< What Early Christians Taught on the End Times Summary ' April 2019 version

REVELATION SPECIFIC

 

Legend for Cells

E1. The Antichrist will come 'after 125 A.D. 2 Th 2:9

E11. Christ returns in literal clouds Acts 1; Rev 1,19

W = Wrote explicitly on this teaching

E2. Heresies & persecution come before Him Mt24;Lk21

E12. Tree of Life Gen 2:9; Rev 2:7; 22:2

I = Implied this is true or opposite is false

E3. Before this will be many lesser antichrists 2 Jn 7

E13. Fulfillment of cosmos has come.1 Cor 10:11

N = Implied since accepted Nicene Creed

E4. Jesus Christ will return in glory-after 125 A.D.

R1. Seven Churches of Revelation Rev 2-3

m = Mixed: some agree, others did not

E5. Rapture of Christians Mt 24:40-41

R2. 2 witnesses before Christ returns.Rev11:3-12

P = partial, (ex: a6. Ignatius mentions everlasting fire, but no mention of Lake)

E6. Resurrection of believers / all 1 Th 4:16-17; 5:3; 2 Th 2:1

R3. Names written in Book of Life Rev 3:5;20:15

E7. Christ will judge all / the quick and the dead Mt 21:32

R4. The Beast or his mark Rev 13,15:2; 17

- = no reference found

E8. Believers will judge the world or angels 1 Cor 6:2-3

R5. The Millennium or 1,000 years Rev 20:1-10

X = Disagree

E9. Those who believe become sons of God.Jn1:12;1Jn3:1

R6. Devil/followers cast in Lake of Fire Rev 20:10

blank = not researched yet

E10. Believers will reign with Christ 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:4,6

R7. Heavenly (24) elders Rev 4:4-11; 11:16-18; 19:4

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 persecuting others

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

E1

E2

E3

E4

E5

E6

E7

E8

E9

E10

E11

12

13

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

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 '

96/98

-

-

-

-

-

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 '

c.60-120

W

W

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Epistle of Barnabas

12 '

c.70-130

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

W

-

-

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.

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 '

120-140

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 '

100-155

-

-

W

-

-

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Epistle to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 '

c.130-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P

62

-150

1

1

1

2

0

6

2

1

2

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

2

0

0

Shepherd of Hermas

46 '

c.115-155

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

W

P

-

-

-

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

-

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

-

Evarestus' Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

c.172

-

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 '

170-180

-

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

c.125-175

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

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

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 '

177

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

'

177, 160-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-177/180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law,Father,Son)

265'+

-188-

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

W

-

W

W

W

P

-

W

W

-

W

W

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

'

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

'

196

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

175-225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

200-225

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

I

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

ca.225

P

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

930

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 '

c.232

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Elchasaite Ebionites (said Jesus God's Son)

2 '

before 236

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

W

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

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

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

742

225-254

I

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 '

250/254-257

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 '

254-256

-

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ''

c.246-258

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

W

13 writers to Cyprian

21 '

c.246-256

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Seventh Council of Carthage (85 bishops)

7 '

258

P

-

W

-

-

-

P

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Valerian persecutes Christians

 

257-260

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

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39 '

246-265

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Malchion (Against Paul of Samosata)

2 '

270

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Aurelian Persecution

 

270

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

Paul of Samosata, deposed bishop of Antioch

 

260-272

Greedy, Adoptionist Monarchian. i.e. the Logos sentered into Jesus at baptism.

Archelaus Disputation with Manes

58 '

262-278

P

W

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

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

3rd century

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

c.250-300

-

-

-

P

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

-

-

W

p115 Rev 2:1-3,13-15,27-29; 3:10-12; etc. (119 verses)

c.250-300

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

-

W

W

-

-

-

p38+0162+0171+0220 13+12+30+6+9 verses

ca.300

-

-

W

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sinaitic Old Syriac (Syr S) (most of the 4 gospels)

3/4th century

-

W

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Adamantius Dialog on the True Faith in God

c.63

c.300

-

-

-

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Victorinus of Petau, Austria -commentator

18 '

martyred 304

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

Most severe persecution by Diocletian

 

284, 303-305

est. 5M Christians, some killed for not sacrificing. destroyed churches/scriptures

Creed of Lucian of Antioch

' '

300-311

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Methodius (corrected Origen's followers)

86 '

260-312

W

-

-

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

Athanasius Against the Heathen & Incarnation

56

318

-

-

-

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.

Alexander of Alexandria-Origenist,undisputed

11 '

313-326

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Lactantius, tutor of Constantine 's son

305'

c.303-c.325

W

W

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

-

-

Christian writer totals: all symbols except P's

4298

before 325

11

9

10

16

5

26

17

5

13

8

10

14

5

5

4

7

6

8

6

7

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

E1

E2

E3

E4

E5

E6

E7

E8

E9

E10

E11

12

13

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

R6

R7

www.Biblequery.org/History/ChurchHistory/WhatEarlyChristiansTaughtonEndTimesSummaryGrid.htm. References at www.Biblequery.org/History/ChurchHistory/WhatEarlyChristiansTaught.htm

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