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
CN
Council of Nicaea
Nicene · 6 records · 3 doctrines
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
83%
Orthodox
100%
Lutheran
67%
Reformed
67%
Baptist
67%
Evangelical
67%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology 2
Ecclesiology 3
Eschatology
Mariology
Petrine Ministry 1
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition
Soteriology
The Eucharist
The Priesthood
The Sacraments
Ecclesiology 3 records
The Son is consubstantial with the Father — truly and fully God
Creed of Nicaea (325)
affirmed
The Council of Nicaea ruled that Easter must be celebrated on Sunday, not on the Jewish calendar date
Letter of the Council to the Alexandrians
affirmed
Icons and sacred images are legitimate aids to Christian worship
Definition of Nicaea II (787)
affirmed
Petrine Ministry 1 record
The bishop of Alexandria exercises regional authority parallel to Rome's authority in the West
Canon 6 of Nicaea
affirmed
Christology 2 records
Christ is homoousios — of the same substance as the Father — not a lesser or created divine being
Nicene Creed
affirmed
The Council of Nicaea is clear that the Son is not a creature — Arius is wrong that there was a time when the Son was not
Anathemas of Nicaea
affirmed
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