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Rule of Faith

A compass for reading Scripture rightly — the apostles' teaching summed up in a phrase

The Rule of Faith is the summary of apostolic teaching that guides the right interpretation of Scripture. Early Fathers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian appealed to it as the framework handed down from the apostles, by which the Church could distinguish faithful readings of the biblical text from distortions. It functioned as a shared confession of the faith's essentials, anchoring interpretation in the Church's living tradition.

How it traveled

  1. Romans
    Corinth · 67
    explains
  2. 1 Corinthians
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  3. 1 Timothy
    Ephesus · 67
    explains
  4. 2 Timothy
    Rome · 67
    applies
  5. Galatians
    Ephesus · 67
    applies
  6. Matthew
    Antioch · 80
    explains
  7. Acts
    Rome · 84
    applies
  8. 1 John
    Ephesus · 100
    explains
  9. Dialogue with Trypho
    Rome · 165
    explains
  10. The First Apology
    Rome · 165
    explains
  11. Hortatory Address to the Greeks
    Rome · 165
    explains
  12. Against Heresies: Book III
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  13. Against Heresies: Book I
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  14. Against Heresies: Book IV
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  15. Against Heresies: Book II
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  16. Against Heresies: Book V
    Lyons · 202
    explains
  17. The Prescription Against Heretics.
    — · 220
    explains
  18. On Modesty.
    — · 220
    explains
  19. Apology.
    — · 220
    explains
  20. On the Resurrection of the Flesh.
    — · 220
    explains
  21. Against Praxeas.
    — · 220
    applies
  22. On the Veiling of Virgins.
    — · 220
    explains
  23. Scorpiace.
    — · 220
    explains
  24. Origen De Principiis.
    Alexandria · 253
    explains
  25. The Epistles of Cyprian.
    Carthage · 258
    explains
  26. A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity.
    Rome · 258
    applies
  27. The Church History of Eusebius
    Caesarea · 339
    explains
  28. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations
    Mosul · 345
    explains
  29. Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)
    Alexandria · 373
    explains
  30. Defence of the Nicene Definition. (De Decretis.)
    Alexandria · 373
    explains

Key passages(20)

A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity., Further, that the Same Rule of Truth Teaches Us to Believe, After the Father, Also in the Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Lord God, Being the Same that Was Promised in the Old Testament, and Manifested in the New.↗applies

A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity. · Novatian

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Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter III↗explains

Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons

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On the Creed — Section 1↗explains

On the Creed · Augustine of Hippo

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On the Veiling of Virgins., Truth Rather to Be Appealed to Than Custom, and Truth Progressive in Its Developments.↗explains

On the Veiling of Virgins. · Tertullian: Part Fourth

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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies — Chapter II. A General Rule for distinguishing the Truth of the Catholic Faith from the Falsehood of Heretical Pravity.↗explains

The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins

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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies — Chapter XXI. Exposition of St. Paul's Words.--1 Tim. vi. 20.↗explains

The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins

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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies — Chapter XXVII. What Rule is to be observed in the Interpretation of Scripture.↗explains

The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins

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The Prescription Against Heretics., All Doctrine True Which Comes Through the Church from the Apostles, Who Were Taught by God Through Christ. All Opinion Which Has No Such Divine Origin and Apostolic Tradition to Show, is Ipso Facto False.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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The Prescription Against Heretics., Appeal, in Discussion of Heresy, Lies Not to the Scriptures. The Scriptures Belong Only to Those Who Have the Rule of Faith.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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The Prescription Against Heretics., Attempt to Invalidate This Rule of Faith Rebutted. The Apostles Safe Transmitters of the Truth. Sufficiently Taught at First, and Faithful in the Transmission.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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The Prescription Against Heretics., Elucidations.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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The Prescription Against Heretics., Heretics Not Being Christians, But Rather Perverters of Christ's Teaching, May Not Claim the Christian Scriptures. These are a Deposit, Committed to and Carefully Kept by the Church.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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The Prescription Against Heretics., Summary of the Creed, or Rule of Faith. No Questions Ever Raised About It by Believers. Heretics Encourage and Perpetuate Thought Independent of Christ's Teaching.↗explains

The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion

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Origen De Principiis., Preface.↗explains

Origen De Principiis. · Origen

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Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) — Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) — Discourse II — part 1↗applies

Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

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A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed — I Believe in God the Father Almighty.↗explains

A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia

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A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed — Section 2↗explains

A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed · Rufinus of Aquileia

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Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter I↗explains

Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons

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Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter IV↗explains

Against Heresies: Book III · Irenaeus of Lyons

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Against Heresies: Book V, Chapter XX↗explains

Against Heresies: Book V · Irenaeus of Lyons

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