An Alternate Theory of the History of Christianity
Article 3: Traditional theory of the history of christianity
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia

"Truth is the only merit that gives
dignity and worth to history".
--- Lord Acton (1834-1902)

Introduction via schematic

The traditional theory of the history of christianity
is depicted in a diagramatic fashion below.




The tradition theory of christian history was written
in the period of Constantine, by Eusebius of Caesarea.
It is presumed to have been completed circa 324 CE.

As depicted above, the theory of christian history
at its detailed specification is a trail of literature
belonging to the first, second and third centuries
which was gathered together in the fourth.





Literature of Antiquity

The literature of antiquity which bears witness to the existence of the history of the tribe of christians is shown in the schematic above as a series of yellow boxes. The number of separate atomic units here in reality is to be estimated at perhaps 200 manuscripts.

The precise number is yet to be determined, but must include every source cited by Eusebius, and all literature which is claimed to be independent of Eusebius, and in which "the tribe of christians" is referenced.

See the index at Article 029 ... Index of their Literature - authors of antiquity tracking "the tribe of christians"

Literature of Eusebius of Caesarea

The literature of Eusebius Pamphilus of Caesarea is shown in the above diagram as a larger orange box, settled at the beginning of the fourth century, immediately prior to the council of Nicaea.

For further details see the next article.

The Council of Nicaea

The council of Nicaea was called by the supreme emperor Constantine in order to deal with certain words spoken by Arius. The council is shown in the above diagram in red.

