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