Beliefs
Where did this belief come from?
Each question below divides the churches today. For every position we quote the church that holds it, name the one thing that sets it apart, and mark each early passage that states it or rules it out. Words several positions share count for none of them, so no church can claim a Father for sounding similar.
a passage states it a passage rules it out
What happens to the bread and wine in the Eucharist, and how is Christ present?
Real change, manner undefined
Orthodox CatholicNo secure early statement. Earliest, from a work of uncertain authorship: Epiphanius of Salamis, c. 403.
Transubstantiation
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Is the Eucharist a sacrifice, and if so, of what kind?
Not a sacrifice
BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Sacrifice of praise and commemoration only
Lutheran Reformed Anglican BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Propitiatory sacrifice
Catholic OrthodoxEarliest statement: Cyril of Alexandria, c. 444
What authority does the bishop of Rome hold over the whole Church?
No special authority
Reformed Baptist Lutheran AnglicanNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Primacy of honour among equals
OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Primacy of jurisdiction by divine right
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Infallibility of solemn papal definitions
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
May Mary be called Mother of God (Theotokos)?
Mother of God (Theotokos)
Catholic Orthodox Lutheran Anglican ReformedEarliest statement: Apollinaris of Laodicea (quoted as Athanasius), c. 363
Mother of Christ only
No secure early statement. Earliest, from a work of uncertain authorship: Nestorius (as quoted), c. 431.
Did Mary remain a virgin all her life?
Was Mary free from sin, and from when?
Mary had personal faults
No early passage in the library states it yet.
Free from personal sin
Catholic OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Immaculate Conception
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
How did Mary's earthly life end?
Died and was buried; nothing further held
No early passage in the library states it yet.
Died, then taken bodily to heaven (Dormition)
OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Assumed body and soul (Catholic dogma)
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
What is the relationship between Christians on earth and the saints in heaven?
The saints pray for the Church, but are not to be invoked
LutheranNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Is Scripture the only infallible rule of faith, or is Church tradition also binding?
Scripture the only infallible rule
Lutheran Reformed Anglican BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Scripture with binding Church tradition
Catholic OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Which books belong to the Old Testament?
Read for example of life, not for doctrine
Anglican LutheranNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Wider canon as full Scripture
Catholic OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
On what basis is a sinner justified before God?
By faith alone, with Christ's righteousness imputed
Lutheran Reformed Anglican BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
By faith working through love, with righteousness infused
Catholic OrthodoxNo secure early statement. Earliest, from a work of uncertain authorship: Severianus of Gabala, c. 400.
Salvation as union with God (theosis)
OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
From whom does the Holy Spirit eternally proceed?
From the Father as sole source
OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
From the Father and the Son as one principle
Catholic Lutheran Reformed AnglicanNo early passage in the library states it yet.
What happens between death and the final judgment to those who die in faith but not fully purified, and can the living help them?
Purgatory
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Prayer for the dead, purification not defined
OrthodoxNo early passage in the library states it yet.
No purification or help after death
Reformed Anglican Baptist LutheranNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Can the Church remit the temporal punishment still owed for forgiven sins?
Indulgences
CatholicNo early passage in the library states it yet.
No such power
Lutheran Reformed Anglican BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Who should be baptized?
Believers and their infants
Catholic Orthodox Lutheran Reformed AnglicanEarliest statement: Julian of Eclanum, c. 418
Professing believers only
BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
What does baptism do?
Baptism regenerates and forgives sins
Catholic Orthodox LutheranEarliest statement: Irenaeus of Lyons, c. 180
Sign and seal of grace, not tied to the moment
ReformedNo early passage in the library states it yet.
How is the Church governed, and who ordains its ministers?
Bishops in apostolic succession
Catholic Orthodox AnglicanEarliest statement: Cyril of Alexandria, c. 444
Equal presbyters governing in councils
ReformedNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Self-governing congregation
BaptistNo early passage in the library states it yet.
May images of Christ and the saints be made, and should they be honoured?
Images not to be used in worship
Reformed BaptistNo secure early statement. Earliest, from a work of uncertain authorship: Epiphanius of Salamis, c. 403.
On what basis does God predestine people to salvation, and is anyone predestined to condemnation?
Election to life only
LutheranNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Election and reprobation (double predestination)
ReformedNo early passage in the library states it yet.
Predestination according to foreseen free choice
OrthodoxEarliest statement: Origen of Alexandria, c. 254
How this was made
Every passage in the library was searched for each question. Two AI models from different labs judged each passage against all the positions at once, seeing them only as letters, without names or churches. A third model settled disagreements, and Claude reviewers then checked every deciding verdict against the passage and, for the earliest dates, against the Greek or Latin. A writer's silence is never counted.
The evidence is only as deep as what the library has translated so far: 3rd century: 6 writers, 4th century: 13 writers, 5th century: 7 writers, 6th century: 1 writers. New works are added earliest first, and the map is redone as they arrive.