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#REDIRECT [[Christianity in the ante-Nicene period]]
[[File:Stele Licinia Amias Terme 67646.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Funerary [[stele]] of Licinia Amias on marble. One of the most ancient Christian inscriptions found, it is from the early 3rd-century [[Vatican Hill|Vatican]] [[necropolis]] area, [[Rome]].<br> Upper tier: dedication to the ''Dis Manibus'' and Christian motto in Greek letters ΙΧΘΥC ΖΩΝΤΩΝ: ''Ikhthus zōntōn'', "fish of the living"; middle tier: depiction of fish and an anchor; lower tier: Latin inscription “LICINIAE FAMIATI BE / NE MERENTI VIXIT”.]]
{{Main|Early history of Christianity}}
{{See also|Christianity in the 2nd century|Christianity in the 4th century}}


{{Redirect category shell|
The third century of Christianity was largely the time of the [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] who wrote after the [[Apostolic Fathers]] of the [[Christianity in the 1st century|1st]] and [[Christianity in the 2nd century|2nd centuries]] but before the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 (''ante-nicene'' meaning ''before Nicaea''). Some of the larger [[Persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire|persecutions of early Christians in the Roman Empire]] occurred in this time period, only ceasing with the [[Edict of Milan]] of 313 in the [[Christianity in the 4th century|4th century]] (excluding the brief rule of [[Julian the Apostate]], 331-363).
{{R from merge}}

}}
==Early Christianity==
[[Image:P46.jpg|thumb|175px|A folio from [[Papyrus 46|P46]], an early 3rd century collection of [[Pauline epistles]].]]
===Defining scripture===
{{main|Biblical canon (Christian)}}
{{seealso|Deuterocanonical books|Biblical Apocrypha|Antilegomena}}

The [[Biblical canon]] began with the officially accepted books of the [[Koine Greek]] [[Old Testament]] (which predates Christianity, see [[Hellenistic Judaism]]). The [[Septuagint]] or seventy is accepted as the foundation of the [[Christian faith]] along with the [[Good news (Christianity)|Good news]] (gospels), [[Book of Revelation|Revelations]] and Letters of the Apostles (including [[Acts of the Apostles]] and the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]]) of the [[New Testament]].

By the early 200's, [[Origen of Alexandria]] may have been using the same 27 books as in the modern New Testament, though there were still disputes over the canonicity of Hebrews, James, II Peter, II and III John, and Revelation<ref>Both points taken from Mark A. Noll's ''Turning Points'', (Baker Academic, 1997) pp 36–37</ref>, referred to as the [[Antilegomena]].

===Early Heresies===
{{main|Christian heresy}}
The letters accepted by many Christians as part of Scripture warned about [[Judaizing|mixing Judaism with Christianity]], leading to decisions reached in the [[first ecumenical council]], which was convoked by the Emperor Constantine at Nicaea in 325, in response to further disruptive polemical controversy within the Christian community, in that case [[Arianism|Arian]] disputes over the nature of the [[Trinity]]. Before 325 AD, the "heretical" nature of some beliefs was a matter of much debate within the churches. After 325 AD, some opinion was formulated as dogma through the ''canons'' promulgated by the councils.

===Early iconography===
[[Image:Good shepherd 02b close.jpg|thumb|160px|Christ Jesus,<ref>"The figure (…) is an allegory of Christ as the shepherd" Andre Grabard, "Christian iconography, a study of its origins", ISBN 0691018308</ref> the Good Shepherd, 3rd century.]]
{{main|Early Christian art}}
Christian art only emerged relatively late, and the first known Christian images emerge from about AD&nbsp;200,<ref>"The earliest Christian images appeared somewhere about the year 200." Andre Grabar, p.7</ref> though there is some literary evidence that small domestic images were used earlier. Although many [[Hellenistic Judaism|Hellenised Jews]] seem, as at the [[Dura-Europos synagogue]], to have had images of religious figures, the traditional [[Mosaic Law|Mosaic]] prohibition of "graven images" no doubt retained some effect, see also [[Idolatry in Christianity]]. This early rejection of images, although never proclaimed by theologians, and the necessity to hide Christian practise from persecution, leaves us with few archaeological records regarding early Christianity and its evolution.<ref name = "Grabar-p7">Andre Grabar, p7</ref> The oldest Christian paintings are from the Roman [[Catacombs]], dated to about AD&nbsp;200, and the oldest Christian sculptures are from [[sarcophagi]], dating to the beginning of the 3rd century.<ref name = "Grabar-p7"/>

