What Early Christians Taught on Errors and Disputed Parts – November 2011 version

ERRORS CHRISTIANS DO NOT BELIEVE TODAY

DISPUTED PARTS MANY DO NOT FOLLOW

Legend for Cells

e1. Incorrect references to Bible verses

d1. Christ appeared as or can be called an angel

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

e2. Misquoted or unknown Bible verses

d2. Seventy Septuagint translators -

I = Implied this is true or opposite is false

e3. Over-allegorical Bible interpretation

d3. God is simple or not composite -

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

e4. Four elements make up the world

d4. God is impassable (without passion) -

M = Mixed: some agree, others would not

e5. Atoms do not really exist

d5. Some fallen angels sinned with women -

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

e6. Errors on the hyena, phoenix, or other animals

d6. Against jewelry or false/dyed hair(part.)1Pet3:3

e7. Errors on geography or tribes

d7. Christians must fast on certain days -

- = no reference found (so far)

e8. Collective guilt of the Jews

d8. No drinking or eating blood Acts 15:29

X = Disagree

 

d9. No worshipping true God through images Dt

blank = not researched yet

d11. Prophecy in the church after Acts

d10. Prophets proclaimed two advents of Christ

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

Rows: red=persecution of Christians, green=heresy, orange=schism, pink=strange writer, blue=Bible manuscript, brown=Christians persecute others

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

e1

e2

e3

e4

e5

e6

e7

e8

 

d11

d1

d2

d3

d4

d5

d6

d7

d8

d9

d10

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 ¼

97/98

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hadrian persecutes Christians

 

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture, and he persecuted both Jewish & 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

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

I

-

p52, p104, & p87  5, 5, & 4 verses (Jn, Mt, Philemon)

-138,100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

½

-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols

62

-150

1

3

0

0

0

2

0

0

 

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

1

0

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

W

-

W

W

W

-

W

-

 

-

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

W

-

W

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

 

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

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

 

Tatian+his Diatessaron.Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

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

 

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

I

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

½

177, 160-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

 

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265½+

-188-

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

 

 

-

-

-

-

-

W/X

-

-

W

-

-

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

W

 

-

W

W

W

P

W

-

W

-

-

W

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

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maximus of Jerusalem -wrote on origin of evil

5

185-196

-

-

-

P

-

W

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

½

196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

150-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

 

c.200-257-

Also called Patripassians, they believed Father, Son, & Spirit were one person.

 

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Romans kill first known martyrs in Britain

 

209

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

 

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

1/3

200-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

 

-

-

W

P

W

I

W

-

-

W

-

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

175-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

200-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

ca.225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

734

198-220

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

 

W

W

-

P

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

 

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

Theodotus the probable Montanist

7 ¾

ca.240

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

W

-

-

-

W

-

I

-

-

-

-

Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical)

11 ½

154-224/232

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2 ¼

before 236

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

-

-

W

W

W

W

P

W

 

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

Maximim persecutes Christians

 

235-238

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

 

Instructions of Commodianus

16

c.240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

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

225-250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

¾

233-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

 

-

W

P

W

W

P

-

-

-

I

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

-

I

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ½ 

c.246-258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

Roman church leaders (ltr 2,29,30)

1+4 ¾

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Lucian et al. (letters 16, 21)

7/8

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18)

3/8

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20)

1 ¼

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25)

2 ½

250

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cornelius to Cyprian (letters 45,47)

2 ½ 

c.246-256