SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS CARACALLA ELAGABALUS ALEXANDER SEVERUS MAXIMIN GORDIAN III PHILIP

DECIUS
249 – 251 VALERIAN GALLIENUS AURELIAN PROBUS DIOCLETIAN GREAT PERSECUTION LICINIUS EMPEROR OF ROME/PERSECUTION
211 – 217 218 – 222 235 – 238 238 – 244 244 – 249 303 – 311
193 – 211 253 – 260 260 – 268 270 – 275 276 – 282
284 – 305 312 – 324
GALLUS
222 – 235
Caracalla
251 – 253
EASTERN AUGUSTUS
202 – 211 250 – 251 256 – 260 274 – 275
GALERIUS
Marie-Lan Ngyuen

IRENAEUS OF LYONS
Irenaeus Severus CC BY 2.5 2011

CIVIL WARS EASTERN CAESAR

293 – 305
AGAINST HERESIES Diocletian OF THE Licinius

SMYRNA, ASIA MINOR

PASCHAL CONTROVERSY (190)
LUGDUNUM, GAUL† 130 – 202 Alexander Severus
Marie-Lan Ngyuen
Raising of Lazarus MAXIMIAN TETRARCHY
305 – 312
CONSTANTINE WESTERN AUGUSTUS
HERESIES (180) CC BY 2.5 2011 Late 3rd Century 286 – 305 312 – 337

3RD CENTURY LAW TO JEWS, PHILOSOPHY TO GREEKS

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA CONSTANTIUS WESTERN CAESAR
ATHENS, ACHAIA CAPPADOCIA 150 – 215 Maximian 293 – 305 Constantine
EXHORTATION (195) EDICT OF TOLERATION (311) BATTLE OF CHRYSOPOLIS (324)
TUTOR (198) MILVIAN BRIDGE (312) COUNCIL OF NICEA (325)
Cyprian

TERTULLIAN OF CARTHAGE
MISCELLANIES; DEPARTS ALEXANDRIA, FLEEING PERSECUTION (203) EDICT OF MILAN (313)
Meister von Meßkirch (1540) Libellus
Decian Persecution
1 SUBSTANTIA, 3 PERSONAE; TRINITAS To the Commissioners of Sacrifice:
CARTHAGE, AFRICA CARTHAGE, AFRICA 155 – 220 Christian Martyrs
CONVERTED (195)
APOLOGY (197)
AGAINST MARCION (208)
AGAINST PRAXEAS (215) Konstantin Flavitsky (1862) From Aurelius Diogenes, son of Satabas, a
HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME
TRINITAS
man of seventy-two years, with a scar on his
Agape Feast PRESCRIPTION AGAINST HERETICS; BECOMES A MONTANIST (207)

Catacomb of Callistus (3rd Cen.)

RIGORIST OPPONENT OF CALLISTUS OVER GRAVE SINNERS right eyebrow. I have always sacrificed
ROME, ITALIA LABOR MINES, SARDINIA (IN EXILE)† 170 – 235 “trinitas”, threeness. In his Against
OF CHRIST AND THE ANTICHRIST (202)
ACCUSES BISHOP ZEPHYRINUS OF ROME OF MODALISM (210)
REFUTATION OF ALL HERESIES (225) CHRONICLE (234)
EXILED TO SARDINIA; RECONCILED TO BISHOP PONTIAN (235)
Praxeas, Tertullian was the first to use
this Latin word with respect to the
regularly to the gods, and now, in your
SABELLIUS
DISPUTES WITH BISHOP CALLISTUS OF ROME OVER GRAVE SINNERS (217)
Godhead, describing a “unity unto a
trinitas…three, not in condition, but in presence, in accordance with the edict, I
MODALISTIC MONARCHIANISM (“MODALISM”) degree; not in substance, but in form;
have done sacrifice, and poured the libation,
PTOLEMAIS, CYRENAICA
EXCOMMUNICATED AS HERETIC BY ROMAN CHURCH (220)
UNKNOWN 175 – 250 not in power, but in aspect; yet of one
substance, and of one condition, and of
MODALISM, ALSO KNOWN AS SABELLIANISM, WAS THE HERETICAL BELIEF THAT FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT ARE THREE DISTINCT MODES OR MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE. IT WAS A RESPONSE TO TRITHEISM, THE one power, inasmuch as he is one God.” and tasted of the sacrifices, and I request
ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA
SEMI-POLYTHEISTIC BELIEF THAT OVEREMPHASIZED DISTINCTION AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD AT THE EXPENSE OF UNITY. MODALISM’S ROOTS ARE IN THE PLATONIC VISION OF THE INEFFABLE ONE.

ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION you to certify the same.

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
FATHER LEONIDES BEHEADED IN SEVERIAN PERSECUTION (202) ON FIRST PRINCIPLES (215) HEXAPLA: BIBLE IN SIX VERSIONS (230) AGAINST CELSUS (248)
TYRE, LEBANON† 185 – 254 I certify that I saw him sacrificing
Origen Hippolytus HEADS CATECHETICAL SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA; SELF-CASTRATION (203) OPPOSED BY BISHOP DEMETRIUS OF ALEXANDRIA; GOES TO CAESAERA (232) TORTURED IN DECIAN PERSECUTION (251)
[signature obliterated].
CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE
DIES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING TORTURE (254)

Perchance, too, philosophy was given to the Greeks CONTROVERSY OVER THE LAPSED Done in the first year of the Emperor
CARTHAGE, AFRICA CARTHAGE, AFRICA† 200 – 258 Trajan Decius, on this second of Epiphi [June
directly and primarily, till the Lord should call the CONVERTED AT CARTHAGE UNDER CAECILIUS (246) BEHEADED AT CARTHAGE (258)
BISHOP OF CARTHAGE (248)
26th, 250]. Libellus found in Egypt
Greeks. For this was a schoolmaster to bring the NOVATIAN OF ROME
FLEES CARTHAGE; RETURNS; ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH; ON THE LAPSED; COUNCIL OF CARTHAGE CONDEMNS FELICISSIMUS (250-251)

Hellenic mind, as the Law, the Hebrews, to Christ. RIGORIST OPPONENT OF CORNELIUS OVER THE LAPSED
PHRYGIA ROME, ITALIA† 200 – 258 We had indeed decided some time ago…that
Philosophy, therefore, was a preparation, paving ORDAINED AT ROME; DECIAN PERSECUTION BREAKS OUT (250)
DEVELOPS RIGORIST POSITION IN OPPOSITION TO BISHOP CORNELIUS OF ROME; EXCOMMUNICATED; ESTABLISHES RIVAL CHURCH AT ROME (251)
Martyrdom of Cyprian
PAUL OF SAMOSATA they who, in the fierceness of persecution,
MARTYRED UNDER VALERIAN (258)

the way for him who is perfected in Christ.

DYNAMIC MONARCHIANISM (“ADOPTIONISM”) had been overthrown by the adversary, and
Clement, Miscellanies 1.5 SAMOSATA, SYRIA UNKNOWN 200 – 275
ADOPTIONISM WAS A BELIEF HOLDING THAT JESUS WAS “ADOPTED” AS GOD’S SON AT SOME BISHOP OF ANTIOCH (260) DRIVEN OUT BY AURELIUS (272)
POINT DURING HIS TIME ON EARTH (I.E., AT HIS BAPTISM). FIRST TAUGHT BY THEODOTUS OF DEPOSED AS HERETIC BY 70-BISHOP SYNOD AT ANTIOCH (269)
Thaumaturgus
had lapsed, and had polluted themselves
GREGORY THAUMATURGUS
BYZANTIUM IN THE LATE 2ND CENTURY, PAUL OF SAMOSTA DEVLOPED IT FURTHER IN THE 3RD.

What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What with unlawful sacrifices, should undergo a
WONDER-WORKING, EVANGELIZING PONTIAN BISHOP long and full repentance; and if the risk of
concord is there between the Academy and the NEOCAESAREA, PONTUS NEOCAESAREA, PONTUS 213 – 270 Mani
sickness should be urgent, should receive
CONVERTED DESPITE PAGAN FAMILY (227) BISHOP OF NEOCAESAREA (240) EXPOSITION OF THE FAITH (260)
church? Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics 7 TAUGHT BY ORIGEN AT CAESAREA (231)

MANI OF PERSIA
RETURNS TO PONTUS (238)

peace on the very point of death.

