Sourced guide
Early Christian heresies mapped
The early church's doctrine often becomes clearest in controversy. Map the heresies by the question they raised and by the Fathers who answered them.
Why include heretics at all
You cannot understand the Fathers by only listing approved writers. Much of patristic theology was written in response to rival teachings.
Including heterodox figures makes the map more honest because it shows what the Fathers were arguing against and where those disputes happened.
How to use this route
Start with Marcion and the gnostic teachers for the second century, then move to Arius for Nicaea, Nestorius and Eutyches for Christology, and Pelagius for grace and sin.
The connections marked opposed help show which Fathers and councils engaged each controversy.
Relevant relationships
The bulk of Adversus Haereses is directed against the Valentinian system.
Irenaeus refutes Marcion's truncated canon and dualism.
Irenaeus refutes the system of Basilides.
Athanasius's life work was the refutation of Arianism.
The Pelagian controversy occupied Augustine's last two decades.