed anathematises those who confuse the persons or divide the substance of the Trinity
affirmed
CO
Council of Orange
AD 529
The Council of Orange (529) condemned Semi-Pelagianism — grace must precede every good act of the will
affirmed
CI
Council of Toledo III
AD 589
The Council of Toledo (589) adds the Filioque to the Nicene Creed in the West
affirmed
⚔ HOSTILE
PI
Pope Martin I
AD 649
The Lateran Synod under Martin I (649) condemned Monothelitism and affirmed two wills in Christ
affirmed
CI
Council of Constantinople III
AD 681
The Council of Chalcedon affirmed that Christ has two wills — one divine and one human — acting in concert
affirmed
CI
Council of Constantinople III
AD 681
The divine and human wills in Christ are distinct but always in harmony
affirmed
JD
John of Damascus
c. AD 730
John of Damascus systematises the theology of icons against the iconoclasts
affirmed
CI
Council of Nicaea II
AD 787
Icons and sacred images are legitimate aids to Christian worship
affirmed