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
JM
Justin Martyr
Ante Nicene · 6 records · 5 doctrines
Biography →
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
83%
Orthodox
100%
Lutheran
83%
Reformed
83%
Baptist
67%
Evangelical
67%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology
Ecclesiology 1
Eschatology 1
Mariology
Petrine Ministry
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition 1
Soteriology
The Eucharist 2
The Priesthood
The Sacraments 1
The Sacraments 1 record
Baptism regenerates and forgives sins
First Apology, 61
affirmed
The Eucharist 2 records
The Eucharist fulfils Malachi's prophecy of a pure offering acceptable to God
Dialogue with Trypho, 41
affirmed
The Eucharist consists of bread and a cup of water and wine, over which the president gives thanks
First Apology, 65–66
affirmed
Ecclesiology 1 record
Christians assemble on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection and the first day of creation
First Apology, 67
affirmed
Eschatology 1 record
The soul survives death and exists consciously before the resurrection
Dialogue with Trypho, 5
affirmed
Scripture & Tradition 1 record
Justin demonstrates that Christ's birth from a virgin fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah
Dialogue with Trypho, 29
affirmed
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