LOOK BACKWARD
2,000 Years of Christian History in One Scroll
Begin at today's Christian labels and scroll backward. One by one, the names of modern communities will fade as you pass the centuries in which they first appeared.
If my present Christian label disappears as I move backward, what Christian reality remains?
This is a question, not an accusation. Every community here is made of sincere Christians, and each date marks when a name began, not when its people stopped being Christian. Scroll down to begin ↓
2026
You Are Here
Christians today worship in Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Evangelical and non-denominational communities. Now scroll down, and watch what happens to the labels as you travel backward.
1900s
Pentecostal, Evangelical and Non-Denominational Growth
Modern Pentecostal movements emerge from revival and Holiness contexts, and Evangelical networks and non-denominational congregations become major parts of the Christian landscape.
1800s
Restoration and Holiness Movements
New movements seek to restore New Testament Christianity or pursue distinctive visions of holiness.
1700s
Methodism
John and Charles Wesley's revival movement grows within Anglican Christianity and eventually develops separate Methodist churches.
1600s
Baptist Traditions
Identifiable Baptist congregations emerge from the English Separatist world in the early seventeenth century.
1500s
The Reformation: Lutheran, Anglican and Reformed Christianity
Martin Luther's controversy in 1517 becomes a catalyst for the Western Reformation. England separates from Rome in the 1530s, and Swiss and Reformed movements develop their own Protestant traditions.
1054
East and West
The conventional date 1054 marks a major episode in a separation that developed over centuries. Before it, the Christian world spoke of East and West, but not yet of separate Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
AD 451
Council of Chalcedon
The Church articulates Christ as truly God and truly man, one person in two natures.
AD 431
Council of Ephesus
A controversy about who Christ is places the unity of his person, and the title Theotokos, at the center.
AD 325
Council of Nicaea
Bishops gather to confront the Arian controversy and confess the Son's true divinity.
c. AD 180
Irenaeus
Irenaeus argues against heresy by appealing to Scripture, Apostolic tradition, the succession of bishops and public churches founded by the Apostles.
c. AD 155
Justin Martyr
Justin gives one of the earliest substantial descriptions of Christian Sunday worship: Scripture readings, prayers, the Eucharist, deacons and care for the poor.
c. AD 107
Ignatius of Antioch
A bishop on his way to martyrdom writes about bishops, presbyters, deacons, Eucharistic unity and the Catholic Church.
AD 30–100
The Apostolic Church
Baptism, the breaking of bread, prayer, Church leadership, doctrine and visible Christian community in the age of the Apostles.
AD 30–33
Jesus Christ
Christianity begins with Christ, his death and Resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Apostles he sent out.
You Have Reached the Beginning.
Now follow the story forward.