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Early Church History Timeline

This brief overview of a few of the significant events in the life of the early church is designed to encourage a better understanding of some of the battles fought by the early Christians for the truth of God's Word. In the last column (far right), there is a brief overview of Gnosticism, perhaps the greatest antagonist of the early church, especially during the 2nd century. If you have Excel, you may wish to open the spreadsheet  in Excel format for printing purposes. (Open Excel spreadsheet.)

1-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 250-275 275-300 300-325 325-350 350-375 375-400   Brief Overview of Gnosticism
                                   
Jesus early years Jesus Crucified and Risen (~30) Most of New Testament Written [e.g. 1&2 Thes (51-52); 1&2 Corinthians (53-54); Gal., Col, Rom (56-57); Luk, Col, Phil., Eph (60-63); 1&2 Pet (65); 1&2 Tim, Titus, Heb (65-67); Matt, Mark. Luke  (64-66)] 1, 2, and 3 John (80-85) John dies (100) Marcion uses personal wealth to advance gnostic ideas (140-160) Valentinus (gnostic) dies (~153) Tertullian converted (197-198) (church leader from Carthage. Strongly opposed gnosticism, teachings of Marcion) Irenaeus dies (202) Origen writes  "First Principles" (first "Systematic Theology") (230) Origen dies (254)   Constantine's vision (312) (Emperor of Rome from 306 to 337) Constantiine dies (336) Athanasius produces the first list we have of all 27 books of the NT (367) Augustine Converted (386)   Yahweh (The primary name of God in Hebrew--occuring over 6500 times in the O.T.) was a minor god who "messed up" when he created the physical world. Yahweh was "created" by a goddess named "Sophia" (Greek for "wisdom") who, in turn, was "created" by the ultimate spirit (sometimes called "Bythos," [Greek for "profound depth"] who is hidden from us)
  Paul's ministry begins (~32) Acts (66-68) (Record in Acts closes at about 63-64) John and Rev (90-95) Ignatius martyred (~110?) (3rd pastor of Antioch, appointed by Peter) (discipled by Peter and John) (urged church to worship on Sunday, not Saturday) Valentinus (gnostic) narrowly loses election as Bishop of Rome (143) Polycarp Martyred (155) (stabbed, burned at the stake) Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp)-- wrote "Against Heresies" [i.e., gnosticism] (185) (pastor of Lugdunum, Gaul (now Lyons, France)) Origen begins writing (202) (brilliant Alexandrian theologian, though he had some unorthodox views) Origen: Very Allegorical; wrote first NT commentaries, Hexapla (6 cols: Heb., LXX, 4 Greek) "Gospel of Philip" (~250?) [Some date it 100 years earlier, believing it to have been collected and partially written by the gnostic Valentinus]   Arius begins Arianism (319) (Belief that Jesus was created by God and was a lesser "God") Coptic version of Gospel of Thomas (340) (Nag Hammadi documents) Athanasius dies (373)     All physical things are "evil" by nature. (Contrary to what God says about His "good" creation in Genesis!)
    Nero persecution (64-67) Clement (4th pastor of Rome) writes letter to Corinth. His writings are filled with NT references. Ignatius was unwilling to try to avoid the bloody martyrdom of the arena, proclaiming that his faith in Christ had delivered him from power and fear of death. Marcion excommunicated (144) Montanus introduces Montanism (156) (Montanism: fresh revelations that supercede Scripture; prophecy; ecstastic experiences; tongues) Irenaeus affirms 4 gospels as inspired (to refute Gnosticism) Possible Greek fragments of Gospel of Thomas (200)   Eusebius born (260) (church historian and apologist)   Athanasius (Pastor of church at Alexandria) fights Arianism Arius dies (336)       The gnostic Christ and the man Jesus are two distinct beings. Christ (a spirit being) came upon Jesus at his baptism and left before his crucifixion. Christ came to show us secret knowledge that enables us to escape the evil material world.
    Both Peter and Paul martyred (67-68) Polycarp discipled by John Marcion (gnostic) born (~110) Justin Martyr (Early Christian teacher and apologist)  fights Marcion [i.e., gnosticism] (~150) Tatian's Diatessaron (160-175) (Harmony of the 4 Gospels) Victor 1 (Bishop of Rome) (very intolerant of other churches, excommunicating pastors who opposed his views of when to celebrate Easter) Tertullian becomes a Montanist (207)        Church rejects Arianism at Council of Nicea (325) (The council affirmed what New Testament Christianity had taught all along and repudiated more recent unbiblical beliefs.)         Jesus' death has nothing to do with our salvation. Salvation comes by understanding secret and hidden knowledge (Greek: gnosis, hence "gnostics")
    Temple destroyed (70) Persecution begins under Roman Emperors Domitian and Trajan  (95)   Gospel of Thomas written by gnostics (~150) ( some liberals date it during 1st century, on weak evidence). Teaches salvation through knowledge. (e.g., Jesus is said to have said, 'If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you") Marcion dies (~160) Many gnostic writings appear between 150 and 200 AD, including the now infamous so-called "Gospel of Judas."          Eusebius (died in 340) lists many gnostic documents by name that had been rejected by the church, including the "Gospel of Thomas"         Gnostics tended to be "syncretistic" (i.e., they mixed together Christian, Jewish, Greek, and other beliefs).
    Polycarp born (~70)     Polycarp pastors church at Smyrna (celebrated crucifixion at Nisan 14, unlike church at Rome) Justin Martyr dies (165)                     In their quest for "enlightenment" based on hidden knowledge, gnostics show similarity to eastern religions, such as Buddhism.
            Soter (Bishop at Rome) makes Easter an Official celebration                     The early church quickly recognized the unbiblical and heretical nature of gnosticism and began refuting it immediately.
                                  Gnostic writings began to appear and spread in the second century--50 to 100 years after the New Testament gospels and letters.

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