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
Doctrines
Christology 8 Ecclesiology 81 Eschatology 22 Mariology 14 Petrine Ministry 32 Pneumatology 6 Prayer & Devotion 5 Scripture & Tradition 33 Soteriology 7 The Eucharist 30 The Priesthood 11 The Sacraments 31

SCRIPTURE & TRADITION

28 records · 2 hostile witnesses
What the early Church fathers taught on this doctrine
Affirmed (28)
Which modern traditions agree with the early Church on this doctrine?
Dark bar = identical/convergent · Light = partial agreement
Catholic
89% 25/28
Orthodox
82% 23/28
Lutheran
46% 13/28
Reformed
43% 12/28
Baptist
39% 11/28
Evangelical
39% 11/28
By Era
1
Apostolic
11
Ante-nicene
5
Nicene
11
Post-nicene
Figures Attesting
28 Belief Records
PS Polycarp of Smyrna c. AD 110
Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of John the Apostle, warns against those who twist the oracles of the Lord
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
Plato and the philosophers glimpsed partial truths that belong properly to Christians
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
The reading of the Scriptures aloud in the assembly was a central act of worship from the apostolic generation
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
Justin demonstrates that Christ's birth from a virgin fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Irenaeus describes the rule of faith as a summary of apostolic doctrine held universally by the Church
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Scripture and apostolic tradition together are the rule of faith
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Polycarp received the tradition directly from the Apostle John and transmitted it faithfully to the West
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Heretics cannot rightly use Scripture because they stand outside the apostolic tradition
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Gnosticism is wrong — creation is good and the God of creation is the God of redemption
affirmed
TT Tertullian c. AD 200
The tradition handed down from the apostles through bishops is the test of true Christianity
affirmed
TT Tertullian c. AD 207
Marcion was wrong — the God of the Old Testament is the same God as the Father of Jesus
affirmed
OA Origen of Alexandria c. AD 230
Scripture has both a literal sense and a deeper spiritual sense that the mature Christian discerns
affirmed
AA Athanasius of Alexandria AD 367
These books alone are the fountains of salvation — nothing is to be added or taken away
affirmed
AA Athanasius of Alexandria AD 367
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament together constitute the complete revealed Word of God
affirmed
PI Pope Damasus I AD 382
Pope Damasus I convened the Council of Rome which confirmed the New Testament canon
affirmed
GN Gregory of Nyssa c. AD 390
Gregory of Nyssa teaches that Moses entering the divine darkness on Sinai is the model of mystical union with God
affirmed
JJ Jerome c. AD 393
Jerome argues that the deuterocanonical books are edifying but not on the same level as the Hebrew canon
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
CC Council of Carthage AD 397
The Councils of Carthage confirmed the deuterocanonical books as part of the Christian canon
affirmed
AH Augustine of Hippo c. AD 397
The Church has authority to determine which books belong to the canon of Scripture
affirmed
AH Augustine of Hippo c. AD 397
The canon of both Old and New Testaments was settled by the authority of the Catholic churches
affirmed
AH Augustine of Hippo c. AD 405
The Scriptures are inspired by God and free from error in what they affirm
affirmed
JJ Jerome c. AD 405
Jerome translates the Scriptures into Latin to make them accessible, returning to the original Hebrew and Greek
affirmed
AH Augustine of Hippo c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo reads Genesis not as literal six-day chronology but as instantaneous divine creation
affirmed
CE Council of Ephesus AD 431
The Council of Ephesus condemned the practice of adding anything to the Nicene Creed
affirmed ⚔ HOSTILE
VL Vincent of Lérins c. AD 434
Vincent of Lérins defines authentic development of doctrine as growth in the same doctrine, not contradiction of it
affirmed
VL Vincent of Lérins c. AD 434
The Church's Tradition is a living reality guided by the Holy Spirit over time
affirmed
VL Vincent of Lérins c. AD 434
The Vincentian Canon — what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all — is the test of authentic tradition
affirmed
CI Council of Constantinople II AD 553
The Second Council of Constantinople (553) condemned the Three Chapters and Origenist propositions
affirmed
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