Pre-Nicene Teaching on Errors – Apr. 2023 version

ERRORS CHRISTIANS DO NOT BELIEVE TODAY

 

Legend for Cells

er1. Incorrect references to Bible verses

 

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

er2. Misquoted or unknown Bible verses

 

I = Implied this is true or opposite is false

er3. Over-allegorical Bible interpretation

 

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

er4. Four elements make up the world

 

M = Mixed: some agree, others would not

er5. Atoms do not really exist

 

P = partial ex: Irenaeus: gnostics wrong to say Savior not killed since impassible

er6. Errors on the hyena, phoenix, or other animals

 

er7. Errors on geography or tribes

 

- = no reference found (so far)

er8. Collective guilt of the Jews

 

X = Disagree

er9. Errors on people

 

blank = not researched yet

er10. Other errors on science

 

Writer totals include W’s & I’s but not P’s

Rows: blue=Bible manuscript, white=Christian writer, khaki=spurious, green=heresy, orange=schism, pink=strange writer, yellow=foreign missions, red=Christians persecuted, brown=Christians persecuting

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

er1

er2

er3

er4

er5

er6

er7

er8

er9

er10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

50 & 95/96

est. 500K Christians. labeled atheists; killed for refusing to worship emperor/idols

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

16.25

96/98

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated 500,000 or 800,000 Christians

by 100 A.D.

per Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.4 p.126 or World Christian Trends AD 30-2200 AD p.18

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

95-110

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

0.5

95-117

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trajan persecutes Christians

107-117

Answered Pliny the Younger’s letter. Christians not hunted, but killed if found.

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4.75

c.60-120

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

.125

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epistle of Barnabas

12.5

c.70-130

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hadrian persecutes Christians and Jews

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture, and he persecuted both Jewish & Christian people.

Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

29

70-135

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

135

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

p52 Jn 18:31-33,37f-38 (5 verses)

-138

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5.75

120-140

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p87 Phm 13-15,24-25

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Akhmin Apocalypse of Peter (Greek)

2

135,100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p104 Mt 21:34-37,43-45(?)

150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p98 Rev 1:13-2:1 (9 verses)

150?

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First churches in Morocco, Portugal, and south Germany

c.150

according to World Christian Trends AD 30-AD 2200 p.113

Polycarp, disciple of John, to the Philippians

3.5

100-155

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epistle to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5.25

c.130-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P

67.7

-155

1

3

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epistle to the Apostles. Against Cerinthus, Simon, and Gnostics. Canonical in the Ethiopic Orthodox Tawahedo Church

9.8

2nd century

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gospel of Mary (ms. p463 is 200-250 A.D.)

1

2nd century

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shepherd of Hermas

46.5

c.115-155

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin Martyr, philosopher. Against gnosticism

137

c.138-165

W

W

W

P

W

-

W

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcion of Pontus, pupil of Cerdo/Cerdon. Apelles & Prepon from Marcion.

before 170-

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

Menander then Satorninos/Saturnilus (ascetic gnostics)

c.150-4th cen.

Cerdo & Menander from Simon in Acts. Encratite gnostics came from Saturnilus.

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

0.333

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tatian's Diatessaron

86

c.172

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tatian. Encratite Gnostic later

18

c.172

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Christians in Austria

174

according to World Christian Trends AD 30-AD 2200 p.113

Basilides & his pupil Isidorus, changed from Menander 's teaching

2.5

132-135-4th

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sethians/Borborites (libertine gnostics)

20

?-4th century

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hermetic Gnostics (no mention of Christ)

6

?-4th century

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentinians including Heracleon, Colorbasus, Marcus, & Ptolemy

23+12

c.150-4th cen.

-

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other gnostics: Cainites, Carpocrates, Docetics, Peretae, Cerinthus, Dositheus, Monoimus, Hermogenes, Marcillinians, Melchisedecians, Nicolaus, Ophites, Secundus/Epiphanes

37

c.150-4th century

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

c.125-175

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p4, p64, p67 Lk 1:58-59,etc. Mt 26:7-8,etc. (95 verses)

c.150-175

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p90 Jn 18:36-19:7 (11 verses)

c.175

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6.5

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Athenagoras (apologist)

33.5

177

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

162/166-180

Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher. Persecution mainly in Gaul ended at his death

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

0.5

177, 160-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hegesippus (chronicler, against gnostics)

2.5

170-180

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rhodon (against Marcion & other gnostics)

0.5

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theophilus of Caesarea

.125

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebionite Clementine Homilies (Law, Father, Son)

123.5

-188-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebionite Letter of Peter to James

2

-188-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebionite Letter of Clement to James

4.5

-188-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Christians warning about Ebionites

1

182-325

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irenaeus Proof of Apostolic Preaching

22.75

c.160-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

W

W

-

W

-

P

-

W

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pantaenus of Alexandria visited India

189

Visited the Malankara church in India. They used the Gospel of Mt. in Hebrew.

Gospel of Peter (Serapion finally against it)

2

180-190

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximus of Jerusalem -wrote on origin of evil

5

185-196

-

-

-

P

-

W

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

0.5

196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christians in Bactria, Hindu Kush, and Kurdistan

196

according to World Christian Trends AD 30-AD 2200 p.113

p32 (=P. Rylands 5) Titus 1:1-15; 2:3-8 (21 verses)

150-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p103/p77 Mt 13:55-57; 14:3-5; 23:30-39 (10 verses)

200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaius of Rome started the Alogi heresy

0

c.200

Claimed the Gospel of John and Revelation were by Cerinthus, not John

p23 James 1:10-12, 15-18 (7 verses)

c.200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An estimated 2 million Christians

by 200 A.D.

