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
8
1st
10
2nd
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3rd
—
4th
—
5th
How to read the tradition strip
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Identical Convergent Partial Divergent Opposed Unknown
Apostolic Era · AD 30–100
8 records
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
The Council of Jerusalem decided doctrinal questions by the assembly of apostles and elders together
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 90
Didache
Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, not on the days the hypocrites fast
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 90
Didache
The Lord's Prayer is to be prayed three times each day
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Eva
PRIESTHOOD c. AD 90
Didache
The Didache permits bishops and deacons to fulfil the liturgical role of prophets in the Church
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Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 90
Didache
Baptism by immersion was the normal form but pouring is permitted when immersion is impossible
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Eva
PETRINE c. AD 96
Clement of Rome
The church of Rome intervenes in the affairs of the church at Corinth
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 96
Clement of Rome
Bishops hold authority by apostolic succession from the apostles
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Eva
PETRINE c. AD 96
Clement of Rome
Clement of Rome intervenes in the Corinthian church to restore deposed elders — the letter is authoritative
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Eva
Ante-Nicene · AD 100–200
10 records
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, not a symbol
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
Each local church gathered around its bishop embodies the fullness of the Catholic Church
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The monarchical episcopate — one bishop per city — is the apostolic structure
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Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
Only a Eucharist administered by the bishop, or by one he has authorised, is to be regarded as valid
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Eva
EUCHARIST c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The first day of the week Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship from the beginning
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Eva
MARIOLOGY c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
The Virgin Birth is a literal biological miracle, not a metaphor
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Eva
ECCLESIOLOGY c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
Deacons serve the bishop and presbyters in the hierarchical order of the Church
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Eva
SCRIPTURE c. AD 110
Polycarp of Smyrna
Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of John the Apostle, warns against those who twist the oracles of the Lord
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Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 140
Hermas
A man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery
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Eva
SACRAMENTS c. AD 140
Hermas
The Shepherd of Hermas teaches that post-baptismal sin can be forgiven once through repentance
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Eva
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Explore 71 verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

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