What Early Christians Taught - Totals … January 2012 version. Note that many of these numbers are too low

TOTAL FOR DOCTRINES

TOTALS FOR EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICE

Legend for Cells

B. Bible (authority, OT, NT, gospels, etc.)

S. Specific individuals (Hezekiah, Thomas, etc.)

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

G. God (One God, almighty, all-knowing, Trinity, etc.)

Ex. Experience (repentance, prayer, fasting, etc.)

I = Implied this is true or opposite is false

J. Jesus (God, pre-existed,virgin-born, sinless man)

P. Practicing Love (tongue, money, stealing,etc.)

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

H. Holy Spirit (God, baptized and sealed in Him, etc.)

C. Church (baptism, Lord’s supper, bishops)

Totals include all symbols except P’s

W. Work of God (Red Sea, Elijah, miracles, etc.)

F. Family (marriage, divorce, kids, purity, etc.)

 

P. People & salvation (we’re sinful, Jesus only way)

K. Kings and government (honor, taxes, etc.)

X = Disagree

U. Ultimate things (resurrection, angels, demons, etc.)

E. Evangelism (methods, messages, refute, etc.)

 

Note that the totals on the bottom include only Christian writers. Thus they do not include any blue or green squares. Though Tertullian is listed in two rows for comparison purposes, he is only counted in the totals once. Tatian, Origen, and Novatian are also counted in the totals.

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

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

Sum

B

G

J

H

W

P

U

S

Ex

P

C

F

K

E

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

97/98

106

9

10

8

4

6

10

4

9

8

14

10

3

4

7

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

95

5

9

21

3

0

8

5

5

10

7

14

2

0

6

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)

4.75

before 125

46

2

4

3

1

0

1

4

1

7

14

5

2

2

0

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

39

1

2

8

2

1

0

2

0

3

7

1

3

3

6

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

0.125

126

2

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5.25

c.130

50

3

4

7

0

1

3

4

0

3

7

4

3

2

9

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

12.5

100-150

75

9

2

14

0

3

10

4

3

8

6

4

2

1

9

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

-138,100-150

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

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

100-150

170

9

9

27

7

4

17

11

8

9

24

15

9

6

15

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5.75

c.150

49

5

4

4

2

1

5

5

1

5

7

2

1

1

6

Polycarp to the Philippians

3.5

100-155

65

5

3

12

1

0

5

6

2

7

9

3

5

2

5

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

6

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

0.5

-150

4

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols but P’s

62

-150

549

41

38

76

14

10

59

37

24

49

64

41

21

15

62

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

166

13

13

32

6

9

14

8

11

6

11

8

4

7

24

Shepherd of Hermas

46.5

c.160

79

2

6

7

7

2

9

5

1

9

15

3

5

2

6

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

34

0

6

7

2

0

1

3

1

4

0

3

0

2

5

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

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

 

Tatian+his Diatessaron.Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

122-1

6

4

25

3

5

7

9

10

8

11½-½

5

5½-½

3

20-1

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

0.33

170

9

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

4

0

0

1

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

c.125-175

81

5

6

21

3

2

8

7

8

5

2

3

0

1

10

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

c.150-175

16

0

0

3

1

1

0

0

3

4

1

1

1

0

1

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

c.175

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

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)

6.5

177

32

3

3

4

1

0

2

0

1

4

2

4

0

2

6

Athenagoras (apologist)

33.5

177

69

4

6

6

3

2

5

2

0

3

5

1

6

6

20

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

0.5

177, 160-180

11

1

0

2

0

0

0

1

0

3

3

0

0

0

1

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2.5

170-180

23

0

1

9

0

0

0

3

1

2

0

1

0

2

4

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

78

7

7

25

3

3

2

0

7

6

4

4

2

1

7

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

0.5

180

6

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

95

5

12

7

2

4

3

2

4

6

9

2

6

7

26

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265.5+

-188-

154-2

6-6

10-1

15-1½

5

12

8-1

13

16-1

10

17 ½

7

7

3

26-1

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

233

15

14

34

9

12

21

24

21

11

17

18

4

5

28

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

9.75

180-202

17

1

0

0

2

0

0

1

0

2

5

1

0

3

2

Maximus of Jerusalem -wrote on origin of evil

5

185-196

7

1

1

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

2

0

1

0

3

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

9.5

196

8

1

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

2

0

2

0

0

0

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

150-200

12

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

0

2

0

0

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

25

8

0

3

2

0

1

1

1

0

0

4

0

1

4

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

 

