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
CE
Council of Ephesus
Nicene · 3 records · 3 doctrines
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
67%
Orthodox
100%
Lutheran
67%
Reformed
33%
Baptist
0%
Evangelical
0%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology 1
Ecclesiology
Eschatology
Mariology 1
Petrine Ministry
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition 1
Soteriology
The Eucharist
The Priesthood
The Sacraments
Mariology 1 record
Mary is Theotokos — the Mother of God
Decree of Ephesus (431)
affirmed
Scripture & Tradition 1 record
The Council of Ephesus condemned the practice of adding anything to the Nicene Creed
Council of Ephesus, Canon 7
affirmed
Christology 1 record
The Virgin Mary is rightly called Theotokos — God-bearer — because the one born of her is truly God
Letter of Cyril to Nestorius (Third Letter)
affirmed
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