What Early Christians Taught - Summary Grid Dec. 2020

Here are 20 out of over 1143 teachings, each of which

4 or more Christians taught and no Christian denied.

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

Jb6. 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

Jp3. Jesus was crucified & died on a cross Mt 27:32-50

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

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

Jp19. 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

P5. We have inherited a sinful nature   Rom 3:10,23; 5:12

P = partial (i.e. aspects of the Trinity)

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

(pXX means papyrus number XX)

Jb1. 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.html

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

B2

B5

G1

G6

G7

T1

T3

T8

T10

Jb1

Jb6

Jp3

Jp19

P3

P5

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

96/98

W

W

W

W

-

I

-

W

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

Papias, disciple of John + “Presbyters”

2 + ½

95-117

-

-

-

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

c.60-120

Q

Q

-

W

P

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Epistle of Barnabas

12 ½

c.70-130

W

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

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.

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

120-140

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

I

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

Polycarp, disciple of John to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

W

-

W

-

W

-

-

W

-

W

P

W

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

Epistle to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130-200

-

-

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Apostolic fathers total: all symbols except P’s

67.5

-155

5

4

4

8

0

8

3

2

2

2

3

3

5

0

0

3

0

5

3

2

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.115-155

-

-

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

I

-

-

-

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

W

W

W

W

P

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

I

W

W

W

W

W

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.

Dionysius of Corinth

1/3

170

-

-

-

W

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Tatian+ Diatessaron. Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

c.172

W

-

-

W

P

W

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

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

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

W

-

W

W

P

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

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

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis + Rhodon

½ + ½

160-180+180

-

W

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis + Hegesippus

11 + 2½

170-177/180

W

-

W

2W

-

W

W

W

P

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

282 ½

- 188 -

W

X

W

W

X

W

P

-

W

X

W

W

W

I

X

W

W

-

-

-

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

284 ¾

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

I

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)

928

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

W

-

-

-

-

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

742

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

-

Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

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

2W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39 ½

246-265

Q

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

½

275

-

-

-

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

42

c.300

I

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

W

P

W

W

P

P

-

W

W

W

-

Sinaitic Syriac (most of the 4 gospels)

3/4th century

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

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

-307

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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)

79 ½

c.260-312

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

P

W

W

-

W

W

Theophilus’ Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon

5 ½

events c.315

-

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athanasius Against the Heathen & Incarnation

56

c.318

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

Licinius persecutes Christians in the east

 

315-323

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

Lactantius, tutor of Constantine’s son

305 ½

c.303-320/325

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Alexander of Alexandria (undisputed works)

11 ½

313-326

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

I

W

Christian writer totals: all symbols except P’s

 

4242.3

up to 325

34

23

26

49

16

39

32

21

16

19

21

29

28

14

12

17

17

15

22

15

by Steven M. Morrison, PhD. If you find what you think are any omissions or errors, please email webmaster@biblequery.org