===Monasticism ===
{{main|Christian monasticism before 451}}
Institutional Christian monasticism seems to have begun in the deserts in 3rd century [[Egypt]] as a kind of living [[martyrdom]]. Anthony of Egypt (251-356) is the best known of these early hermit-monks. [[Anthony the Great]] and [[Pachomius]] were early monastic innovators in Egypt, although [[Paul the Hermit]] is the first Christian historically known to have been living as a monk. Eastern Orthodoxy looks to [[Basil the Great|Basil of Caesarea]] as a founding monastic legislator, as well to as the example of the [[Desert Fathers]]. Shortly after 360 AD [[Martin of Tours]] introduced monasticism to the west. [[Benedict of Nursia]], who lived a century later, established the Rule that led to him being credited with the title of father of western monasticism. Scholars such as Lester K. Little attribute the rise of monasticism at this time to the immense changes in the church brought about by [[Constantine I (emperor)|Constantine]]'s legalization of Christianity. The subsequent transformation of Christianity into the main Roman religion ended the position of Christians as a small group that believed itself to be the godly elite. In response a new more advanced form of dedication was developed. The long-term "martyrdom" of the ascetic replaced the violent physical [[martyrdom]] of the [[Persecution of Christians|persecutions]]. Others point to historical evidence that individuals were living the life later known as monasticism before the legalization of Christianity.In fact it is believed by the [[Carmelites]] that they were started by the Jewish prophet [[Elijah|Elias]].

From the earliest times there were probably individual hermits who lived a life in isolation in imitation of Jesus's 40 days in the desert. They have left no confirmed archaeological traces and only hints in the written record. Communities of virgins who had consecrated themselves to Christ are found at least as far back as the 2nd century. There were also individual ascetics, known as the "devout," who usually lived not in the deserts but on the edge of inhabited places, still remaining in the world but practicing asceticism and striving for union with God. [[Anthony the Great]] was the first to specifically leave the world and live in the desert as a monk.<ref name="Paul of Thebes">The saint, [[Paul of Thebes]], had gone into the desert before [[Anthony the Great|Anthony]]; however, he went not for the purpose of pursuing God but to escape persecution.</ref> In the 3rd Century Anthony of Egypt lived as a hermit in the desert and gradually gained followers who lived as hermits nearby but not in actual community with him. One such, Paul the Hermit, lived in absolute solitude not very far from Anthony and was looked upon even by Anthony as a perfect monk. This type of monasticism is called ''eremitical'' or "hermit-like."

Even before Anthony the Great (the "father of monasticism") went out into the desert, there were Christians who devoted their lives to ascetic discipline and striving to lead an evangelical life (i.e., in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel). Communities of virgins who had consecrated themselves to Christ are found at least as far back as the 2nd century. There were also individual ascetics, known as the "devout," who usually lived not in the deserts but on the edge of inhabited places, still remaining in the world but practicing asceticism and striving for union with God. Anthony was the first to specifically leave the world and live in the desert as a monk.<ref name="Paul of Thebes"/>

As monasticism spread in the East from the hermits living in the deserts of Egypt to Palestine, Syria, and on up into [[Asia Minor]] and beyond, the sayings (''apophthegmata'') and acts (''praxeis'') of the [[Desert Fathers]] came to be recorded and circulated, first among their fellow monastics and then among the laity as well.

Among these earliest recorded accounts was the ''Paradise,'' by [[Palladius of Galatia]], [[Bishop of Helenopolis]] (also known as the ''[[Lausiac History]]'', after the [[prefect]] Lausus, to whom it was addressed). [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] (whose ''Life of Saint [[Anthony the Great]]'' set the pattern for monastic [[hagiography]]), [[Jerome]], and other anonymous compilers were also responsible for setting down very influential accounts. Also of great importance are the writings surrounding the communities founded by [[Pachomius]], the father of [[cenobite|cenobiticism]], and his disciple Saint Theodore, the founder of the skete form of monasticism.

