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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Church Fathers
Apostolic · AD 30–96
Clement of Rome 3 Council of Jerusalem 1 Didache 4 Hermas 2 Ignatius of Antioch 7 Polycarp of Smyrna 2
Ante-Nicene · AD 96–325
Clement of Alexandria 4 Cornelius of Rome 1 Cyprian of Carthage 13 Didascalia Apostolorum 1 Irenaeus of Lyon 16 Justin Martyr 14 Origen of Alexandria 17 Tertullian 19
Nicene · AD 325–381
Ambrose of Milan 10 Arius 1 Athanasius of Alexandria 10 Basil of Caesarea 4 Council of Constantinople I 2 Council of Ephesus 3 Council of Nicaea 5 Cyril of Alexandria 2 Cyril of Jerusalem 4 Gregory of Nazianzus 5 Gregory of Nyssa 2 John Chrysostom 9 Pope Damasus I 1
Post-Nicene · AD 381–500
Athanasian Creed 1 Augustine of Hippo 21 Council of Carthage 2 Council of Chalcedon 3 Council of Constantinople II 1 Council of Constantinople III 2 Council of Nicaea II 1 Council of Orange 1 Council of Toledo III 1 Gregory of Tours 1 Gregory the Great 4 Jerome 4 John of Damascus 1 Pelagius 1 Pope Gelasius I 1 Pope Innocent I 2 Pope Leo I 4 Pope Martin I 1 Vincent of Lérins 3
IA
Ignatius of Antioch
Apostolic · 6 records · 3 doctrines
Biography →
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
100%
Orthodox
100%
Lutheran
50%
Reformed
17%
Baptist
17%
Evangelical
17%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology
Ecclesiology 2
Eschatology
Mariology 1
Petrine Ministry
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition
Soteriology
The Eucharist 3
The Priesthood
The Sacraments
The Eucharist 3 records
The Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, not a symbol
Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 7.1
affirmed
Only a Eucharist administered by the bishop, or by one he has authorised, is to be regarded as valid
Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8.1
affirmed
The first day of the week Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship from the beginning
Letter to the Ephesians, 20.2
affirmed
Ecclesiology 2 records
The monarchical episcopate — one bishop per city — is the apostolic structure
Letter to the Magnesians, 3.1
affirmed
Deacons serve the bishop and presbyters in the hierarchical order of the Church
Letter to the Trallians, 3.1
affirmed
Mariology 1 record
The Virgin Birth is a literal biological miracle, not a metaphor
Letter to the Ephesians, 19.1
affirmed
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