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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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Records by century
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1st
8
2nd
3
3rd
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4th
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5th
How to read the tradition strip
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Identical Convergent Partial Divergent Opposed Unknown
Ante-Nicene · AD 100–200
8 records
SCRIPTURE c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
Justin demonstrates that Christ's birth from a virgin fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
Plato and the philosophers glimpsed partial truths that belong properly to Christians
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
The reading of the Scriptures aloud in the assembly was a central act of worship from the apostolic generation
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Polycarp received the tradition directly from the Apostle John and transmitted it faithfully to the West
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Scripture and apostolic tradition together are the rule of faith
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Heretics cannot rightly use Scripture because they stand outside the apostolic tradition
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Gnosticism is wrong — creation is good and the God of creation is the God of redemption
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 180
Irenaeus of Lyon
Irenaeus describes the rule of faith as a summary of apostolic doctrine held universally by the Church
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
Ante-Nicene · AD 200–300
3 records
SCRIPTURE c. AD 200
Tertullian
The tradition handed down from the apostles through bishops is the test of true Christianity
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 207
Tertullian
Marcion was wrong — the God of the Old Testament is the same God as the Father of Jesus
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 230
Origen of Alexandria
Scripture has both a literal sense and a deeper spiritual sense that the mature Christian discerns
Cat
Ort
Lut
Ref
Bap
Eva
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