==Ante-Nicene Fathers==
{{main|Ante-Nicene Fathers}}

As Christianity spread, it acquired certain members from well-educated circles of the Hellenistic world; they sometimes became bishops but not always. They produced two sorts of works: theological and "apologetic", the latter being works aimed at defending the faith by using reason to refute arguments against the veracity of Christianity. These authors are known as the Church Fathers, and study of them is called [[Patristics]]. Notable early Fathers include [[Justin Martyr]], Irenaeus, [[Tertullian]], [[Clement of Alexandria]], [[Origen]], etc.

A huge quantity of theological reflection emerged in the early centuries of the Christian church – in a wide variety of genres, in a variety of contexts, and in several languages – much of it the product of attempts to discuss how Christian faith should be lived in cultures very different from the one in which it was born. So, for instance, a good deal of the [[Greek language]] literature can be read as an attempt to come to terms with Hellenistic culture. The period sees the slow emergence of [[orthodoxy]] (the idea of which seems to emerge out of the conflicts between [[proto-orthodox Christianity]] and [[Gnosticism]] and [[Marcionism]]), the establishment of a [[Biblical canon]], debates about the doctrine of the [[Trinity]] (most notably between the councils of [[First Council of Nicaea|Nicaea]] in 325 and [[First Council of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in 381), about [[Christology]] (most notably between the councils of Constantinople in 381 and [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon]] in 451), about the purity of the Church (for instance in the debates surrounding the [[Donatist]]s), and about [[Divine grace|grace]], [[free will]] and [[predestination]] (for instance in the debate between [[Augustine of Hippo]] and [[Pelagius]]).

The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential [[theology|theologians]] and writers in the [[Christian Church]], particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history. The term is used of writers and teachers of the Church, not necessarily [[saint]]s. Teachers particularly are also known as [[doctors of the Church]], although [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] called them ''men of little intellect''<ref>Athanasius, ''On the Incarnation'' 47</ref>.

===Influential texts and writers===
Influential texts and writers between c.200 and 325 (the [[First Council of Nicaea]]) include:
* [[Tertullian]] (c.155-230)
* [[Hippolytus (writer)|Hippolytus]] (died 235)
* [[Origen]] (c.182-c.251)
* [[Cyprian]] (died c.258)

===Latin Fathers===
Those fathers who wrote in [[Latin]] are called the Latin (Church) Fathers. Famous Latin Fathers include [[Tertullian]] (who later in life converted to [[Montanism]]), [[Cyprian of Carthage]], [[Gregory the Great]], [[Augustine of Hippo]], [[Ambrose of Milan]], and [[Jerome]].

===Tertullian===
{{main|Tertullian}}
Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (''c'' 160 - ''c'' 225), who was converted to Christianity before 197, was a prolific writer of [[Christian apologetics|apologetic]], theological, controversial and ascetic works. <ref name ="Oxford:Tertullian">Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005, article ''Tertullian''</ref> He was the son of a Roman centurion.

Tertullian denounced Christian doctrines he considered [[heretical]], but later in life adopted views that themselves came to be regarded as heretical. He wrote three books in Greek and was the first great writer of [[Latin]] Christianity, thus sometimes known as the "Father of the Latin Church"<ref>[http://www.tertullian.org/readfirst.htm] Vincent of Lerins in 434AD, ''Commonitorium'', 17, describes Tertullian as 'first of us among the Latins' (Quasten IV, p.549)</ref>. He was evidently a lawyer in Rome. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14520c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Tertullian]: "He was evidently by profession an advocate in the law-courts, and he shows a close acquaintance with the procedure and terms of Roman law, though it is doubtful whether he is to be identified with a jurist Tertullian who is cited in the Pandects."</ref> He is said to have introduced the Latin term "trinitas" with regard to the Divine ([[Trinity]]) to the Christian vocabulary<ref>''A History of Christian Thought'', [[Paul Tillich]], Touchstone Books, 1972. ISBN 0-671-21426-8 (p. 43)</ref> (but [[Theophilus of Antioch]] (c. 115 - c. 183) already wrote of "the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom", which is similar but not identical to the Trinitarian wording), <ref>[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/theophilus-book2.html To Autolycus, Book 2, chapter XV]</ref> and also probably the formula "three Persons, one Substance" as the Latin "tres [[Persona]]e, [[Consubstantial|una Substantia]]" (itself from the [[Koine Greek]] "treis [[Hypostasis (religion)|Hypostases]], [[Ousios|Homoousios]]"), and also the terms "vetus testamentum" ([[Old Testament]]) and "novum testamentum" ([[New Testament]]).

