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
TT
Tertullian
Ante Nicene · 19 records · 8 doctrines
Tradition Alignment
Catholic
95%
Orthodox
89%
Lutheran
53%
Reformed
42%
Baptist
42%
Evangelical
42%
Doctrine Coverage
Christology
Ecclesiology 7
Eschatology 3
Mariology
Petrine Ministry 2
Pneumatology 1
Prayer & Devotion
Scripture & Tradition 2
Soteriology
The Eucharist 1
The Priesthood 1
The Sacraments 2
Ecclesiology 7 records
The martyrs' blood is seed — persecution multiplies rather than destroys the Church
Apology, 50
affirmed
Fasting is among the primal ordinances imposed on man from the beginning
De Jejunio, 2
affirmed
The sign of the cross is used by Christians in all the ordinary actions of daily life
De Corona, 3
affirmed
Tertullian coins the term trinitas to describe God as one substance in three persons
Against Praxeas, 2
affirmed
Monarchianism — the view that Christ is merely a mode of the Father — is a deviation from apostolic teaching
Against Praxeas, 1
affirmed
The Logos existed eternally before the Incarnation as the Son of God
Against Praxeas, 5
affirmed
God is one substance in three persons — the Trinity
Against Praxeas, 2
affirmed
The Priesthood 1 record
Women did not hold the office of bishop, priest, or deacon in the early Church
On the Veiling of Virgins, 9
affirmed
The Eucharist 1 record
Fasting before receiving the Eucharist is an ancient Christian practice
To His Wife, II.5
affirmed
Scripture & Tradition 2 records
The tradition handed down from the apostles through bishops is the test of true Christianity
Prescription Against Heretics, 37
affirmed
Marcion was wrong — the God of the Old Testament is the same God as the Father of Jesus
Against Marcion, I.1
affirmed
The Sacraments 2 records
Tertullian is the first to use the word sacramentum to describe Christian rites
On the Crown, 3
affirmed
Tertullian attests the practice of sponsoring candidates for baptism — the origin of godparents
On Baptism, 18
affirmed
Petrine Ministry 2 records
Peter was the first bishop of Rome and the head of the apostolic college
Prescription Against Heretics, 36
affirmed
The Church's authority includes binding and loosing on earth — what she binds is bound in heaven
On Modesty, 21
affirmed
Eschatology 3 records
The bodily resurrection of the flesh at the last day is certain
On the Resurrection of the Flesh, 1
affirmed
Tertullian argues the human soul is derived from the parents along with the body — traducianism
On the Soul, 27
affirmed
Prayer for the dead is a pious and ancient Christian practice
De Corona, 3
affirmed
Pneumatology 1 record
Tertullian is the first to use the word Trinity (Trinitas) as a technical theological term
Against Praxeas, 2
affirmed
Loading…

History has always been on her side.

Explore 71 verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

Enter the Archive