ESCHATOLOGY
c. AD 400
Jerome
The resurrection of the body means the same body that died will rise, not a different spiritual substitute
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 400
Augustine of Hippo
Baptism in the name of the Trinity is valid even when performed by a heretic or schismatic
PRIESTHOOD
c. AD 400
Augustine of Hippo
Ordination, like baptism, cannot be repeated — both are sacraments given once
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 400
Augustine of Hippo
Donatism is wrong — the validity of sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 400
Augustine of Hippo
Christ and the Church are as one person — head and body together
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 401
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine teaches that marriage has three goods: fidelity, offspring, and sacramental bond
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 405
Jerome
Jerome translates the Scriptures into Latin to make them accessible, returning to the original Hebrew and Greek
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 405
Augustine of Hippo
The Scriptures are inspired by God and free from error in what they affirm
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 405
Augustine of Hippo
Schism from the Catholic Church is a grave sin even if the schismatic group holds correct doctrine
SOTERIOLOGY
c. AD 410
⚔ HOSTILE WITNESS
Pelagius
Pelagius denies original sin and the necessity of grace — each person can choose good without divine assistance
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 410
Augustine of Hippo
Original sin is transmitted to all humanity through physical generation
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 412
Augustine of Hippo
Baptism washes away original sin inherited from Adam
SACRAMENTS
c. AD 413
Augustine of Hippo
Infants who die without baptism are in a condition of original sin — Augustine refuses to promise them glory
ESCHATOLOGY
c. AD 413
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine teaches that unbaptised infants cannot enter the kingdom but suffer the mildest condemnation
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Grace is necessary for every act of salvation and cannot be merited
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
The grace that assists the Christian in daily life is distinct from and greater than mere moral instruction
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Pelagianism is not only wrong about grace but destroys the necessity of the Incarnation and cross
MARIOLOGY
c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine excepts the holy Virgin Mary from the general discussion of sin, out of honour to Christ
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 415
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo reads Genesis not as literal six-day chronology but as instantaneous divine creation
PETRINE
AD 416
Pope Innocent I
Nothing done in remote provinces should be regarded as finally settled unless it has come to the notice of this See
PETRINE
AD 416
Pope Innocent I
Pope Innocent I teaches that all major causes of the Church must be referred to the Roman see
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 418
Council of Carthage
Pelagius was wrong — humans cannot achieve salvation by their own free will without grace
SOTERIOLOGY
c. AD 418
Augustine of Hippo
Grace is necessary for every act ordered toward salvation — the will cannot initiate it unaided
ESCHATOLOGY
c. AD 420
Augustine of Hippo
Some suffer temporary punishments after death before the final judgment
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 426
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine teaches that God predestines some to salvation by grace alone, not by foreknown merits
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 434
Vincent of Lérins
Vincent of Lérins defines authentic development of doctrine as growth in the same doctrine, not contradiction of it
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 434
Vincent of Lérins
The Church's Tradition is a living reality guided by the Holy Spirit over time
SCRIPTURE
c. AD 434
Vincent of Lérins
The Vincentian Canon — what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all — is the test of authentic tradition
PETRINE
c. AD 444
Pope Leo I
Leo I teaches that Peter lives on in his successors and continues to exercise his primacy through them
PETRINE
c. AD 445
Pope Leo I
The faith confessed by Peter persists in his successors, the bishops of Rome
CHRISTOLOGY
AD 449
Pope Leo I
Leo I teaches the two-natures doctrine in the Tome — Chalcedon endorses it as the voice of Peter
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 451
Council of Chalcedon
Christ has two complete natures, divine and human, united in one person without confusion
PETRINE
AD 451
Pope Leo I
The council fathers acclaimed: Peter has spoken through Leo
PETRINE
AD 451
⚔ HOSTILE WITNESS
Council of Chalcedon
The bishop of Rome cannot summon a universal council alone — imperial authority was required for all four great councils
CHRISTOLOGY
AD 451
Council of Chalcedon
Christ is one person with two natures — fully divine and fully human — without confusion or separation
PETRINE
c. AD 494
Pope Gelasius I
Gelasius I asserts that spiritual and temporal authority are distinct — priests bear greater weight because they answer for kings
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 500
Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed anathematises those who confuse the persons or divide the substance of the Trinity
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 529
Council of Orange
The Council of Orange (529) condemned Semi-Pelagianism — grace must precede every good act of the will
SCRIPTURE
AD 553
Council of Constantinople II
The Second Council of Constantinople (553) condemned the Three Chapters and Origenist propositions
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 589
⚔ HOSTILE WITNESS
Council of Toledo III
The Council of Toledo (589) adds the Filioque to the Nicene Creed in the West
PETRINE
c. AD 590
Gregory the Great
Gregory the Great teaches that the pope is servant of all, not lord — and rebuke is required when rulers sin
MARIOLOGY
c. AD 590
Gregory of Tours
The Assumption of Mary into heaven is a pious belief of the Church
ESCHATOLOGY
c. AD 593
Gregory the Great
Gregory the Great teaches that the souls in purgatory are helped by the prayers and Masses offered for them
PETRINE
c. AD 595
⚔ HOSTILE WITNESS
Gregory the Great
Pope Gregory the Great refuses the title Universal Bishop as the precursor of Antichrist
PRIESTHOOD
c. AD 595
Gregory the Great
Simony — purchasing holy orders or church office — is a grave sin
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 649
Pope Martin I
The Lateran Synod under Martin I (649) condemned Monothelitism and affirmed two wills in Christ
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 681
Council of Constantinople III
The divine and human wills in Christ are distinct but always in harmony
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 681
Council of Constantinople III
The Council of Chalcedon affirmed that Christ has two wills — one divine and one human — acting in concert
ECCLESIOLOGY
c. AD 730
John of Damascus
John of Damascus systematises the theology of icons against the iconoclasts
ECCLESIOLOGY
AD 787
Council of Nicaea II
Icons and sacred images are legitimate aids to Christian worship