Ancient Church History

Nate Wilson's Early Church History Timeline 100-600 A.D.
Second Century

Age of the Apostolic Fathers (Didache/Teaching of the 12, Epistle to Diogenetus, Shepherd of Hermas, Clemet of Rome, Polycarp of Symrna, Ignatius of Antioch, Papias of Hieropolis, Barnabus)

use of scripture quotation (LXX), unity of church, continuity with Apostles

no defined doctrines

Heresies began: Docetic (Christ "appeared" to be man), Ebionite (Jewish, Jesus adopted by God), Gnostic (secret knowledge, hierarchy of spirits), Montanus (prophecy, H.S., legalism, Christ's eminent return), Marcion (OT demiurge, dualism, truncated scripture)

Bishop and Presbyter considered equivalent

Rome is pagan and insists on Emperor Worship, so persecution of Christians exists locally

Christianity spreads throughout Rome and Mesopotamia

End of Middle Platonism influence
Justin Martyr born, Clement of Rome Dies
Exchange of letters b/w Pliny the Younger and Emperor Trajan--punishing Christians
Emperor Trajan Succeeded by Hadrian
Ignatius Dies
Irenaeus born, Papias Dies
Emperor Hadrian succeeded by Antonius Pius
Marcion Excommunicated
Clement of Alexandria born, Shepherd of Hermas Written?, Old Roman Creed in use
Justin Martyr writes major work: Apology

Tertullian Born, Julius Africanus (historian) born, Marcion Dies
Emperor Antonius Pius succeeded by Marcus Aurelius
Justin Martyr Dies
Polycarp Martyred. Recant? "80 & 6 years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong"
Tatian (Apologist) dies
Iranaeus states case for apostolic succession
Theophilus (Apologist) Dies
Origen Born
Victor, bishop of Rome, tried to force Eastern and Western church to worship Easter on the same day...unsuccessfully
Tertullian writes To The Heathen and Apology

Third Century

Apologists: Justin Martyr (Apology, philosophy), Tertullian (Father of Latin Theology), Clement of Alexandria (philosophy, Apology to the Greeks, catechetical school of Alexandria), Origen (Philosophis, Against Celsus), Irenaeus)

Severe persecution of Christians empire-wide

Monasticism begins in isolated ascetics

Christian worship grows to include more emphasis on church membership (catechumens, dismissal of all but faithful for communion and kiss, diptych--list of saints)

Muratorian canon has 25 NT books, Origen's canon: 21

Church Government begins the shift from local elders to Episcopal government

HERESIES: Monarchianism (God the father transcendent), Sabellianism (modalist-God in three modes at three times), Patripassianism (Father suffered)

Christianity overtakes Armenia, Arabia, Central Asia and India

Irenaeus dies, Cyprian Born
Emperor Septimius Severus issues edict forbidding conversions to Judaism and Christianity
Tertullian writes Prescription against Heretics

Tertullian writes Against Marcion

Clement of Alexandria Dies
Zephyrinus succeeded by Callistus as bishop of Rome, both supporting Monarchianism
Tertullian dies
Emperor Maximinus Thrax succeeds Alexander Severus and renews persecution
Hippolytos dies
Montanism considered heresy
Gregory made bishop of Pontus, tremendous evangelism of Asia Minor
Philip the Arabian considered first Christian Emperor
Cyprian made bishop of Carthage
Decian becomes Emperor, orders all Romans to sacrifice to the gods, begins major 3-year persecution of Christians
Stephen, presbyter of Rome, restores lapsed ministers in persecution
By this time, houses were being converted into church buildings
Arius Born in Libya
Anthony born in Egypt, would become famous monk
Decius dies in battle and is succeeded by Gallus
Synods in Rome and Carthage hold out restoration to lapsed Christians on condition of long penance.
Emperor Valerian succeeds Gallus, initially friendly to Christians
Origen Dies
Valerian issues edict for clergy to sacrifice to gods on pain of exile
Valerian issues edict ordering confiscation of property and death to Christians of high rank
Cyprian dies
Valerian's persecution ends with his death, some "breather" for Christians
Eusebius born
Gregory Thaumaturgos (wonder-worker) bishop of Neo-Caesarea dies
Mani (Manicheanism's founder) dies
Athanasius born in Egypt

Fourth Century

Cessation of persecution of Christians in Roman Empire, erection of church buildings, beginning of church-state entanglement

Issues of receiving back into church those who recanted under persecution (Novatian, bishop of Rome, laity who recanted, and Donatus--priests not able to administer sacraments if they gave up their scriptures.) Martyrs venerated.

Controversy over Trinity and Christ; great struggle between Athanasian Orthodoxy and Arians, Eastern Church homoiusion vs. Western church "homoousion",

HERESIES: Arian: There was a time when the Logos was not, Anomoeans= Christ of Different substance, pneumatomachians= "spirit fighters"; Appolonarians (logos replaced Christ's human soul), Manichaeism (dualist, reject O.T.)

