What Early Christians Taught - Summary Grid June 2009

Here are 20 out of over 541 teachings, each of which

4 or more Christians taught & no Christians denied.

B2. Old Testament is our authority Mk12:24-25; Acts3:22

J2. Jesus Christ was a real, sinless man         Heb 7:26

Legend of what the symbols mean

B5. New Testament is our authority          2 Pet 3:15-16

J5. Jesus was crucified & died on the cross Mt 27:32-50

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

G1. There is only One True God       Mk 12:29; Jms 2:19

J8. Jesus rose from the dead      1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 1:21

I = Implied as true or opposite is false

G6. God is a Father    Mt 6:9; Mk 14:36; Lk 10:22; Jn 15:26

P3. Man fell when Adam and Eve ate the fruit Rom 5:12

Q = Quote of verse(s)    X = Disagree

G7. Mention of the Trinity: 1 God in 3  (partial) Mt 28:19

P4. We have inherited a sinful nature   Rom 3:10,23; 5:12

P = partial (i.e. gospels vs. 4 gospels)

T1. Jesus is the Son of God              Mt 16:16; Jn 10:36

P7. No way of salvation apart from Christ Jn14:6;Ac4:12

red = persecution of Christians

T3. The deity of Jesus our Lord         Jn 1:1; 8:58; 20:28

P8. People have the will to choose     Josh 24:15; Lk 7:30

green = heresy

T8. Worship, praise, glorify Jesus Jn9:38;Heb1:6;Rv5:8-

S3. Jesus’ death paid for our sins    Isa 53:8-11; Mk 10:45

orange = schism

T10. Incarnation of the Word/Jesus     Php 2:7;Heb 2:17

S4. Saved by Jesus’ blood; dying for us Mk4:24;Hb9:14

blue = Bible manuscripts

J1. Virgin birth of Christ               Mt 1:18-20; Lk 1:34-35

E9. Those who believe become sons of God   1 Jn 3:1

www.Biblequery.org/History/ChurchHistory/WhatEarlyChristiansTaughtSummaryGrid.doc References at www.Biblequery.org/History/ChurchHistory/WhatEarlyChristiansTaught.htm

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

B2

B5

G1

G6

G7

T1

T3

T8

T10

J1

J2

J5

J8

P3

P4

P7

P8

S3

S4

E9

Nero & Domitian persecute Christians

 

50 & 95/96

Christians were labeled atheists; killed for refusing to worship the emperor & idols

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

16 ¼

97/98

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

W

Q

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

Trajan persecutes Christians

 

107-117

Answered Pliny the Younger’s letter. Christians not sought after but killed if found

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4 ¾

before 125

Q

Q

-

W

P

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

-

-

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Hadrian persecutes Christians

 

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture. He persecuted both Jewish and Christian people.

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

 

135

Christians persecuted in Israel because they would not join Bar Cochba’s revolt.

Letter of Barnabas

12 ½

100-150

W

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

p46 Chester Beatty II - 1,680 verses (70%) Paul + Heb

100-150

W

I

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

W

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

I

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

W

-

W

-

W

-

-

W

-

W

P

W

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

Papias, disciple of John + “Presbyters”

2 + ½

130-150

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apostolic fathers total: all symbols except P

62

-150

5

4

4

8

0

6

3

2

2

2

3

3

5

0

0

3

0

5

3

2

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

138-165

W

W

W

W

P

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

-

-

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

P

-

-

-

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

W

P

W

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

Gnostics believed Creator was evil/foolish, rejected Old T., mixed in paganism.

Tatian+ Diatessaron. Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

W

-

-

W

P

W

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

Dionysius of Corinth+Hegesippus (chronicler)

1/3+2½

170+170-180

-

-

-

W

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

p66 Bodmer II papyrii - 817 verses (92%) of John

c.125-175

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

-

P

W

-

-

I

W

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher. Persecution mainly in Gaul ended when he died

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

W

-

W

W

P

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis + Rhodon

½ + ½

160-180+180

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

P

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Theophilus of Antioch ( to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265½+

- 188 -

W

X

W

W

X

W

P

-

W

X

W

W

W

P

-

W

W

-

-

-

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

W

W

W

W

P

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

 

c.200-257-

Also called Patripassians, they said the Father, Son, and Spirit were one person.