Authors of Antiquity - According to Mainstream (Eusebian) Chronology
YEAR	Author's Name	Cat	Comments & Notes ...
-582	Pythagoras	P	Greek philosopher and mathematician
-470	Socrates	W	Greek philosopher
-427	Plato	W	Greek philosopher and writer (Student of Socrates)
-384	Aristotle	W	Greek philosopher and writer (student of Plato)
-190	Eupolemus	H	Jewish historian whose work survives only in five
-116	Marcus Terentius Varro	W	Roman scholar and writer
-106	Marcus Tullius Cicero	W	Roman orator, statesman, political theorist, and p
-100	Lucius Cornelius Alexander Polyhist	W	Greek scholar of Rome (fl. 70 BCE)
-98	Nigidius Figulus	W	Learned man of Rome, neo-pythagorean
-86	Sallust	H	(Gaius Sallustius Crispus) - Roman historian
-76	Gaius Asinius Pollio	H	Roman orator, poet and historian whose contemporar
-65	Nicolaus of Damascus	H	Greek historical and philosophical writer who liv
-64	Strabo	W	Greek historian, geographer and philosopher, mostl
-60	Dionysius of Halicarnassus	H	Greek historian and teacher of rhetoric, who flour
-59	Livy (Titus Livius)	H	wrote a monumental history of Rome, Ab Urbe Condit
-54	Seneca (the Elder)	W	Roman rhetorician and writer
-52	King Juba II (of Lybia)	W	Author (in Greek) on history, natural history, geo
-43	Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)	W	Roman poet
-36	Thrasyllus of Mendes	W	Egyptian author, astrologer, astronomer and mathem
-25	Aulus Cremutius Cordus	H	Roman history; very few remaining fragments of his
-19	Marcus Velleius Paterculus	H	aka Gaius Velleius Paterculus, whose name occurs i
-15	Philo-Judaeus	P	Alexandrean Greek speaking Jewish writer-philosoph
-10	Pontius Pilate	W	Roman governer (Letter of Pilate fraudulent)
-10	Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Caesar	RE	Emperor (41-54); Claudius wrote copiously througho
-9	Asconius Pedianus	H	Roman grammarian and historian; compiled for his s
-4	Seneca (the Younger)	W	Roman philosopher, statesman, dramatist (Fraudulen
-4	Apollonius of Tyana	P	Neo-Pythagorean, aka Balinas, aka Balinus
0	Barnabas	CB	epistle
0	Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter &	CB	The Apostles - purported authors of respective gos
0	Jesus of Nazareth	C	Letter (and response) written to Abgarus
0	Jude	CB	aka Jude Thaddaeus and Jude Lebbeus (or Judas Thad
0	Simon Magus	C	Magician, heretic, AKA Simon the Sorcerer, Simon o
0	Moderatus of Gades (Cadiz, Spain)	P	Greek neopythagorean philosopher and writer (first
0	Damis	W	Purported biographer of Apollonius of Tyana (via P
10	Quintus Curtius Rufus	H	Roman historian who wrote from about 60 through to
18	Clement of Rome	CB	fourth Pope??, Epistles
20	Mucianus	H	Gaius Licinius Mucianus (fl. 1st century AD) was a
20	Memnon of Heraclea	H	lived possibly 1st century CE) was a Greek histori
23	Pliny the Elder	W	Roman philosopher and writer
25	Silius Italicus	W	Titus Catius Silius Italicus - a Latin epic poet,
30	Musonius Rufus	P	Roman philosopher, correspondence with Apollonius
30	Marcus Cocceius Nerva	RE	Emperor 90-98 (1st "Good")
37	Flavius Josephus	H	Antiquity of the Jews - interpolated by Eusebius;
40	Ignatius of Antioch	CB	aka Theophorus;the third Bishop or Patriarch of An
46	Plutarch, Mestrius	H	Greek historian, biographer, writer, magistrate (r
50	Aelianus Tacticus	W	Greek military writer, living in Rome; military tr
53	Cornelius Tacitus	H	Roman historian; the Annals and the Histories; per
53	Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianu	RE	Emperor 98-117 (2nd "Good")
56	Tacitus	H	Annals 15.44 (Consequently, to get rid of the repo
60	Nicomachus of Gerasa (Jerash, Jorda	P	Neopythagorean and mathematician, flourished c.110
60	Florus	H	Roman historian, lived in the time of Trajan and H