In his ''[[Apologeticus]]'', he was the first Latin author who qualified Christianity as the "vera religio", and systematically relegated the classical [[Roman Empire]] religion and other accepted cults to the position of mere "superstitions".

Later in life, Tertullian joined the [[Montanism|Montanists]], a heretical sect that appealed to his rigorism.<ref name ="Oxford:Tertullian"/>

===Greek Fathers===
Those who wrote in [[Greek language|Greek]] are called the Greek (Church) Fathers. Famous Greek Fathers include: [[Irenaeus of Lyons]], [[Clement of Alexandria]], the [[heterodox]] [[Origen]], [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], [[John Chrysostom]], [[Cyril of Alexandria]] and the [[Cappadocian Fathers]] ([[Basil of Caesarea]], [[Gregory Nazianzus]], [[Peter of Sebaste]] & [[Gregory of Nyssa]]).

===Clement of Alexandria===
{{main|Clement of Alexandria}}
Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens) (c.150-211/216), was the first member of the Church of [[Alexandria]] to be more than a name, and one of its most distinguished teachers. He united Greek philosophical traditions with Christian doctrine and valued ''[[gnosis]]'' that with [[catholic|communion for all people]] could be held by common Christians. He developed a Christian [[Platonism]].<ref name="CC">[[Will Durant]]. Caesar and Christ. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1972, isbn: 1-56731-014-1</ref> Like Origen, he arose from [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]] and was well versed in pagan literature.<ref name="CC"/>

===Origen of Alexandria===
{{main|Origen}}
Origen, or Origen Adamantius (''c'' [[185]] - ''c''[[254]]) was an [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] scholar and [[theology|theologian]]. According to tradition, he was an [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]]<ref>[[George Sarton]] (1936). "The Unity and Diversity of the Mediterranean World", ''Osiris'' '''2''', p. 406-463 [430].</ref> who taught in Alexandria, reviving the Catechetical School, where Clement had taught. The patriarch of Alexandria at first supported Origen but later expelled him for being ordained without the patriarch's permission. He relocated to [[Caesarea Maritima]] and died there<ref>[http://www.caesarea.landscape.cornell.edu/about.html About Caesarea<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> after being tortured during a persecution.

Using his knowledge of Hebrew, he produced a corrected [[Septuagint]].<ref name="CC"/> He wrote commentaries on all the books of the Bible.<ref name="CC"/> In ''Peri Archon'' (''First Principles''), he articulated the first philosophical exposition of Christian doctrine.<ref name="CC"/> He interpreted scripture allegorically and showed himself to be a Stoic, a Neo-Pythagorean, a and Platonic.<ref name="CC"/> Like [[Plotinus]], he wrote that the soul passes through successive stages before incarnation as a human and after death, eventually reaching God.<ref name="CC"/> He imagined even demons being reunited with God. For Origen, God was not [[Yahweh]] but the [[First Principle]], and [[Christ]], the [[Logos]], was subordinate to him.<ref name="CC"/> His views of a hierarchical structure in the [[Trinity]], the temporality of matter, "the fabulous preexistence of souls," and "the monstrous restoration which follows from it" were declared [[anathema]] in the 6th century.<ref>[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.ix.html ''The Anathemas Against Origen''], by the [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] (Schaff, Philip, "The Seven Ecumenical Councils", ''Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers'', Series 2, Vol. 14. Edinburgh: T&T Clark)</ref><ref>[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xii.x.html ''The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian Against Origen''] (Schaff, ''op. cit.'')</ref>

===Cyprian of Carthage===
{{main|Cyprian of Carthage}}
Saint Cyprian (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) (died September 14, 258) was [[bishop]] of [[Carthage]] and an important early [[Christianity|Christian]] writer. He was probably born at the beginning of the 3rd century in [[North Africa during the Classical Period|North Africa]], perhaps at Carthage, where he received an excellent classical ([[Paganism|pagan]]) education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop (249) and eventually died a [[martyr]] at Carthage.

