Key Names and Dates:

Apostle’s Creed – Considered the earliest creed, though the earliest copies we have are later - Latin edition by Rufinius (A.D. 390) and Greek edition by Marcellus (A.D. 336-341).

Constantine – first Christian Roman Emperor

Arius (c. 250 – c. 336) – Presbyter from Alexandria Egypt and heretic who denied the full deity of Christ. “There was a time when he [Christ] was not.”

Alexander of Alexandria – bishop who opposed Arius.

Athanasius – Defender of the orthodox faith who also opposed Arius and Arianism for many years.

Council of Nicaea (Nicea) and Nicene Creed – A.D. 325

Nestorius (died c. 451) – bishop of Constantinople; considered a heretic for his view which separated Christ’s divine and human natures. His view made Christ appear to be two persons in one body rather than one person with two natures.

Cyril of Alexandria – bishop of Alexandria who opposed Nestorius.

Council of Ephesus – A.D. 431

John of Antioch – arrived late to the Council of Ephesus. He deposed Cyril for acting without authority.

Formulary of Reunion – Cyril and John of Antioch in A.D. 433 worked through their differences and established that Christ was perfect God and perfect man, consisting of a rational soul and body.

Eutyches – head of a monastery in Constantinople. He denied the distinction between the divine and human natures of Christ.

Council of Ephesus II; Robber Council – A.D. 449. This council was dominated by Dioscurus, bishop of Alexandria, who sided with Eutyches.