63	Pliny the Younger	W	Roman philosopher and writer (Letters 10.96-97 Pli
70	Seutonius	H	Roman historian; The 12 Caesars; written 121 under
70	Quadratus	C	First Apologist (disciple of apostles via Eusebius
70	Aristides the Philosopher	C	Apologist; in 1889 Rendell Harris found a complete
73	Mara Bar Serapion	P	presumed to be christian, Greek Rhetorical Exercis
76	Hadrian (Publius Aelius Traianus)	RE	Emperor 117-138 (3rd "Good")
80	Longinus (not known, 1st-3rd CE?)	W	Greek teacher of rhetoric - author of "On the Subl
86	Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arri	RE	Emperor 138-161 (4th "Good")
90	Thallus	H	Chronologer (since Fall of Troy) - referenced
90	Aquila of Sinope (of Pontus)	C	Kinsman of Hadrian, OT translation to Greek
92	Arrian of Nicomedia	H	Greek historian and philosopher; (Lucius Flavius A
95	Appian of Alexandria	H	Roman History in twenty-four books, written in Gre
99	Phlegon	H	Greek writer, historian of Olympiads
100	Shepherd of Hermas	P	Muratorian Canon; NC? presumed christian
100	Lucius Ampelius	H	Latin author, details unknown; Liber Memorialis is
100	Aristocles of Messene	W	Philosopher/Skeptic
110	Polycarp	CB	Irenaeus mentions Polycarp in Adv. Haer., III.3.4.
110	Papias	CA	According to Irenaeus, our earliest witness, Papia
110	Marcion of Sinope	C	Marcionism founder
120	Hermas	P	"The Shepherd" - dated via Muratorian fragment to
120	Apology of Aristides	CA	Apology to Hadrian quoted by Eusebius Hist. Eccl.
120	Apology of Quadratus of Athens	CA	Apology to Hadrian, quoted by Eusebius Hist. Eccl
120	Alciphron	W	Writer, Greek rhetorician, collection of "Fictitio
120	Apollinaris Claudius	C	Apologist aka "of Hierapolis" - fragments (1st 'ca
120	Basilides	CA	Cited by Irenaeus Against Heresies, Clement of Ale
120	Alexander of Aphrodisias	W	Pupil of Aristocles; Commentaries (extant) on work
120	Valentinus	CA	GRS Mead - "the great unknown" of Gnosticism
120	Granius Licinianus	H	Roman annalist, believed to have lived in the age
121	Marcus Aurelius (Antoninus)	RE	Emperor 160-180, (5th "Good"), Decree? (Forged?)
125	Aulus Gellius	W	Latin author, grammarian ("Attic Nights")
130	Aristo of Pella	CA	Cited by Celsus and Origen (The Disputation of Jas
130	Diognetus	C	Unknown Recipient of "Epistle of Mathetes to Diogn
130	Epiphanes On Righteousness	CA	Cited by Clement of Alexandria, Stromaties, III 6,
130	Marcion	CA	Sources Iranaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Celsus
130	Mathetes	C	Earliest apologetic (defence)
130	Ophite Diagrams	CA	Celsus and Origen describe a diagram in use by a s
130	Polycrates of Ephesus	CB	Bishop, Letter to Victor (via Eusebius)
130	Pinytus of Crete	CB	Bishop of Gnosos, Letters to Dionysius (via E)
135	Tatian	C	Apologist, wrote the Diatesseron, pupil of Justin
136	Saint Apollonius	C	Beheaded by Commodus (after Marcus Aurelius)
140	Ptolemy	CA	Gnostic author - (1) a fragment of an exegetical w
140	Numenius of Apamea	P	Neopythagorean philosopher, writer
140	Minucius Felix	CA	Wrote (Octavius), Latin
140	Fronto	CA	Mentioned in Octavius of Minucius Felix
140	Isidore	CA	Cited by Clement of Alexandria (Stromat. 2,113; 6,
140	Agrippa Castor	C	Wrote against Basilides Gnosticism (via Eusebius)
150	Alexander (of Cappadocia,Jerusalem)	CB	Letters (116 year old bishop Jerusalem Narcissus)
150	Excerpts of Theodotus	CA	Valentinian gnostic
150	Heracleon	CA	Gnostic; Clement of Alexandria (Strom. iv. 9, p. 5
150	Martyrdom of Polycarp	CA	quoted in Ecclesiastical History IV.15
150	Justin Martyr	CA	Apology to Emperor Antoninus (138-161), wrote Firs
155	Ammonius Saccas	P	Neoplatonist philosopher: Plotinus, Longinus,Orige
160	Apelles	CA	Old Marcionist via Eusebius, H. E. 5.13.5-7