SELF-PROCLAIMED PARACLETE; FOUNDED MANICHAEISM
Thus the connection of the Father in the Son, and of CTESIPHON, PARTHIAN EMPIRE
1ST VISION AT BABYLONIA (228) 2ND VISION (240)
GUNDESHAPUR, SASSANID EMPIRE
MANICHAEISM WAS A DUALISTIC HODGEPODGE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, BLENDING CHRISTIAN
216 – 276 Mani
Cyprian, Epistle to Cornelius Concerning the Lapsed
the Son in the Paraclete, produces three coherent HERESY, ZOROASTRIANISM, BUDDHISM, AND OTHER TEACHINGS. IT TAUGHT SALVATION BY

ARIUS OF ALEXANDRIA
Gregory Thaumaturgus WORKS AND ASCETICISM FOR THE MONKISH “ELECT,” WHO WERE SERVED BY THE LAY
“HEARERS.”
14th Cen.
Persons, who are yet distinct One from Another. “THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE WAS NOT”
These Three are one Substance, not one Person, as CYRENAICA
EXCOMMUNICATED BY BISHOP PETER FOR SUPPORTING MELETIUS (311)
CONSTANTINOPLE 250 – 336
READMITTED AND MADE PRESBYTER BY BISHOP ACHILLAS (313)
it is said, “I and my Father are One,” in respect of
ANTHONY OF THEBES
COUNCIL OF NICEA: CONDEMNED; EXILED TO ILLYRICUM (325)

unity of Being, not singularity of number. FATHER OF MONASTICISM

HERACLEOPOLIS, EGYPT MOUNT COLZIM, EGYPT 251 – 356
Tertullian, Against Praxeas 12 Papyrus P46 Eusebius
WEALTHY PARENTS DIE (269) GOES TO ALEXANDRIA; VISITS THOSE IN PRISON; SEEKS MARTYRDOM UNSUCCESSFULLY; RETURNS TO DESERT (311)
ENTERS NITRIAN DESERT (270)

Clement
The Good Shepherd
ca. 200
Gal. 6:10 – Php. 1:1
PRO-CONSTANTINE CHURCH HISTORIAN
EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA
It must be our object to grasp the whole meaning, 3rd Cen.

CLEMENT: CAESAREA, SYRIA PALESTINA CAESAREA, SYRIA PALESTINA 263 – 339

which connects the account of what is literally Anthony Tempted
C. Saftleven (1629)
TAUGHT BY PAMPHILUS (285) BISHOP OF CAESAREA (313) ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (324)
COUNCIL OF NICEA: CAESAREAN CREED REJECTED; CHRONICLE (325)

impossible in an intelligible manner with what is STROMATA DECIUS MANDATES SACRIFICE TO THE GODS; THE LAPSED (LAPSI)
not only not impossible, but also historically true, 203
and which is allegorically understood, in respect of Tertullian Arius
250 FIRST EMPIRE-WIDE PERSECUTION SACRIFICATI MADE SACRIFICE
THURIFICATI BURNT INCENSE
its not having literally occurred. For, with respect TERTULLIAN: PRESCRIPTION CYPRIAN CALLS SYNOD OF CARTHAGE TO LIBELLATICI OBTAINED A LIBELLUS

to holy Scripture, our opinion is that the whole of it 251 ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE LAPSED
ACTA FACIENTES
AGAINST HERETICS
LIED TO SAVE LIFE
203 TRADITORES BETRAYED SCRIPTURE OR OTHER CHRISTIANS
has a “spiritual,” but not the whole a “bodily” Triumph of Faith
Eugene Thirion (19th Cen.)
meaning, because the bodily meaning in many ORIGEN: ON FIRST ANTHONY BECOMES FIRST
places proved to be impossible. DESERT HERMIT
215 PRINCIPLES 270
Origen, On First Principles 20
TERTULLIAN OF CARTHAGE DECIAN PERSECUTION
200 ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA 250 CYPRIAN DEALS WITH THE LAPSED 300
PERPETUA AND FELICITY OF CARTHAGE (202) HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME (235) ORIGEN OF ALEXANDRIA (254) ALBAN OF BRITAIN (283) GEORGE, AFRA, AGNES, VINCENT, LUCY (303-304) 40 MARTYRS OF SEBASTE (320)
NOTABLE MARTYRS LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA (ORIGEN’S FATHER) (202) CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE, NOVATIAN OF ROME (258) SEBASTIAN OF ROME (288) JANUARIUS OF NAPLES, PHILOMENA (305)
Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity SCHISM OF HIPPOLYTUS SCHISM OF NOVATIAN
Felix Louis Leullier (1880)
Martyrs are indicated with a † following their place of death
217 – 235 251 – 258 Alexamenos Worhips His God
Unless indicated as licensed under Creative Commons, all works of art depicted are in the public domain. Maximian: Olybrius CC BY 3.0; Constantine: David Jones CC BY 2.0 HIPPOLYTUS, CALLISTUS NOVATIAN, CORNELIUS Anti-Christian Graffiti, Rome (3rd Cen.)
© 2014 CHURCHHISTORYTIMELINE.COM