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
Church Fathers
Apostolic · AD 30–96
Clement of Rome 3 Council of Jerusalem 1 Didache 4 Hermas 2 Ignatius of Antioch 7 Polycarp of Smyrna 2
Ante-Nicene · AD 96–325
Clement of Alexandria 4 Cornelius of Rome 1 Cyprian of Carthage 13 Didascalia Apostolorum 1 Irenaeus of Lyon 16 Justin Martyr 14 Origen of Alexandria 17 Tertullian 19
Nicene · AD 325–381
Ambrose of Milan 10 Arius 1 Athanasius of Alexandria 10 Basil of Caesarea 4 Council of Constantinople I 2 Council of Ephesus 3 Council of Nicaea 5 Cyril of Alexandria 2 Cyril of Jerusalem 4 Gregory of Nazianzus 5 Gregory of Nyssa 2 John Chrysostom 9 Pope Damasus I 1
Post-Nicene · AD 381–500
Athanasian Creed 1 Augustine of Hippo 21 Council of Carthage 2 Council of Chalcedon 3 Council of Constantinople II 1 Council of Constantinople III 2 Council of Nicaea II 1 Council of Orange 1 Council of Toledo III 1 Gregory of Tours 1 Gregory the Great 4 Jerome 4 John of Damascus 1 Pelagius 1 Pope Gelasius I 1 Pope Innocent I 2 Pope Leo I 4 Pope Martin I 1 Vincent of Lérins 3
AA
Athanasius of Alexandria
Nicene · 10 records · 5 doctrines
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
90%
Orthodox
80%
Lutheran
70%
Reformed
50%
Baptist
50%
Evangelical
50%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology 1
Ecclesiology 5
Eschatology
Mariology 1
Petrine Ministry
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition 2
Soteriology 1
The Eucharist
The Priesthood
The Sacraments
Ecclesiology 5 records
The Logos became incarnate — God truly took human flesh
On the Incarnation, 8
affirmed
God became man so that man might become divine — the exchange at the heart of the Incarnation
On the Incarnation, 54
affirmed
The emperor has no authority over the Church in matters of doctrine
History of the Arians, 52
affirmed
Councils called by emperors do not thereby receive their authority from the emperor
History of the Arians, 33
affirmed
Anthony sold his possessions, entrusted himself to ascetic discipline, and practised solitary life devoted to Scripture
Life of Anthony, 1–3
affirmed
Soteriology 1 record
Salvation is theosis — participation in the divine nature, not merely forensic pardon
On the Incarnation, 54
affirmed
Christology 1 record
Athanasius defends homoousios against the Arian majority — the entire council cannot override the truth
History of the Arians, 33
affirmed
Mariology 1 record
Mary is ever-virgin and should be called Aeiparthenos — the ever-virgin
Letter to Virgins
affirmed
Scripture & Tradition 2 records
These books alone are the fountains of salvation — nothing is to be added or taken away
Festal Letter 39
affirmed
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament together constitute the complete revealed Word of God
Festal Letter 39
affirmed
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Explore 71 verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

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