Doctrina
What each Christian tradition believes, why, and every primary source.
From year 1 to today
The Fathers, councils and divisions the site records.
The seven councils with a dot are the ones the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches receive as ecumenical.
From 300 to 460: 26 Fathers and writers, 12 councils and 2 divisions. Drag the window to choose other years.
Fathers and writers
- Methodius of Olympusdied c. 311Bishop and writer (Lycia)
- Lactantiusc. 250–325Rhetorician and apologist
- Eusebius of Caesareac. 263–339Bishop of Caesarea and historian
- Aphrahat, the Persian Sagec. 270–345Syriac ascetic and writer in the Persian Empire
- Hilary of Poitiersc. 310–367Bishop of Poitiers
- Athanasius of Alexandriac. 296–373Bishop (patriarch) of Alexandria
- Ephrem the Syrianc. 306–373Deacon, poet and theologian
- Basil of Caesarea (Basil the Great)c. 330–379Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Councils
- Synod of Elvirac. 306Iliberris (Elvira), near modern Granada, Hispania
- Council of Arles314Arles, Gaul
- First Council of Nicaea325Nicaea, Bithynia (modern İznik, Turkey). Received as an ecumenical council
- First Council of Constantinople381Constantinople. Received as an ecumenical council
- Synod of Rome under Damasus382Rome
- Synod of Hippo393Hippo Regius, North Africa (modern Annaba, Algeria)
- Third Council of Carthage397Carthage, North Africa
- Council of Carthage against Pelagianism418Carthage, North Africa
Doctrines
Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed and Baptist, each in its own words.
Bible
Five translations, in Spanish and in English.
How Doctrina is made
The same holds for every doctrine, every tradition and every text.
Each tradition, in its own words
What each tradition teaches is quoted from its own documents: councils, confessions, catechisms. The Catholic definition of the Eucharist, for example, is in Trent, session XIII, chapter 4.
Each quotation, with its source
A quotation opens in place, with the work, the passage and the date. The full source, with its edition and its licence, is one tap away. For example, Ignatius of Antioch, To the Smyrnaeans 7.1.
The early Christians belong to no one
What the Fathers wrote is shown in order of date, without assigning it to any tradition of today.
The site does not conclude
Each position appears with the objections it receives and with its answer, in the words of whoever answers. The conclusion is left to the reader.
New doctrines, by email
One email each time a doctrine is published. Nothing else.