Heresy
Orthodoxy often learned to define itself by naming what it was not
Heresy is teaching judged by the Church to depart from the apostolic faith. From Irenaeus onward, the cataloguing of heresies, seen in his Against Heresies and later in Epiphanius' Panarion, helped the Church define orthodoxy by contrast, clarifying true doctrine through the rejection of error. The concept thus shaped the boundaries of Christian belief, marking which teachings the community received as faithful and which it set aside.
How it traveled
- Anonymous Treatise on Re-baptism.— · 220applies
- The Epistles of Cyprian.Carthage · 258applies
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360explains
- Defence Against the Arians. (Apologia Contra Arianos.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His LifeAlexandria · 373explains
- Arian History. (Historia Arianorum ad Monachos.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- On the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia. (De Synodis.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Apology to the Emperor. (Apologia Ad Constantium.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Circular to Bishops of Egypt and Libya. (Ad Episcopos Ægypti Et Libyæ Epistola Encyclica.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Defence of His Flight. (Apologia de Fuga.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Defence of Dionysius. (De Sententia Dionysii.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Encyclical Letter. (Epistola Encyclica.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Ephraim Syrus: The Pearl. Seven Hymns on the FaithEdessa · 373challenges
- Defence of the Nicene Definition. (De Decretis.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Synodal Letter to the Bishops of Africa. (Ad Afros Epistola Synodica.)Alexandria · 373applies
- Deposition of Arius. (Depositio Arii.)Alexandria · 373explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- De Spiritu SanctoCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- The Second Ecumenical Council: The First Council of ConstantinopleConstantinople (Istanbul) · 381explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Letters of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390applies
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- Answer to Eunomius' Second BookNyssa · 395applies
- Selections from the Letters of St. AmbroseMilan · 397applies
- Concerning RepentanceMilan · 397challenges
Key passages(20)
A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin · Augustine of Hippo
Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Jerome's Apology for Himself Against the Books of Rufinus · Rufinus of Aquileia
Jerome's Apology for Himself Against the Books of Rufinus · Rufinus of Aquileia
On Baptism, Against the Donatists · Augustine of Hippo
On the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia. (De Synodis.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods · The Ecumenical Councils
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea