A Catholic apologetics & formation system.
About Fideograph Help
Create Account
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
1
2nd
9
3rd
—
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
1 record
SACRAMENTS c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
Baptism regenerates and forgives sins
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Ante-Nicene · AD 200–300
9 records
SACRAMENTS c. AD 200
Tertullian
Tertullian is the first to use the word sacramentum to describe Christian rites
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 200
Tertullian
Tertullian attests the practice of sponsoring candidates for baptism — the origin of godparents
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 244
Origen of Alexandria
Infant baptism is the continuous practice of the Church from the apostles
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 244
Origen of Alexandria
Infants are to be baptised because they need the regeneration that baptism provides
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 244
Origen of Alexandria
The anointingof the sick with oil and prayer by the elders of the Church is an apostolic practice for healing
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 251
Cyprian of Carthage
Confession of sins to a priest effects sacramental absolution
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 251
Cornelius of Rome
Novatianism was condemned — the Church has authority to forgive even those who apostatised under persecution
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 256
Cyprian of Carthage
Schismatics outside the visible Church cannot have valid orders or valid sacraments
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 256
Cyprian of Carthage
Cyprian of Carthage teaches that valid baptism cannot be conferred outside the Church
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
View on the Apologetic Timeline (narrative mode) →
Loading…

You mapped how the Fathers and traditions stand on this doctrine.

Continue with The Sacraments
View your full formation profile →

History has always been on her side.

Explore verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

Enter the Archive

You mapped how the Fathers and traditions stand on this doctrine.

Continue with The Sacraments
View your full formation profile →