160	Athenaeus of Naucratis	W	Greek author (fl.200) writer of "The Deipnosophist
160	Claudius Apollinaris	CB	aka Bishop of Hierapolis
160	Julian the Theurgist	W	Writer of "The Chaldean Oracles" - fragmentary tex
160	Julius Cassianus	CA	Cited Clement of Alexandria Stromata 3.13-14
160	Octavius of Minucius Felix	CA	The Octavius by Minucius Felix is an apology for t
160	Marius Maximus	W	Roman biographer, writing in Latin, who in the ear
165	Lucian of Samosata	CA	Greek rhetorician satirist writer (references "chr
165	Melito of Sardis	CA	Cited by Eusebius, Jerome
165	Hegesippus	CA	chronicler, counterer of heresies
165	Dionysius of Corinth	CA
165	Dio Cassius	H	Roman public servant; published a Roman History, i
170	Letter of Peter to Philip	CA
170	Julius Africanus	C	Father of Christian Chronology
170	Herodian of Syria	H	Roman History (extant) in eight books for the year
175	Rhodon	CA	Several Books; wrote against Marcion (via E)
175	Theophilus of Caesarea	CA
175	Galen	P	4 references to Christianity .. De pulsuum differ
175	Flavius Philostratus	W	Sophist (The Life of Apollonius of Tyana)
175	Irenaeus of Lyons	CA
175	Claudius Aelianus	W	Roman author and greek-speaking teacher of rhetori
175	Athenagoras of Athens	CA	quoted by Methodius
178	Celsus	P	Wrote (The True Word) Against the christians, Plat
180	Bardesanes	CA	Eus H. E. 4.30
180	Hippolytus of Rome	CA	fragments
180	Theophilus of Antioch	CB	Bishop, Eus. H. E. iv. 20; Hieron. Ep. ad Algas. q
182	Clement of Alexandria	CA
185	Maximus of Jerusalem	CA
185	Origen	C	6000 scrolls; Hexapla (OT: tabulated translations)
188	Talmud	P
189	Victor I	CA	"Victor wrote several letters which dealt with the
190	Pantaenus	CA	Eusebius in Hist. Eccl., VI.14.2
190	Diogenes Laertius	W	Biographer of the Greek philosophers; of his life
193	Anonymous Anti-Montanist	CA	A work refuting the Montanists is quoted by Eusebi
193	Abercius	P	Presumed christian - 1. The citizens of an eminent
197	Tertullian	CA	QUINTUS SEPTIMIUS FLORENS TERTULLIANUS
200	Serapion of Antioch	CB	Bishop of Antioch
200	Philostratus	P
200	Valerian (Publius Licinius Valerian	RE	Emperor 253-260
200	Asinius Quadratus	H	Roman historian 3rd century , wrote in greek; frag
200	Apollonius	CA	Anti-Montanist - Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., V, 18),
200	Dionysius (of Alexandria) the Great	CB	The Great (Eusebius) from 248 to 264
200	Caius	CA	Eus
200	Cornelius (of Rome)	CB	Pope 251-253; author of Letters to (1. Fabius of A
200	Cyprian of Carthage	CB	Author of a number of epistles and treatises
201	Decius Trajan	RE	Emperor 249-251, Purported persecutions; libelli,
201	Novatian	C	Novatist schismatic, Roman anti-pope
205	Plotinus	P	Neoplatonist - father of (via Porphyry)
208	Alexander Severus	RE	Emperor 222-235
210	Dionysius of Rome	CB	Pope 259-268
210	Hermias	C	Obscure apologist "Derision of Gentle Philosophers
210	Mani the Prophet	P	Founder of Manichaeism (Persion Gnostic) Codex Ma
212	Gregory Thaumaturgus	CB	Read Origen
213	Cassius Dionysius Longinus	P	Greek rhetorician philosopher, rival of Plotinus
218	Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus	RE	(co) Emperor 253-268; Decree ?(via E)
220	Junianus Justinus	H	Justin or Marcus Junianus Justinus or Justinus Fro
220	Malchion (of Antioch)	C	Writings (against Paul of Samosata) via Eusebius;
222	Anatolius of Laodicea in Syria	CB	Eusebius (Hist. eccl., VII. xxxli. 14-20)
234	Porphyry	P	Violently Anti-christian Neoplatonist philosopher
236	Diocletian	RE	Emperor 284-305, Abdicated to become a farmer
240	Lactantius	C	Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius
240	Victorinus (bishop) of Petau	CB	Bishop Martry - Latin C writer
