Timeline of Christianity - Ante-Nicene Period

Ante-Nicene Period

• 100-150? Apocryphon of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Gospel of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Secret Gospel of Mark (Complete Gospels, published by Jesus Seminar)
• 110-130? Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, wrote: "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted (Apostolic Fathers)
• 110-160? Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians, (Apostolic Fathers)
• 120? Rabbi Tarfon advocated burning the Gospels
• 125(+/-5)? 2 Peter written, widely accepted into canon by early 4th century
• 125? Rylands Library Papyrus P52, oldest extant NT fragment, p. 1935, parts of Jn18:31-33,37-38
• 130-250? "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman religion: Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Apology of Aristides, Theophilus of Antioch, Tatian, Quadratus, Melito of Sardis, Apollinaris Claudius, Marcus Minucius Felix, Arnobius, Epistle to Diognetus
• 132-135 Bar Kokhba's revolt: final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, region renamed Syria Palæstina (the term Palestine was originally coined by Herodotus), Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina
• 142-144? Marcion of Sinope, bishop according to Catholic Encyclopedia, went to Rome, possibly to buy the bishopric of Rome, upon rejection formed his own church in Rome, later called Marcionism, rejected Old Testament, decreed canon of one Gospel, one Apostolicon (10 Letters of Paul) and one Antithesis which contrasted the Old Testament with the New Testament, cited Western text-type, see also Expounding of the Law#Antithesis of the Law
• 150? "Western Revisor" adds/subtracts from original Acts to produce Western version which is 10% larger and found in Papyrus P29,38,48 and Codex Bezae (D)
• 150? Valentinius, most famous Christian Gnostic, according to Tertullian narrowly lost election for Bishop of Rome
• 150(+/-10)? Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome (Apostolic Fathers)
• 150-200? Other Gospels: Unknown Berlin Gospel, Gospel of Peter, Oxyrhynchus Gospels, Dialogue of the Saviour
• 155? Montanus, claimed to be the Paraclete ("Counselor") of John 14:16
• 160? Martyrdom of Polycarp (Apostolic Fathers)
• 170? Dionysius, bishop of Corinth claimed Christians were changing and faking his own letters just as they had changed the Gospels (Eusebius' EH 4 c.23 v.12;Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.8)
• 170? Tatian produces "Diatessaron" (Harmony) by blending 4 "Western" text-type Gospels into 1
• 170? Symmachus the Ebionite, new Greek translation of Hebrew Bible
• 177 Persecution in Lyon
• 180? Hegesippus
• 180-202? Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, combated heresies, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers); second "Primate of the Gauls"
• 185-350? Muratorian fragment, 1st extant canon for New Testament after Marcion?, written in Rome by Hippolytus?, excludes Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 3 John; includes Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter
• 186? Saint Apollonius, used the term catholic in reference to 1 John
• 188-231 Saint Demetrius, bishop of Alexandria, condemned Origen
• 189-198 Pope Victor I, 1st Latin Pope, excommunicated Eastern churches that continued to observe Easter on Nisan 14 Quartodeciman
• 196? Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 199-217? Caius, presbyter of Rome, wrote "Dialogue against Proclus" in Ante-Nicene Fathers, rejected Revelation, said to be by Gnostic Cerinthus, see also Alogi
• 200? Papyrus 46: 2nd Chester Beatty, Alexandrian text-type; Papyrus 66: 2nd Bodmer, John, 1956, "Alexandrian/Western" text-types; Papyrus 75: Bodmer 14-15, Luke & John, earliest extant Luke, ~Vaticanus; 200? Papyrus 32: J. Rylands Library: Titus 1:11-15;2:3-8; Papyrus 64 (+67): Mt3:9,15; 5:20-22,25-28; 26:7-8,10,14-15,22-23,31-33
• 200? Sextus Julius Africanus
• 200? Antipope Natalius, rival bishop of Rome, according to Eusebius's EH5.28.8-12, quoting the Little Labyrinth of Hippolytus, after being "scourged all night by the holy angels", covered in ash, dressed in sackcloth, and "after some difficulty", tearfully submitted to Pope Zephyrinus
• 217-236 Antipope Hippolytus, Logos sect? Later dispute settled and considered martyr, Roman canon
• 218-258 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, cited "Western" NT text-type, claimed Christians were freely forging his letters to discredit him (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 220? Clement of Alexandria, cited "Alexandrian" NT text-type & Secret Gospel of Mark & Gospel of the Egyptians; wrote: "Exhortations to the Greeks"; "Rich Man's Salutation"; "To the Newly Baptized"; (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 220?-340? Codex Tchacos, manuscript containing a copy of the Gospel of Judas has been written.
