TIMELESS TRUTHS OF JESUS CHRIST

JESUS’ INCARNATION ON EARTH

Legend for Cells

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

J1. Virgin birth of Christ      Isa 7:14; Mt 1:18,23; Lk 1:34-35

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

T2. Jesus is only begotten son of God Jn 3:16,18

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

I = Implied as true, or opposite is false

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

J3. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist Mt 3:13-16

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

T4. Jesus is the Word of God          Jn 1:1; Rev 19:13

J4. Cross’ shape or outstretched arms -

m = Mixed: some agree others did not

T5. Jesus was in Heaven from ages past Jn 1:1-3

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

P = Partial (example: Hermas T7:  the Son is older than all creatures

T6. All things were created through Christ Jn 1:3

J6. Jesus was hung on a tree [cross] Acts 5:30; 1 Pet 2:24

T7. Jesus obedient/subject to the Father 1 Cor 15:28

J7. Darkness & earthquake at Jesus’ death Mt 27:45,51

- = no reference found

T8. Worship, praise, glorify Jesus Jn9:38;Heb1:6;Rev

J8. Jesus rose from the dead   Mt 28: Jn 20; 1 Cor 15:1-7

X = Disagree

T9. Inseparable/Father in Son or the Son in Father

J9. Jesus ascended to Heaven or will return Acts 2:33

blank = not researched yet

T10. Jesus at right-hand of God/the Father Acts 7:56

J10. Incarnation of the Word/Jesus  Php 2:7; Heb 2:17

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

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

T6

T7

T8

T9

T10

J1

J2

J3

J4

J5

J6

J7

J8

J9

J10

Nero & 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

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Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

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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

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P

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Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

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Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

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Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

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Hadrian persecutes Christians

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture; 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

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

-138,100-150

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

100-150

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2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

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Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

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Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

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“Presbyters” (Papias?)

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-150

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Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P

62

-150

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Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

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Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

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Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

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Gnostic heresies become widespread

c.170-

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

Tatian+Diatessaron. Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

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Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

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

c.125-175

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

c.150-175

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

c.175

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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

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Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

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Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

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177, 160-180

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Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

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Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-177/180

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Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

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180

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Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

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Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265½+

- 188 -

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W/X

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Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

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

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180-202

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Maximus of Jerusalem -wrote on origin of evil

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185-196

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Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

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196

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

150-200

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Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

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Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

c.200-257-

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

Persecution of Septimus Severus

202

est. 2M Christians. A Christian helped him when ill, but did not repeal existing laws

Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas

7

c.201/205

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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

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Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

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Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

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Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

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

175-225

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

200-225

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

ca.225

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Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

736

198-220

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Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

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Theodotus the probable Montanist

7 ¾

ca.240

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Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical)

11 ½

154-224/232

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Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

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Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2 ¼

before 236

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Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

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Maximin Thrax persecutes Christians

235-238

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

Instructions of Commodianus

16

c.240

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Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

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

225-250

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

¾

233-251

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Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

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Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

250-251 - 253

1st Christian schism. Could fallen Christians return or doomed forever (Novatian)

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38 ½

250/254-257

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Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

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Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

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Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ¾ 

c.246-258

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Roman church leaders (ltr 2,29,30)

1+4 ¾

250-251

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Lucian et al. (letters 16, 21)

7/8

250-251

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