Christian Traditions Chronology and Glossary

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering key chronological events, major historical figures, places, doctrines, practices, and texts from the provided Christian Traditions study reference.

Great Fire of Rome (64 CE)

A major fire in 64 CE that destroyed much of Rome. Emperor Nero blamed Christians, contributing to early persecution.

Destruction of Jerusalem (70 CE)

In 70 CE, Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple, accelerating the separation between Judaism and Christianity.

Edict of Milan (313 CE)

Policy granted in 313 CE that gave religious toleration in the Roman Empire, legalized Christian worship, and ordered confiscated Christian property returned.

Council of Nicaea (325 CE)

First ecumenical council (325 CE); condemned Arianism and affirmed that the Son is homoousios, or of the same substance, as the Father.

Council of Chalcedon (451 CE)

Council that affirmed Jesus is one person with two complete natures: fully divine and fully human.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE)

Traditional date in 476 CE for the end of the Western Roman Empire when the Germanic ruler Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus.

Battle of Tours (732 CE)

Battle in which Charles Martel defeated a Muslim army slowing Muslim military expansion into western Europe.

Adam and Eve

The first humans in Genesis whose disobedience introduces original sin and humanity's separation from God.

Alexandria

Major Egyptian intellectual and Christian center associated with Origen, Athanasius, and the Alexandrian Christological tradition.

Ambrose

Bishop of Milan who required Emperor Theodosius to repent after the massacre at Thessalonica before returning to communion.

Antioch

Major Syrian Christian center where Jesus' followers were first called Christians; associated with an Antiochene emphasis on Christ's distinct divine and human natures.

Apostle

A messenger sent to spread the faith. Often thought of jesuses twelve and paul.

Apostolic succession

The belief that church authority passes from the apostles through bishops and ordained leaders.

Arianism

The teaching that the Son was created by the Father and was not co-eternal or equal in divinity with the Father; condemned at Nicaea.

Asceticism

Strict spiritual discipline such as fasting, celibacy, poverty, prayer, and self-denial.

Athanasius

Bishop of Alexandria who strongly defended Nicene theology and the full divinity of Christ.

Augustine

Bishop of Hippo and major theologian who wrote about sin, grace, original sin, free will, and the church.

Baptism

Christian initiation ritual symbolizing repentance, cleansing from sin, and entry into the Christian community.

Basil of Caesarea

Cappadocian Father who defended the Trinity, supported monasticism, and promoted care for the poor and sick.

Byzantines

Modern term for people of the Eastern Roman Empire, who generally called themselves Romans.

Canon

The officially recognized collection of authoritative books of Scripture.

Cappadocian Fathers

Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa; major defenders of Trinitarian theology.

Celibacy

The voluntary choice to abstain from sexual activity, often for religious devotion.

Charlemagne

Frankish ruler crowned emperor in 800 by Pope Leo III; supported Christian education and missionary expansion, sometimes through force.

Charles Martel

Frankish military leader who defeated a Muslim army at the Battle of Tours in 732.

Chi-Rho

Christian symbol made from the first two Greek letters of Christ; associated with Constantine's vision before battle.

Christotokos

Greek for Christ-bearer or mother of Christ; a title for Mary that emphasizes Jesus's humanity.

Constantine

First Roman emperor to openly support Christianity; ended persecution, founded Constantinople, and called the Council of Nicaea.

Constantinople

City founded by Constantine as the new eastern Roman capital; later the center of the Byzantine Empire.

Copts

Egyptian Christians with a strong history of desert monasticism.

Covenant

A sacred promise or relationship between God and his people.

Crucifixion

Roman execution of Jesus on a cross; Christians interpret it as a sacrificial act connected to forgiveness and salvation.

Didache

Anonymous early Christian teaching manual covering ethics, baptism, fasting, prayer, Eucharist, and church leadership.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who initiated the Great Persecution of Christians around 303 CE.

Docetism

The belief that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body and did not truly become human; rejected by the mainstream church.

Donatists

North African Christians who argued that clergy who compromised during persecution could not validly administer sacraments.

Eastern Orthodoxy

Christian tradition centered historically in Constantinople and the Greek-speaking eastern Roman world.

