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The First 500 Years of Christianity

Where did the Church come from? A printable timeline from Pentecost to the fall of Rome — the apostolic age, the persecutions, Constantine, and the councils. Members download the full timeline.

The big picture in one timeline

Between Pentecost and the fall of the Western Roman Empire lie five centuries that turned a persecuted movement into the faith of an empire — and produced the Scriptures, creeds, and councils we still rely on.

Three eras (free preview)

  • The Apostolic Age (c. 30–100) — Pentecost, the missions, the New Testament written
  • Persecution & the Apologists (c. 100–313) — Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin, Irenaeus
  • The Imperial Church & the Councils (313–476) — Nicaea, the canon, Chalcedon

What's in the full member PDF

  • A dated, banded timeline with every key event
  • Martyrs, Fathers, and key texts marked
  • Honest flags on traditional and debated dates
  • Study questions and a sourced reading list

Members: download the full printable timeline below. Support for $1/month or more to unlock every resource.

Topic: Christian Orthodoxy