• 223? Tertullian, sometimes called "father of the Latin Church" because he coined trinitas, tres Personae, una Substantia, Vetus Testamentum, Novum Testamentum, convert to Montanism, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 225? Papyrus 45: 1st Chester Beatty Papyri, Gospels (Caesarean text-type, mixed), Acts (Alexandrian text-type)
• 235-238 Maximinus Thrax, emperor of Rome, ends Christian schism in Rome by deporting Pope Pontian and Antipope Hippolytus to Sardinia where they soon die
• 248-264 Dionysius, Patriarch of Alexandria see also List of Patriarchs of Alexandria
• 250? Apostolic Constitutions, Liturgy of St James, Old Roman Symbol, Clementine literature
• 250? Letters of Methodius, Pistis Sophia, Porphyry Tyrius, Commodianus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 250? Papyrus 72: Bodmer 5-11+, pub. 1959, "Alexandrian" text-type: Nativity of Mary; 3Cor; Odes of Solomon 11; Jude 1-25; Melito's Homily on Passover; Hymn fragment; Apology of Phileas; Ps33,34; 1Pt1:1-5:14; 2Pt1:1-3:18
• 250? Origen, Jesus and God one substance, adopted at First Council of Nicaea in 325, compiled Hexapla; cites Alexandrian, Caesarean text-type; Eusebius claimed Origen castrated himself for Christ due to Mt19:12 (EH6.8.1-3)
• 251-424? Synods of Carthage
• 251-258 Antipope Novatian, decreed no forgiveness for sins after baptism (An antipope was an individual whose claim to the papacy was either rejected by the Church at the time or later recognized as invalid.)
• 254-257 Pope Stephen I; major schism over rebaptizing heretics and apostates
• 258 "Valerian's Massacre": Roman emperor issued edict to execute immediately all Christian Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, including Pope Sixtus II, Antipope Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage (CE: Valerian, Schaff's History Vol 2 Chap 2 § 22)
• 264-269 Synods of Antioch, condemned Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch, founder of Adoptionism (Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended at his baptism), also condemned term homoousios adopted at Nicaea
• 265 Gregory Thaumaturgus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 270? Anthony begins monastic movement
• 275? Papyrus 47: 3rd Chester Beatty, ~Sinaiticus, Rev9:10-11:3,5-16:15,17-17:2
• 276 Mani (prophet), crucified, founder of the dualistic Manichaean sect in Persia
• 282-300? Theonas, bishop of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
• 290-345? St Pachomius, founder of Christian monasticism
• 296-304 Pope Marcellinus, offered pagan sacrifices for Diocletian, later repented. Name in Martyrology of Bede
• 301 - Armenia was the first in history to adopt Christianity as state religion.
• 303-312 Diocletian's Massacre of Christians, included burning of scriptures (EH 8.2)
• 303 Saint George, patron saint of Georgia, England and other states
• 304? Victorinus, bishop of Pettau
• 304? Pope Marcellinus, having repented from his previous defection, suffered martyrdom with several companions.
• 306 Synod of Elvira, prohibited relations between Christians and Jews
• 310 Maxentius deports Pope Eusebius and Heraclius to Sicily (relapse controversy)
• 312 Lucian of Antioch, founded School of Antioch, martyred
• 312 Vision of Constantine: while gazing into the sun he saw a cross with the words by this sign conquer, see also Labarum, he was later called the 13th Apostle and Equal-to-apostles
• 313 Edict of Milan, Constantine and Licinius end persecution, establish toleration of Christianity
• 313? Lateran Palace given to Pope Miltiades for residence by Constantine
• 313? traditional date for founding of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre
• 314 Catholic Council of Arles, called by Constantine against Donatist schism to confirm the Council of Rome in 313
• 314-340? Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, church historian, cited Caesarean text-type, wrote Ecclesiastical History in 325
• 317? Lactantius
• 321 Constantine decreed Sunday as state "day of rest" (CJ3.12.2), see also Sol Invictus