Ethiopia

One of the world's oldest Christian kingdoms; Christianity became prominent under King Ezana in the fourth century.

Five Pillars of Islam

Profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.

Gnosticism

Collection of religious ideas emphasizing salvation through special or secret knowledge and often viewing material existence negatively.

Gregory of Nazianzus

Cappadocian theologian who defended the Trinity and the full divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Gregory of Nyssa

Cappadocian theologian, brother of Macrina, who wrote about the Trinity and spiritual growth.

Gregory the Great

Pope Gregory I, who supported missions, charity, church organization, and Christian expansion in western Europe.

Hagia Sophia

Major Byzantine church in Constantinople, famous for its engineering, dome, and importance to Eastern Christianity.

Helena

Constantine's mother, associated with pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the discovery of Christian relics such as the True Cross.

Homoiousios

Greek for 'of similar substance,' a position associated with some opponents of Nicene homoousios theology.

Homoousios

Greek for 'of the same substance,' the Nicene claim that the Son is fully equal in divinity with the Father.

Icons

used for teaching, devotion, and remembrance; defended by the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.

Ignatius of Antioch

Early bishop and martyr who emphasized church unity, bishops, the Eucharist, and Jesus's real humanity and divinity.

Incarnation

The belief that the divine Son or Logos became fully human in Jesus while remaining fully divine.

Irenaeus of Lyons

Bishop who opposed Gnosticism and defended Scripture, apostolic tradition, and the authority of bishops.

Jerome

Biblical scholar who translated the Bible into Latin; his translation became known as the Vulgate.

John Chrysostom

'Golden-mouthed' preacher and bishop who emphasized moral reform, charity, prayer, and Christianizing social customs.

John of Damascus

Theologian who defended the use of icons during the Byzantine Iconoclast controversy.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor from 527 who sought religious and political unity; his wife Theodora supported Miaphysite Christians.

Ka'aba

Cube-shaped shrine in Mecca toward which Muslims face during prayer; central destination of pilgrimage.

Khadija

First wife of Muhammad and the first person traditionally believed to accept his prophetic message.

Leo I

Bishop of Rome whose letter influenced the Council of Chalcedon.

Life of Anthony

Biography by Athanasius presenting Anthony the Great as a model of asceticism and monastic holiness.

Logos

Greek for 'Word' or 'Reason.' In John 1, the Logos is Christ, who was with God and became flesh.

Macrina

Christian ascetic and teacher who influenced Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa.

Martyr

A person who suffers or dies rather than deny the faith; martyrs became models of loyalty and holiness.

Messiah

Hebrew term meaning 'anointed one.' Christians identify Jesus as this, while many Jews expected a political or national deliverer.

Millet system

Later Ottoman system allowing recognized religious communities, including Christians, limited self-government under Muslim rule.

Miaphysitism/Monophysitism

Christological tradition emphasizing the unified divine-human nature of Christ, especially associated with Egypt and Syria.

Nicene Creed

Creed expressing belief in one God, the Trinity, the incarnation, death, resurrection, and the church; based on Nicaea and later expanded.

Nestorius

Bishop of Constantinople associated with opposition to calling Mary Theotokos; condemned at Ephesus.

Origen

Alexandrian theologian known for allegorical biblical interpretation and major writings about Scripture and the soul.

Pelagius

Theologian who emphasized human moral ability; opposed by Augustine for minimizing original sin and the need for grace.

People of the Book

Islamic term for Jews and Christians, who are recognized as communities with earlier revealed scriptures.

Pneumatomachians

'Spirit-fighters,' opponents who denied or reduced the full divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Polycarp

Early bishop of Smyrna and martyr traditionally said to have been burned for refusing to renounce Christianity.

Suffering Servant

Figure in Isaiah interpreted by Christians as foreshadowing Jesus's suffering and sacrificial death.

Tertullian of Carthage

Early Latin Christian author who defended Christianity and helped develop Latin Trinitarian vocabulary.

Theotokos

Greek for 'God-bearer.' A title for Mary affirming that the child she bore, Jesus, is truly God.

Timothy of Baghdad

Patriarch Timothy I, who held a respectful theological conversation with the Abbasid caliph about Christianity and Islam.

Trinity

Christian doctrine that one God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.