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
PI
Pope Leo I
Post Nicene · 4 records · 2 doctrines
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
100%
Orthodox
25%
Lutheran
25%
Reformed
25%
Baptist
25%
Evangelical
25%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology 1
Ecclesiology
Eschatology
Mariology
Petrine Ministry 3
Pneumatology
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition
Soteriology
The Eucharist
The Priesthood
The Sacraments
Petrine Ministry 3 records
Leo I teaches that Peter lives on in his successors and continues to exercise his primacy through them
Sermon 3.2–3
affirmed
The faith confessed by Peter persists in his successors, the bishops of Rome
Sermon 3 (On the Anniversary of His Consecration)
affirmed
The council fathers acclaimed: Peter has spoken through Leo
Tome of Leo (Letter 28), received by Chalcedon
affirmed
Christology 1 record
Leo I teaches the two-natures doctrine in the Tome — Chalcedon endorses it as the voice of Peter
Tome of Leo (Letter 28), 4
affirmed
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