==Spread of Christianity==
[[File:Mapspreadofxity.jpg|thumb|400px|right|thumb|400px|Map of the spread of Christianity to 300 (dark green), 600 (light green), and 800 A.D. (yellow).]]
===Goths===
{{Main|Gothic Christianity}}
In the 3rd century, East-Germanic peoples migrated into Scythia. Gothic culture and identity emerged from various East-Germanic, local, and Roman influences. In the same period, Gothic raiders took captives among the Romans, including many Christians, (and Roman-supported raiders took captives among the Goths).

==Bishops East and West==
Leading to the Great Schism, Eastern and Western Mediterranean Christians had a history of differences and disagreements dating back to the second century. Among the most significant disagreements the [[Lapsi (Christian)|Rebaptism controversy]] at the time of Stephen of Rome and Cyprian of Carthage (250s).

Some scholars<ref>Cleenewerck, Laurent ''His Broken Body: Understanding and Healing the Schism between the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] Churches''. Washington, DC: EUC Press (2008) pp. 145-155</ref> have argued that the Schism between East and West has very ancient roots, and that sporadic schisms in the common unions took place under
*[[Pope Stephen I]] (third century) and

===Bishop of Rome===
{{main|Primacy of Peter}}
Early belief in the Church is that Jesus granted Peter jurisdiction over the Church. In "Who is the Rich man that is Saved", St. Clement of Alexandria writes of "the blessed Peter, the chosen, the pre-eminent, the first of the disciples, for whom alone and Himself the Saviour paid tribute, [who] quickly seized and comprehended the saying" ([http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-richman.html Ch. 21]), referring to [[Gospel of Mark|Mk]] [http://drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=48&ch=010&l=28 10:28]. [[Tertullian]], [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14520c.htm] while examining Scriptural teachings, legal precedents, and dogma surrounding monogamy and marriage (''post'' A.D. [[213]]), says of Peter, "Monogamist I am led to presume him by consideration of the Church, which, built upon him..." ("On Monogamy", Ch. 8): his certainty that the Church is built especially upon Peter is such that he simply refers to it in the context of another discussion. In a slightly later text (A.D. [[220]]) "On Modesty", Tertullian writes at length about the significance of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] [http://drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=47&ch=016&l=18-19 16:18-19], "On this rock I will build my Church" and similar, emphasizing the singular, not plural, right, and condemning "wholly changing the manifest intention of the Lord, conferring (as that intention did) this (gift) personally upon Peter" (Ch. 21). [[Origen]] (ca. A.D. [[232]]) wrote also of "Peter, upon whom is built the Church of Christ" (Jurgens §479a). St. Cyprian of Carthage [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc07.htm] prepared an essay discussing, inter alia, Mt. 16:18-19, titled "On the Unity of the Church" (A.D. [[251]]) in which he strongly associates primacy, unity, the authority of Jesus, and Peter: "On him He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep; and although He assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet He founded a single chair, and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity" (Jurgens §555-6). Jurgens gives Cyprian as an example of "Papal Primacy being 'implicit' in the early Church."

====Callixtus I====
[[Pope Callixtus I]] reduced the number of mortal sins barring an applicant or member from the congregation, while at the same time asserting his right to the general absolution of those sins. To establish such procedures he appealed to the [[cathedra]] of the Roman Church and to Scripture (Mark 13:29), that God will separate the wheat from the chaff.

====Cornelius====
[[Pope Cornelius]] gave a detailed accounting of the structure of the Church at the time he was pope, and enquired in a seemingly rhetorical way, "[He], then, did not know that there must be one bishop in the Catholic Church. Yet he was not unaware &mdash; how could he be? &mdash; that in it there are ..." and thence follows the accounting.<ref>(Denziger §45, Jurgens §546a)</ref> This came about because [[Antipope Novatian|Novatian]] had allegedly made himself [[antipope]]; Cornelius was emphasizing the perceived need for recognition of one bishop, one head of the Church. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04375c.htm]</ref>

====Stephen I====
The first bishop to claim primacy in writing was [[Pope Stephen I]] (254-257). The timing of the claim is significant, for it was made during the worst of the tumults of the third century. There were several persecutions during this century, and they hit the Church of Rome hard.