Three Great Cappadocian Fathers: pro-Athanasius-anti Arian, influenced Eastern Theology and reconciled East w/ West. First 2 are brothers: Gregory of Nyssa (greatest theologian and writer), Basil of Caesarea (organizer & diplomat), and Gregory of Nazianzus (bishop of Sasima, poet), Western church leaders: Hosius, Ambrose of Milan, Hillary of Poitiers, Jerome--Bible editor)

Epiphany (East) and Christmas (West) begin to be celebrated

Christianity spreads among the Georgians in the Caucasuses

Basil the Great born

Diocletian and successors begin most violent persecution of Christians

Synod in Spain demands celibacy of bishops

Emperor Galerius relaxes persecution of Christians

Constantine sees sign (Cr), victorious at the battle of Milvan Bridge, crowned emperor by Senate

Edict of Milan: agreement between Constantine (Western Emperor) and Lucinius (Eastern Emperor) to tolerate Christianity

Council of Arles (Donatism: "outside the church there is no salvation")

Athanasius becomes bishop of Alexandria at age 30, Great theologian of the 4th Century. Jesus is both God AND Man.

Lactontius (Divine Institutes) dies

Emperor Constantine defeats Eastern Emperor to become sole Roman Emperor, moves the Roman capital to Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul
Constantine passes laws favouring Christianity

Constantine calls the first Ecumenical council: also recognized 3 leading bishops (Rome, Antioch, Alexandria)

Nicene Council: Eusebius began the Nicene creed--Trinity, defines Christ as homoousios (same substance) with the Father, and addressed Christians lapsed during Persecution (re-accepted pending appropriate restoration), various laws regarding clergy and church members, and the date of Easter (14th of Nisan). Mostly Eastern Church. Arius exiled

Arius submits acceptable creed to Constantine and released from exile along with Eusebius

Gregory, bishop of Nyssa born

Arius and his ilk regain power and anathematize Athanasius
Gregory of Nazianzus born

Council convenes at Tyre to try Athanasius and banish him to Gaul.
Arius dies

Emperor Constantine dies and empire divided among three sons, Constantius, Constantine II, and Constans

Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History, advisor of Constantine) dies

Roman Synod pronounces Marcellus of Ancyra and Athanasius Orthodox, Western Emperor Constantine II dies

Council of Antioch, pronounces M. & A. Unorthodox, first Arian missionary sent--Ulfilas to the Goths, rewrote Nicene Creed with homoiusias (Christ is of "like" nature) 97 Eastern bishops attended.
Ambrose born.

Two of Constantine's sons order abolition of sacrifices to pagan gods.
Council of Antioch orders precedence of metropolitan bishops over other bishops in a province

Council of Serdica (Bulgaria): Eastern & Western bishops divided into separate assemblies. Greeks defined God as one God in three Hypostases (persons), which sounded to Western Latins like 3 substances (Gods). Western church made their first appeal to Rome.

Jerome is born

Pachomias dies, having founded first monasteries

Athanasius returns to Alexandria.

Constans (Emperor of Italy and N. Africa) dies, leaving whole empire to Arian Emperor Constantius. Extreme Arians (Aetius and Eunonymius) gained influence, Whole church was considered Arian

Pelagius born in Britain

Augustine born, Constantius calls Council regarding Arianism in Gaul

Constantius calls Council regarding Arianism in Milan

Athanasius sent back into exile.
Anthony (monk) dies, having founded hermiticism and laura communities

Council in Sirmium forbids the use of ousia, homoousia, or homoiusia

Emperor Constantius dies, succeeded by Julian the Apostate, who restores Athanasius

Synod held by Athanasius in Alexandria to win over the homoiusian Meletians in Egypt. Promotes 1 ousia, 3 hypostases

Julian dies in war, succeeded by Christian Jovian

Damasus, bishop of Rome, stressed apostolic succession from Peter and tried to influence other bishops

Athanasius is first to write down NT canon

Cappodocian fathers rise to influence in the East; moderate Arians get sick of the radical Arians and throw in with Athanasius.

Hillary of Poitiers (Gaulic Anti-Arian) dies

Augustine's profligate youth in Carthage

Athanasius dies after 5 books against Eunomius and 5 exiles!

Basil incites emperor Valentinum to outlaw abortion

Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, comments on church government: Bishop = Presbyter

Theodisius becomes Emperor after Goths defeat Emperor Valens
Basil, bishop of Caesarea dies

2nd Ecumenical council called by Theodosius at Constantinople:

Nicene Creed reestablished and elabourated upon--Christ and H.S. single procession(Constantinopolitan creed), Arianism re-anathematized along with Appolonarians and pneumatomachians, 2 leading Bishops recognized: Rome & Constantinople, Christianity made the established religion of the Roman Empire (no Western bishops attended)

Augustine teaches in Milan, meets bishop Ambrose

Pope Damasus dies

Pope Siricius enjoins chastity upon all priests

Augustine becomes a Christian

Augustine returns to N. Africa, founds community, writes extensively

Gregory, bishop of Nyssa dies

Patrick, missionary to Ireland is born

Ambrose forces Emperor Theodosius to repent from massacre in Thesolonica
Council at Carthage commands chastity for clergy.