Persecution of Septimus Severus

 

202

Although a Christian helped him through an illness, he did not repeal existing laws

Minucius Felix + Apollonius of Ephesus

25+1

c.210

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

p75 Lk 3:18-22; etc. Jn 1:1-11:45,etc. 1,166 verses

175-225

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

W

-

-

W

W

-

W

W

p45 Chester Beatty I – 833 verses (4 gospels + Acts)

200-225

W

-

-

W

-

W

P

-

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

-

-

W

P

-

p30 1 Th 4:12-13,16-17 etc. 2 Th 1:1-2 etc. 25 verses

ca.225

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

935

198-220

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2 ¼

-236-

-

-

-

I

-

W

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Maximin Thrax persecutes Christians

 

235-238

First empire-wide persecution, but only of clergy. It stopped when he was killed.

Instructions of Commodianus + Julius Africanus

16 + 9

c.240,232-245

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

 

250-251 - 253

1st Christian schism. Can fallen Christians return, or doomed forever –Novatian

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38 ½

250/254-257

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

W

W

-

W

P

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ¾  

c.246-258

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

13 writers to Cyprian

21 ¼   

c.246-256

-

W

P

4W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Seventh Council of Carthage (85 bishops)

7 ¼

258

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

Valerian Persecutes Christians

 

257-260

2nd most severe persecution. Tolerant at first, but then Macrianus influenced him

Theognostus of Alexandria (Origenist)

½

260

-

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gregory Thaumaturgus (undisputed works)

28 ½

240-265

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39 ½

246-265

Q

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

Dionysius of Rome (against the Sabellians)

1

259-269

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Malchion (Against Paul of Samosata)

2 ½

270

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Aurelian Persecution

 

270

At first tolerant, Aurelian died soon after he decided to persecute Christians.

Pierius + Archelaus Against the Manichaeans

½+58¾

275+262-278

W

W

W

2W

-

W

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

Anatolius of Alexandria (mathematician)

7 ½

270-280

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Theonas of Alexandria ( Letter to Lucianus)

3

282-300

P

-

-

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p72, p38, 0162, 0171, 0220, 0232: 191, 13, 12, 30, 6, 9 verses

ca.300

-

-

-

2W

-

-

-

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

Adamantius Dialog on the True Faith in God

c.63

c.300

I

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

W

P

W

W

P

-

-

W

W

W

-

Alexander of Lycopolis Of the Manichaeans

12

301

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Arnobius Against the Heathen (undisputed)

126 ½

297-303

-

-

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

-

-

-

Victorinus of Petau, Austria (commentator)

18 ½

martyred 304

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

Most severe persecution by Diocletian

 

284, 303-305

He leveled churches, destroyed scriptures, killed many for not sacrificing.

Phileas of Thmuis, Egypt + Pamphilus

2½+2¾

-309

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Peter of Alexandria (undisputed works)

8 ½

306,285-311

Q

-

-

W

P

W

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

P

-

Methodius (corrected Origen’s followers)

86 ½

260-312

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

Theophilus’ Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon

5 ½

events c.315

-

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Licinius persecutes Christians in the east

 

315-323

Licinius fought & was defeated by Constantine a few times from 314 to 324 A.D.

Alexander of Alexandria-Origenist,undisputed

12

313-326

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

Lactantius, tutor of Constantine’s son

305 ½

c.303-c.325

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

Christian writer totals: all symbols except P’s

4075.6

before 325

34

24

25

48

15

34

31

19

16

19

20

29

28

14

11

17

17

15

20

13

Arian heresy spreads, starting in Alexandria

 

c.318-523

Arians believed that Jesus was God, but not the same substance as the Father.

Arian Creed of Antioch + Candidus’ Letters

1+c.4

c.341-362

-

-

2W

2W

P

2W

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

B2

B5

G1

G6

G7

T1

T3

T8

T10

J1

J2

J5

J8

P3

P4

P7

P8

S3

S4

E9