{{hidden| 3rd century Timeline |
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* 202 - Roman Emperor [[Septimius Severus|Severus]] issues an edict forbidding conversion to Christianity <ref>Latourette, 1941, vol. I, 145</ref>
* 206 - [[Abgar]], King of [[Osroene|Edessa]], embraces the Christian faith <ref>Herbermann, p. 282</ref>
*185-350? [[Muratorian fragment]], 1st extant canon for [[New Testament]] after Marcion?, written in Rome by [[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]]?, excludes Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 3 John; includes [[Wisdom of Solomon]], [[Apocalypse of Peter]]
*188-231 [[Saint Demetrius]], bishop of Alexandria, condemned [[Origen]]
*199-217? Caius [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03144a.htm] [http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-05/anf05-133.htm#P9935_3091359], [[presbyter]] of Rome, wrote "Dialogue against Proclus" in [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]], rejected [[Revelation]], said to be by Gnostic [[Cerinthus]], see also [[Alogi]]
* 208 - [[Tertullian]] writes that Christ has followers on the far side of the [[Hadrian's Wall|Roman wall in Britain]] where Roman legions have not yet penetrated <ref>Neill, p. 31</ref>
*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)
*217-236 [[Hippolytus of Rome|Antipope Hippolytus]], ''Logos'' sect?
*218-258 [[Cyprian]], Bishop of [[Carthage]], cited "Western" NT text-type, claimed Christians were freely forging his letters to discredit him (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
* 241 - [[Mani (prophet)|Mani]] begins to preach in [[Al-Mada'in|Seleucia-Ctesiphon]] in what is now [[Iraq]][http://www.oxuscom.com/timeline.htm]
* 250 - [[Denis]] (or Denys or Dionysius) is sent from [[Rome]] along with six other missionaries to establish the church in [[Paris]] <ref>Herbermann, p. 481</ref>
*223? [[Tertullian]], sometimes called "father of the Latin Church" because he coined [[trinity|trinitas]], tres [[Persona]]e, [[Consubstantial|una Substantia]], [[Old Testament|Vetus Testamentum]], [[New Testament|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 [[Hippolytus of Rome|Antipope Hippolytus]] to [[Sardinia]] where they soon die
*248-264 [[Dionysius of Alexandria|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 of Olympus|Methodius]], [[Pistis Sophia]], [[Porphyry (philosopher)|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]], [[ousios|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)
*251-258 [[Antipope Novatian]], decreed no forgiveness for sins after [[baptism]]
*254-257 [[Pope Stephen I]]; major [[Schism (religion)|schism]] over rebaptizing [[heretics]] and [[apostates]]
*258 "[[Valerian (emperor)|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]] ([http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15256b.htm CE: Valerian], [http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/history/2_ch02.htm 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 [[ousios|homoousios]] adopted at Nicaea
*265 [[Gregory Thaumaturgus]] (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
*270? [[Anthony the Great|Anthony]] begins monastic movement
* 270 - Death of [[Gregory Thaumaturgus]], Christian leader in Pontus. It was said that when Gregory became "bishop" there were only 17 Christians in Pontus while at his death thirty years later there were only 17 non-Christians. <ref>Latourette, 1941, vol. I, p. 89</ref>
*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]]
*220?-340? [[Codex Tchacos]], manuscript containing a copy of the [[Gospel of Judas]] has been written.
* 280 - First rural churches emerge in northern Italy; Christianity is no longer exclusively in urban areas
* 287 - Maurice from [[Egypt]] is killed at Agauno, [[Switzerland]] for refusing to sacrifice to pagan divinities <ref>Walsh, Martin de Porres. ''The Ancient Black Christians'', Julian Richardson Associates, 1969, p. 5</ref>
*282-300? [[Theonas of Alexandria|Theonas]], bishop of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
* 300 - First Christians reported in [[Greater Khorasan]]; an estimated 10% of the world's population is now Christian; parts of the [[Bible]] are available in 10 different languages <ref> Barrett, p. 24</ref>
|bg1=light blue}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* Esler, Phillip F. ''The Early Christian World''. Routledge (2004). ISBN 0415333121.
* White, L. Michael. ''From Jesus to Christianity''. HarperCollins (2004). ISBN 0060526556.
* Pelikan, Jaroslav Jan. ''The Christian Tradition: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600)''. University of Chicago Press (1975). ISBN 0226653714.
*Lutz E. von Padberg, 1998, ''Die Christianisierung Europas im Mittelalter'', Reclam
*James C. Russell, '' The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity: A Sociohistorical Approach to Religious Transformation'', Oxford University Press (1994), ISBN 0-19-510466-8.
*MacMullen, Ramsay, ''Christianizing the Roman Empire, AD 100- 400'' Yale University Press (paperback, 1986 ISBN 0-300-03642-6 )
*Trombley, Frank R., 1995. ''Hellenic Religion and Christianization c. 370-529'' (in series ''Religions in the Graeco-Roman World'') (Brill) ISBN 90-04-09691-4
*Fletcher, Richard, ''The Conversion of Europe. From Paganism to Christianity 371-1386 AD.'' London 1997.

