Early Christian Heresies
This 2nd-century belief system taught that salvation comes through secret knowledge, viewed the material world as evil, and often claimed that Jesus’ true nature was hidden from ordinary humans.
What is Gnosticism?
He is considered the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death for his faith, and gave a powerful speech before the Sanhedrin accusing the Jewish leaders of resisting God’s message.
Who is Saint Stephen?
This emperor, ruling from 54–68 CE, blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, leading to one of the first major persecutions of the early Church.
Who is Nero?
This 2nd-century apologist was arrested in Rome for refusing to worship the emperor and was beheaded around 165 CE, becoming one of the earliest Christian martyrs to defend the faith through reasoned writings.
Who is Justin Martyr?
This practice, common in the 1st and 2nd centuries, involved baptism by immersion and was seen as the sacrament through which believers were cleansed of sin and initiated into the Church.
What is baptism?
This heresy claimed that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body and suffer on the cross, denying that he was truly human.
What is Docetism?
This 2nd-century bishop of Antioch wrote seven letters on the way to his martyrdom in Rome, emphasizing church unity, the authority of bishops, and the importance of the Eucharist.
Who is Ignatius of Antioch?
This emperor, ruling from 117–138 CE, is known for his relative tolerance of Christians, issuing rescripts that prohibited persecution without proper trials, unlike some earlier emperors.
Who is Hadrian?
Tradition holds that this man, who traveled to India to preach the Gospel, was killed by being pierced with a spear for his faith.
Who is Thomas the Apostle?
Called the 'Lord’s Supper,' this sacrament commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper, involves bread and wine, and is central to Christian worship as a sign of His body and blood.
What is the Eucharist (or Holy Communion)?
This 2nd-century heresy, founded by a wealthy shipowner, rejected the Old Testament, taught that the God of the Hebrew Scriptures was inferior, and emphasized salvation through the grace of the loving God revealed by Jesus.
What is Marcionism?
This 2nd-century bishop of Lyons, a student of Polycarp, wrote Against Heresies to refute Gnosticism and emphasized the authority of Scripture and apostolic tradition.
Who is Irenaeus of Lyons?
This Stoic philosopher-emperor, ruling from 161–180 CE, oversaw a period when Christians were persecuted in the provinces, often at the discretion of local authorities rather than by imperial decree.
Who is Marcus Aurelius?
According to tradition, this apostle was flayed alive and then beheaded for preaching the Gospel, making him one of the most famously brutal martyrdoms among the twelve.
Who is Bartholomew the Apostle?
his is the foundation of the Church, strengthened and fortified by the courage and witness of those who gave their lives for the faith.
What is the blood of the martyrs?
This heresy taught that Jesus was born a mere human and was only 'adopted' as the Son of God at His baptism due to His righteousness.
What is Adoptionism?
A disciple of the Apostle John and bishop of Smyrna, he was martyred by being burned at the stake (and then stabbed) around 155 CE and is remembered for his steadfast defense of the faith.
Who is Polycarp of Smyrna?
Ruling from 180–192 CE, this emperor was the son of Marcus Aurelius; while his reign is better known for decadence and political turmoil, Christians faced sporadic local persecution under his rule.
Who is Commodus?
According to tradition, this apostle, son of Alphaeus, was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem and beaten to death for his faith.
Who is James the Less?
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
What is John 15:18?
This Jewish-Christian sect believed Jesus was a human prophet and Messiah, denied His divinity and virgin birth, followed the Mosaic Law strictly, and rejected the writings of Paul.
What is Ebionism?
This Roman presbyter and theologian, sometimes called the first antipope, wrote Refutation of All Heresies and was martyred during the persecution under Emperor Maximinus Thrax.
Who is Hippolytus of Rome?
Ruling from 98–117 CE, this emperor corresponded with Pliny the Younger regarding Christians, establishing that they should not be sought out, but punished if accused and refusing to recant their faith.
Who is Trajan?
These two apostles, central figures in the early Church, were both martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero—one crucified upside down and the other beheaded both around the same period.
Who are Peter and Paul?
- “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
- And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
What is Matthew 5:29-30?