0

3

2

1

0

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

0.33

200-210

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

3

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

41

0

5

1

0

1

2

2

0

4

6

2

1

1

16

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

5

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

1

0

0

1

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

259

17

15

41

7

11

15

14

17

18

31

15

11

5

42

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

175-225

82

4

3

22

1

4

10

6

4

6

8

2

2

0

11

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

200-225

60

3

1

7

2

4

3

4

9

5

8

1

0

1

13

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

ca.225

11+

0

1

2

0

0

1

2

1

2

0

0

0

0

2+

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

736

200-240

288

11

17

45

11

13

19

30

22

16

23

21

9

9

42

Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

179

16

9

33

3

6

18

15

16

8

17

10

5

5

18

Theodotus the probable Montanist

7.75

ca.240

44

6

7

2

2

1

2

1

2

4

6

3

0

1

7

Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical)

11.5

154-224/232

28

1

1

0

0

1

4

3

0

2

5

2

0

0

8

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2.75

c.232

20

3

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

0

5

0

0

8

Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God’s Son)

2.25

before 236

7-4

1-1

1

1-1

0

0

0

-1

0

0

1

1

1

1

0-1

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

197

13

10

41

10

12

18

19

14

5

7

11

1

2

34

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

52

5

2

3

0

1

5

6

2

6

13

5

1

1

2

Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

14

1

1

3

0

1

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

1

4

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

225-250

28

3

1

7

1

2

7

1

1

2

0

2

0

0

1

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

0.75

233-251

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

277

15

16

53

9

13

23

24

22

17

16

12

8

7

42

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)

38.5

250/254-257

111

10

13

30

5

5

12

5

5

5

7

4

0

2

8

Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6.5

254-256

42

6

4

3

2

1

3

5

3

1

4

4

0

1

5

Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

50

6

4

8

7

1

4

3

5

1

3

4

0

0

4

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250.50 

c.246-258

261

13

12

42

11

3

32

21

17

18

28

23

10

5

26

Roman church leaders (ltr 2,29,30)

1+4.75

250-251

11

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

2

1

6

0

0

0

Lucian et al. (letters 16, 21)

.875

250-251

7

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

1

1

1

0

1

0

Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18)

0.375

250-251

3

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20)

1.25

250-251

6

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

3

0

0

0

1

1

Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25)

2.5

250

25

4

2

2

1

0

1

1

0

5

1

2

0

2

4

Cornelius to Cyprian (letters 45,47)

2.5  

c.246-256

8

0

2

1

1

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

Maximus, et al. to Cyprian (ltr 49)

0.25

c.246-256

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

Firmilian of Caesarea to Cyprian (74)

7.25

256

36

5

2

1

3

1

1

3

4

2

0

10

0

1

3

Nemesianus, et al. to Cyprian (77)

0.75

254-257

5

0

0

0

1

0

1

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Lucius and the brethren to Cyprian (78)

0.5

254-257

7

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

0

2

0

1

0

0

0

Felix & the rest of the martyrs to Cyprian (79)

0.25

254-257

3

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Seventh Council of Carthage (85 bishops)

7.25

258

40

5

3

6

2

0

1

4

3

1

1

10

0

0

4

Pontius’ The Life and Passion of Cyprian

7.5

after 258

20

0

2

0

1

0

2

0

1

2

4

4

0

1

3

Valerian persecutes Christians

 

257-260

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

 

Theognostus of Alexandria (Origenist)

0.5

260

9

0

1

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Gregory Thaumaturgus (undisputed works)

28.5

240-265

50

4

3

11

3

1

2

0

2

2

3

7

0

2

10

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39.5

246-265

94

6

6

18

3

7

4

2

7

5

9

14

0

1

12

Dionysius of Rome (Against the Sabellians)

1

259-269

17

4

4

5

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Malchion (Against Paul of Samosata)

2.5

270

10

0

0

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

3

0

1

1

Aurelian Persecution

 

270

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

 

p37+p49/65+p53 34+29/19+23 verses (Mt, Acts, Paul)

225-275,c.260

22

1

2

2

1

1

1

0

2

3

5

1

1

1

1

Pierius of Alexandria (fragment)

0.5

275

3

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

Archelaus (Disputation with Manes)

58.75

262-278

89

7

6

13

4

3

7

10

7

4

3

7

2

2

14

Anatolius of Alexandria (mathematician)

7.5

270-280

12

1

0

3

0

1

0

0

1

1

0

2

0

0

3

p47 (= Chester Beatty III) 31% of Rev. Rev 9:10, etc.

c.250-300

13

0

1

2

0

0

0

3

0

2

1

0

1

1

2

p9+p20+p27/p40+p28+p35+p69+p70+p101 113 verses

3rd century

46+

1

5

9

2

1

6

2

4

3

5

1

2

0+

5

p15/p16 1 Cor 7:18-8:4; Php 3:10-17; 4:2-8 42 verses

Late 3rd

8+

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

4

0+

1

p17 Hebrews 9:12-19  8 verses

Late 3rd

2

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0