==External links==
*[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook11.html Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: Christian Origins]
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/christian-history.html Guide to Early Church Documents]
*[http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/church_fathers.htm Chart of Church Fathers at ReligionFacts.com]
*[http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html Church Fathers' works in English] edited by [[Philip Schaff]], at the [[Christian Classics Ethereal Library]]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/ Church Fathers at Newadvent.org]
*[http://www.faulkner.edu/academics/artsandsciences/humanities/patristics.asp Faulkner University Patristics Project] A growing collection of English translations of patristic texts and high-resolution scans from the comprehensive ''Patrologia'' compiled by J. P. Migne.
*[http://www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/cfathers.htm Primer on the Church Fathers at Corunum]

==See also==
{{portalbox
| name1=Christianity
| image1=P christianity.svg
| name2=History
| image2=P history.png
| name3=Classical Civilisation
| image3=2006 01 21 Athènes Parthénon.JPG
| name4=Ancient Rome
| image4=SPQRomani.svg
| name5=Bible
| image5=Bible.malmesbury.arp.jpg
|break=yes}}
*[[History of Christianity]]
*[[History of the Roman Catholic Church]]
*[[History of the Eastern Orthodox Church]]
*[[History of Christian theology]]
*[[Christian martyrs]]
*[[History of Oriental Orthodoxy]]
*[[History of early Christianity]]
*[[Ante-Nicene Period]]
*[[Church Fathers]]
*[[List of Church Fathers]]
*[[Christian monasticism]]
*[[Patristics]]
*[[List of events in early Christianity]]
*[[Development of the New Testament canon]]
*[[Christianization]]
*[[History of Calvinist-Arminian debate]]
*[[List of events in early Christianity]]
*[[Timeline of Christianity#Early Christianity]]
*[[Timeline of Christian missions#Early Christianity]]
*[[Timeline of the Roman Catholic Church#Up to 312 AD]]
*[[3rd-century]]
*[[Chronological list of saints in the 3rd century]]

{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
| colspan="11" align="center"|'''[[History of Christianity]]: ''[[Early history of Christianity|Early Christianity]]'''''
|-
| colspan="4" align="center"|'''Preceded by:<br>[[Christianity in the 2nd century|Christianity in<br>the 2nd century]]'''
| colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[3rd century|Third<br>Century]]'''
| colspan="4" align="center"|'''Followed by:<br>[[Christianity in the 4th century|Christianity in<br>the 4th century]]'''
{{Christianity by century}}
|}
{{Christian History|collapsed}}

[[Category:Christian history|03]]
[[Category:Ancient Christianity|03]]
[[Category:3rd-century Christianity| ]]
[[Category:3rd century in religion|Christianity]]
[[Category:3rd century|Christianity]]
[[Category:Early Christianity and Judaism]]

Latest revision as of 07:08, 6 September 2023

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