245	Iamblichus of Chalcis	P	Neoplatonist
245	Arnobius	C	wrote (about 305) an apologetic work in seven book
250	Galerius	RE	Emperor 305-311; Galerius Maximianus; Edict via Eu
250	Methodius	C	via Jerome (non Eusebius)
250	Phileas (Bishop) of Thmuis	CB	Acts, writings via Eusebius (Hist. eccl., VIII, x)
260	Alexander of Alexandria	CB	He is prominent because his appointment to the pat
265	Eusebius Pamphili of Caesarea	CB	Historian
270	Commodianus	C	date of whose birth is uncertain, but generally pl
270	Miltiades (Pope 311-314)	C	Unknown background - 313: condemned Donatus Magnus
270	Hierocles	W	Governor of Bythnia (302) - "A Friend of the Truth
270	Sabinus	C	Eusebius reports authot of letter to Governors (vi
272	Constantine I	RE	Emperor 306-337, Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius C
280	Alexander of Lycopolis	C	writer of a short treatise, in twenty-six chapters
280	Aphrahat/Aphraates	C	the Persian sage
296	Athanasius	CB	Father of Orthodoxy
300	Hilary of Poitiers	CB	Bishop
300	Sallustius	W	A 4th-century writer and friend of the Emperor Jul
306	Ephraim the Syrian	CB
311	Donatus Magnus	CB	Bishop Carthage - Donatist Schism (Heretic)
315	Cyril of Jerusalem	CB
317	Constantius II	RE	Emperor 337-361, Flavius Julius Constantius (2nd s
320	Gregory of Nyssa	CB	Cappadocian Fathers
320	Eutropius	H	Roman historian who flourished in the latter half
323	Eunomius of Cyzicus	C	Anomoean Arian: writings edicted for destruction
325	Ammianus Marcellinus	H	Historian, greek, army career (Res Gestae)
325	Gregory Nazianzen	CB
329	Basil the Great	CB
330	Apollinaris (the Younger)	CB	Bishop of Laodicea
331	Julian	RE	Emperor 360-363, Flavius Claudius Julianus (relate
340	Jerome	CB
340	Ambrose	CB
340	Rufinus	C	Historian, (of Aquiliea)
346	Theodosius I	RE	Emperor 379-395, Flavius Theodosius (b.Cauca in Sp
346	Maximin of Trier	CB	the fifth bishop of Trier
347	John Chrysostom	CB
347	Eunapius	H	Greek sophist,historian (CE 270-404, incorporated
350	Plutarch (the Younger)	P	Neoplatonic philosopher (Athens school: Proclus, S
350	Pamphilus	C	Origen expert, Hexapla
350	Peter of Alexandria	CB	Bishop of Alexandria
354	Augustine of Hippo	CB
360	John Cassian	C
363	Sulpitius Severus	C	ecclesiastical writer
368	Philostorgius	C	Historian (Fragment via Photius)
370	Hypatia of Alexandria	P	Neoplatonic philosopher, mathematician, teacher
373	Synesius (made Bishop of Ptolemais)	P	Statesman,Neoplatonist (disciple Hypatia) then mad
379	Socrates Scholasticus	C	Greek ecclesiastical historian; continuator of Eus
380	Philip of Side	C	Ecclesiastical Historian (against Julian) aka Phil
390	Vincent of Lérins	C	ecclesiastical writer
393	Theodoret	CB	Historian, Bishop of Cyprus
395	Leo the Great, Pope	CB
400	Sozomen	C	Ecclesiastical historian; aka Sozomen, Salamanes o
400	Moses of Chorene	H	Armenian historian
400	Hydatius	CB	Wrote a Chronical; bishop of Aquae Flaviae; contin
412	Proclus, Lycaeus	P	Greek neoplatonist philosopher (admired by Ralph W
420	Joannes Stobaeus	H	Compiler: greek (nonchristian) authors (poets,hist
440	Gennadius of Marseilles	C
450	Zosimus	H	Historian (Pagan) - Historia Nova, "New History",
452	Mar Jacob	P
480	Damascius	P	Neoplatonist: Alexandria - pupil Theon; Athens - h
490	Simplicius	P	Neoplatonist: Alexandria - pupil Ammonius Hermiae
530	Venantius	C	Latin Poet
540	Gregory the Great, Pope	CB	Pope
570	Muhammad the Prophet	W	Founder of Islam
670	Khalid (son of Umayyad Caliph Yazid	W
676	John of Damascus	CB
722	Jabir ibn Hayyan	W	Alchemist, quoting Balinus
820	Photius	CB	Patriarch Constantinople
1908	Arnaldo Dante Momigliano	H	Italian historian known for his work in historiography

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