Theodore made bishop of Mopsuestia

Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Sasima, dies

New Testament canon finalized in Council of Carthage,
Emperor Theodosius dies

Augustine becomes bishop of Hippo

Ambrose Dies, John Chrysostom becomes patriarch of Constantinople

Martin of Tours, pioneer of monastic movement in Gaul, dies

Fifth Century

Rome a Christian State, gladiatorial combat ends

Monasticism mushrooms and becomes associated with the Catholic church

Christological and Anthropology controversies ironed out

Heresies: Nestorianism (Human and Divine natures separated in Christ, Mary NOT mother of God=Qeotokos, Antioch School stressing X's humanity, Nestorius may not have been that extreme), Monophysitism (In c, union of Deity & humanity, deity absorbed human nature, so only one nature-Eutyches) and Pelagianism (free-will, no original sin, law & works)

Church Leaders: Cyril of Alexandria (against Nestorius), Augustine of Hippo (Confessions, City of God, Against Pelagius--doctrine of Grace), Leo of Rome (Tome: Christ's two natures in one person)

Christianity spreads in Persia, among Turks, Picts, Irish, Franks, and Huns, and in Ceylon

Pope Innocent I instated
John Chrysostom dies
Rome is sacked by the Goths, increases Roman bishop's power
Council of Carthage condemns Donatism
Council of churches in the Sassanid realms
Cyril becomes patriarch of Alexandria (Against Nestorius)
John Cassian founds monasteries near Marseilles
Council of Carthage: Pelagianism condemned
Jerome dies, having translated N.T. into Latin and founded monasteries
Pelagius dies
Nestorius becomes bishop of Constantinople

3rd Ecumenical Council called: Council of Ephesus-- Cyril wins and Nestorius deposed; Pelagianism again condemned, and it's teachers, Julian and Celestius anathematized.
Cyril deposed 4 days later by angry John.
Nestorius condemned also in synod in Rome and council in Alexandria
Augustine Dies.
Pope Leo I, publishes his Christological views to be accepted in the Eastern Council of Chalcedon.
Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, dies, succeeded by Dioscurus
Flavius made bishop of Constantinople
Eutyches, head of Constantinople monastery and proponent of Monophysitism, charged with heresy in a council
Second Council of Ephesus ("Robber Synod") clears Eutyches of heresy
Flavian condemns Eutyches at a synod in Constantinople

4th Ecumenical Council: Chalcedon called by Emperor Marcion and Leo, Bishop of Rome. (Reaffirmed Nicene Christology, opposed Robber Synod, Affirmed Leo's Tome on Christology. Finalized doctrine on Christ as Man and God "unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, and inseparably"
Eutyches, head of Constantinople monastery and proponent of Monophysitism dies
Simon the Stylite (pillar saint) dies
Emperor Basilicus condemns Tome of Leo and Chalcedon
Romulus Augustulus, Last Western Emperor, deposed by Herulian Odovacar
Emperor Zeno writes Henoticon to reconcile Monophysites and Chalcedonians
Jacob Baradaeus, Monophysite missionary born
Pope Gelasius claims right of preeminence over all priests due to succession from Peter
Clovis, King of Gaul is baptized

Sixth Century

Catholic church grows sacraments from 2 to 7

Decline of Roman Empire, overtaken by "barbarians"

HERESY: Semi-Pelagianism (Cassian & Faustus in S. France, Synergism--man's good cooperates with God's grace, predestination based on foreknowledge), Neo-Platonism (Pseudo-Dionesius, mysticism)

Christianity spreads up the Nile into Sudan, and also takes the Scots, Angles, and Saxons

Emperor Justinian I begins his reign and brings revival to Rome and Church
Benedictine Rules composed
Second council of Orange: Formal end of Pelagian controversy (Semi-Pelagianism condemned)
Emperor Justinian I closes the pagan philosophy schools of Athens
Gregory the Great born (first monk to become bishop of Rome)
Justinian issues edict condemning writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia, Nestorius, and of the Anti-Cyril Theodoret.
Pope Vigilus withdraws Justinians edict
Fifth Ecumenical Council at Constantinople (Reaffirms Justinian's edict, banishes Vigilius, and condemns Chrysostom and Origen for universalism)
Isidore born
Muhammad born
Monophysites of Egypt choose a Syrian patriarch, not accepted
Double procession of H.S. from Father and Son inserted into Nicene Creed by Synod of Toledo
"Benedictine Centuries" Monasticism
Pope: Gregory

Seventh Century

Monotheletism-Christ had one person and one nature, but will replaced by Divine

Islam takes over N. Africa, Mesopotamia, and more

Eastern church upholds marriage of priests

Christianity spreads into China, Britain completely evangelized, also into the Frisians

600. Isidore appointed archbishop of Seville

SOURCES: Kenneth Scott Latourette A History Of Christianity, Robert Walton Chronological And Background Charts Of Church History, and Lectures From Dr. Joseph Hall