Pre-Islamic Christianity First to Seventh Century

Apostolic Age About 30 AD until the end of the 1st century with traditionally the death of the apostle John Persecution of Christians was common Conflict between Jews and Jewish Christians was common Jewish revolt against Roman rule began 66 AD and ended with Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD Jews and Jewish Christians were scattered

Ante-Nicene Age From 1st century Apostolic Age to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD A wide variety of competing Christian sects developed as well as persistent Jewish doctrinal beliefs Anti-Christian policies by Roman authorities were common and frequently as a response to public complaints of cannibalism and incest Ended with Emperor Constantine and Edict of Milan in 313 AD giving all religions including Christianity legal status

First Council of Nicaea 325 AD Emperor Constantine established a precedent for the position of the Christian emperor to be responsible for the spiritual health of their subjects Church bishops defined doctrine and the emperor enforced the doctrine Roman Emperor Constantine authorized a council of Christian bishops in Nicaea of Bithynia when he became aware of so much disagreement over doctrine

First Council of Nicaea This first ecumenical council was the first effort to attain an orthodox (Greek- ‘correct belief’) consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom Derived from a Greek word, "ecumenical" means "worldwide” as in a worldwide Christian council Nicene Creed affirmed the divinity of Christ (as opposed to Arianism) and changed the observation of Easter without using the Jewish calendar

Edict of Thessalonica February 27, 380 AD Ordered all subjects of the Roman Empire to profess the faith of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria, making Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire It re-affirmed a single expression of the Apostolic Faith as legitimate in the Roman Empire, "catholic" (universal) and "orthodox" (correct belief).

First Council of Constantinople Second Ecumenical Council Emperor Theodosius convened in 381 AD in an effort to unify the Eastern Orthodox church with Nicene Christianity Divinity of Christ remained controversial and the divinity of the Holy Spirit was not accepted by the Eastern Orthodox at that time The council formally accepted the doctrine of the Trinity

Council of Ephesus Third Ecumenical Council Convened by Emperor Theodosius II in 431 AD Persistent controversy related to Christ’s divinity pertaining to nature of the virgin Mary Was Mary ‘birth-giver of Christ’ or ‘birth- giver of God’? The council declared Mary was ‘God- bearer’

Council of Chalcedon Fourth Ecumenical Council Convened by Emperor Marcian in 451 AD Repudiated the notion of a single nature in Christ, and declared that he has two natures in one person Still not accepted by some Eastern churches: Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syriac, Indian Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox who believed Christ embodied the Godhead and manhood by fully uniting the divine nature with the human nature without blending nor alteration

Second Council of Constantinople Fifth Ecumenical Council Convened by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 553 AD Attended by mostly eastern bishops and none from Rome Confirmed belief that Christ had two natures combined in one person - duophysitism, and were opposed to monophysitism as promoted by the Oriental Orthodox churches

Third Council of Constantinople Sixth Ecumenical Council Convened by Emperor Constantine IV in 680 AD Condemned monoenergism, i.e. that Christ, though existing in two natures, had one energy (divine and human) Condemned monothelitism, i.e. that Christ had one will- that there was no opposition in Christ between his human and divine volition

Pre-Islamic Nicene Age 325 AD AD 1 Timothy 4:1-3 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

Pre-Islamic Nicene Age 325 AD AD 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and arguments that result in envy, quarreling, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Pre-Islamic Nicene Age 325 AD AD 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Pre-Islamic Nicene Age 325 AD AD 2 Peter 1:20 - 2:1 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-