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
Reset
Records by century
—
1st
10
2nd
5
3rd
6
4th
—
5th
How to read the tradition strip
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Identical Convergent Partial Divergent Opposed Unknown
Ante-Nicene · AD 100–200
10 records
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, not a symbol
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
Only a Eucharist administered by the bishop, or by one he has authorised, is to be regarded as valid
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The first day of the week Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship from the beginning
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
The eucharistic thanksgiving is addressed to the Father through Christ and the people respond Amen
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
Deacons carry the Eucharist to those absent from the assembly
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
The Eucharist fulfils Malachi's prophecy of a pure offering acceptable to God
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
The congregation's response of Amen to the eucharistic prayer is an act of participation and ratification
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
The Eucharist consists of bread and a cup of water and wine, over which the president gives thanks
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
The Eucharist contains the body and blood of Christ, which refutes those who deny the resurrection of the flesh
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Irenaeus teaches that the Eucharist is a firstfruit offered to God from his own creation
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Ante-Nicene · AD 200–300
5 records
EUCHARIST c. AD 200
Tertullian
Fasting before receiving the Eucharist is an ancient Christian practice
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 252
Cyprian of Carthage
The Eucharist is the daily bread for which Christians pray in the Lord's Prayer
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 252
Cyprian of Carthage
Receiving the Eucharist unworthily is a sin against the body and blood of the Lord
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 253
Cyprian of Carthage
Cyprian teaches that the cup must be mixed with water and wine at the Eucharist
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 253
Cyprian of Carthage
The Eucharist must follow Christ's own institution exactly — he used bread and wine mixed with water
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Nicene Era · AD 300–400
6 records
EUCHARIST c. AD 350
Cyril of Jerusalem
The Eucharist is the body of Christ and conveys eternal life to those who receive it worthily
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 390
John Chrysostom
Chrysostom describes the Eucharist as physically receiving Christ — the communicant fixes their teeth in his flesh
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 390
Ambrose of Milan
Ambrose describes the consecrated eucharistic elements as the true body and blood, changed from bread and wine
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 390
John Chrysostom
The Eucharist transforms those who receive it into the body of Christ — communicants become what they receive
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 390
Ambrose of Milan
The Eucharist effects what it signifies — it is not merely a sign
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 398
John Chrysostom
Chrysostom teaches that the Eucharist is the same sacrifice as Calvary, not a different one
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
View on the Apologetic Timeline (narrative mode) →
Loading…

History has always been on her side.

Explore 71 verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

Enter the Archive