According to the Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.4 p.126

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs -died 180 A.D.

0.75

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caius & the Muratorian Canon. against gnostics

3

190-217

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus)

c.200-257-

Patripassians believed Father, Son, & Spirit were one person.

Zephyrinus & Callistus of Rome

199-c.223

God came upon the human man Jesus. Callistus excommunicated Sabellius.

Persecution of Septimus Severus

202

est. 2M Christians. A Christian helped him when ill, but didn’t repeal existing laws

Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas

7

c.201/205

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts of Paul and Thecla (Tertullian said faked by a presbyter)

6

before 207

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romans kill first known martyrs in Britain

209

Alban, Julius, and Aaron were formerly thought killed in 304/5 A.D.

Epitaph of Abercius of Hieropolis in Phrygia Salutaris

0.125

190-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

0.333

191/200-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

-

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judah the Prince compiles the Jewish Mishnah

189-217

Oral traditions of the Pharisees were written down & became part of the Talmud

Clement of Alexandria Stromata

245.75

193-202

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clement of Alexandria Exhort. to the Heathen

34.75

c.195

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clement of Alexandria (remainder)

109

193-217/220

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

734

198-220

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tertullian: On Monogamy, On Modesty

41.25

208-220

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

175-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0189 Acts 5:3-21 (earliest N.T. parchment) (19 verses)

175-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p45 Chester Beatty I, Four gospels + Acts (833 verses)

200-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Collection #425 Rom 9:18-21 some Rom 10

early 3rd

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p29 Acts 26:7-8,20 (3 verses)

200-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p30 1 Th 4:12-13,16-17, 5:3,8-10,12-18,25-28; 2 Th 1:1-2; 2:1,9-11 (25 verses)

early 3rd cent.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebionite Recognitions of Clement (=Sinai Epitome)

134

211-231

-

-

-

P

W

W

W

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical). Against Marcion & Valentinus.

11.5

154-224/232

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2.75

c.232

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2.25

before 235

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theodotus of Byzantium (Jesus born only a man)

0.5

before 235

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin's Book of Baruch -Moses,Heracles,Christ

2.5

188-235

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naaseni Gnostics & their Gospel of Thomas

3+6

188-235

-

-

2W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (against gnostics)

218

222-235/6

-

-

W

P

W

W

P

W

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximim persecutes Christians

235-238

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

Narrative of Zosimus

4.5

before 240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theodotus the probable Montanist

7.75

ca.240

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions of Commodianus

16

c.240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pseudo-Clement Two Epistles on Virginity

5.75 + 5

before 246

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebionite Protoevangelium of James

6

145-248

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heraclas of Alexandria 1st to be called a pope

 

232-249

No Roman bishop called a pope until the Council of Arles I in 314 A.D., Next was 347 A.D.. Siricius c.384-399 was the first Roman bishop to call himself a pope.

p137 Mk 1:7-9,16-18

150-250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Revised Valentinian" Tripartite Tractate

11

200-250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p13 Heb 2:14-5:5;10:8-22;10:29-11:13;etc. (114 verses)

225-250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p5 Jn 1:23-31,33-40; 16:14-30;20:11-17,19-20,22-25

early 3rd cent

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martyrdom of the Holy Martyrs

1.5

before 250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p1 Mt 1:1-9,12,14-20 (17 verses)

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p22 Jn 15:25-16:2; 16:21-32 (17 verses)

c.250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p91 Acts 2:30-37; 2:$6-47; 3:!-2

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p118 Rom 15:26-27,32-33; 16:1,4-7,11-12

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p119 Jn 1:21-28,33-38,42-44

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p121 Jn 19:17-19,25-26

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p129 1 Cor 7:36-39;8:10;9:3,14-17;9:27-10:6

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p131 Rom 9:18-21; 9:22-10:3

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nag Hamadi Apocalypse of Peter

2.5

3rd century

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hermias Satire on Greek Philosophers

4.2

3rd century?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca

12.5

mid 3rd cent?

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander of Cappadocia (Clem. A’.s pupil)

0.75

233-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop Stephen I or Rome Letter to Antioch

 

251

Asked why Novatian did not know there should be only one bishop in Rome

Sentences of Sextus (partial)

2

before 253

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origen (heterodox teacher)

825.15

225-253/254

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origen’s Prayer, Exhortation to Martyrdom

180

233-235

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

250-251 - 253

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

First Christian monks and hermits

250-251

Peter the Hermit and others. Antony of Egypt (270-356 A.D.) was a bit later.

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38.5

250/254-257

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatise Against Novatian (anonymous)

6.5

254-256

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatise on Rebaptism (anonymous)

11

c.250-258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250.5 

c.246-258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roman church leaders (letters 2,29,30)

1+4.75

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucian et al. (letters 16, 21)

.875

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18)

0.4

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20)

1.25

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25)

2.5

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cornelius to Cyprian (letters 45,47)

2.5 

c.246-256

-

-