All Posts Archived Lessons New Testament Old Testament Book of Mormon Doctrine & Covenants Search Supplemental information for “A Minister and a Witness” CFMCorner Jul 28, 2023 13 min read Updated: Jun 24, 2025 The Nag Hamadi Ruins contain an ancient library of Gnostic Christian codices that were buried after Saint Athanasius condemned the use of non-canonical books in 367 AD. Additional Information on Early Christian Sects: Early Divisions (1st Century AD): a. Jewish Christians: Originated in the Jewish communities where Jesus' early followers lived, mainly in the region of Judea and later spreading to other Jewish diaspora communities. Jewish Christians continued to observe Jewish customs and laws while recognizing Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. b. Paul's Gentile Converts: originated in diverse Gentile communities located outside of Judea, primarily in cities throughout the expansive Roman Empire where the apostle Paul conducted his influential missionary journeys. Through his ministry, Paul extended the message of salvation, emphasizing faith in Jesus Christ, to non-Jewish (Gentile) communities. This led to significant changes in the Christian movement, as Gentile converts were allowed certain leniencies regarding the strict observance of Jewish laws and customs, including matters pertaining to Kosher laws and Circumcision. These controversial changes stirred up heated tensions between the Jewish and Gentile populations within the early Christian communities . Nazarene Sect (1st Century AD): Originated in Nazareth and other areas in Galilee, where Jesus spent a significant part of His life, and later spread to other Jewish communities. The Nazarenes maintained strong connections with Jewish customs and regarded Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Ebionite Sect (1st and 2nd Centuries AD): The Ebionites primarily originated in Jewish communities in Judea and Galilee and later spread to other Jewish communities and diaspora locations. Some sources record that the Ebionites were descendants of the Jerusalem Christians that fled to Pella just prior to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Ebionites insisted on the continued observance of Jewish customs and laws for all followers of Jesus, including Gentile converts, and many rejected Paul's teachings. Docetism Sect (1st and 2nd Centuries AD): Docetism originated in various regions across the Roman Empire, with followers found in cities like Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch. Docetism taught that Jesus' human form was illusory and that He did not possess a physical body, emphasizing His purely divine nature. Gnostic Sects (1st and 2nd Centuries AD): Gnostic Christians originated from different regions across the Roman Empire, with significant Gnostic communities found in Alexandria (Egypt), Antioch (Syria), and parts of Asia Minor. Gnostic Christians emphasized secret knowledge (gnosis) for salvation, viewed the material world as inherently evil, and claimed to possess esoteric knowledge about Jesus and His teachings. (More on these groups below.) Adomite Sect (2nd Century AD) : The Adomite sect emerged in Syria. The Adomites believed that Adam, the first human, was the true savior and that Jesus was merely a manifestation of Adam's spirit. Elcesaites Sect (2nd Century AD) : The Elcesaite sect was founded in eastern parts of the Roman Empire, particularly in Mesopotamia and Persia (present-day Iraq and Iran), and in the regions around the Dead Sea. The Elkesaites blended elements of Jewish, Christian, and Gnostic beliefs and practiced communion and baptisms by immersion. It is believed that Elkesaites drew followers from the Essene community. Marcionism Sect (2nd Century AD): Founded by Marcion in Pontus, in a region in modern-day Turkey. Marcionism later spread to Rome and other parts of the Roman Empire. Summary: Marcionism rejected the Old Testament and believed in two opposing gods—one of judgment and law in the Old Testament, and the other of love and grace in the New Testament. Montanism Sect (2nd Century AD): Montanism originated in Phrygia, an area in modern-day Turkey, particularly in the region around Pepuza and Tymion, where the prophet Montanus lived and preached. The movement spread to other regions in the Roman Empire. Montanism claimed to receive direct revelations from the Holy Spirit, emphasized the imminent return of Christ, and promoted asceticism and strict moral living. Novatianism Sect (3rd Century AD) : Novatianism emerged in Rome and later spread to other parts of the Roman Empire. Novatianists were followers of Novatian, a presbyter in Rome, who opposed the re-admittance of Christians who had lapsed during times of persecution. They advocated for a strict approach to church discipline and penance. Collyridianism Sect (4th Century AD) : The Collyridian sect originated in Arabia and spread through parts of Asia Minor, particularly in present-day Turkey. Collyridianism centered around the veneration of the Virgin Mary to the point of offering her religious worship, which was contrary to mainstream Christian teachings at the time. Trinitarian Sect (2nd - 4th Century AD): The doctrine of the Trinity became a central tenet of Christian theology, beginning around 250 AD. While the concept has earlier influences, Origen, one of the early Christian fathers, provides the earliest known articulated description of this concept. In his writings, he used the Greek term " ousia " (substance) to categorize the nature of God, defining Him as “one genus of ousia while being three distinct species of hypostasis " (person, essence, nature, form). The concept of the Trinity was particularly significant in the Judeo-Christian community due to the second commandment, which strictly forbids the worship of gods other than Jehovah. As a result, some perceived the worship of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as polytheistic, challenging the long-established monotheistic tradition of Judaism. The concept of the Trinity arose as an attempt to reconcile this perceived discrepancy, and it garnered support through a vote at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, held in present-day Iznik, Turkey. The Council officially adopted Trinitarianism as the Christian Church's policy. However, the issue remained highly controversial and sparked intense debates among various Christian communities across the Roman Empire for many years, sometimes leading to conflicts and bloodshed. Trinitarian Christianity affirms the belief in the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—as three distinct persons in one divine essence. This belief became a defining element of orthodox Christian theology and played a significant role in shaping the course of Christian history. Arianism Sect (2nd - 4th Century AD): Arianism originated in Alexandria, Egypt, where Arius served as a presbyter and presented his controversial teachings. It later spread to other parts of the Roman Empire. Arianism was a significant theological movement in the early Christian church, named after its founder, Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria in the 4th century AD. Arianism challenged the orthodox Trinitarian doctrine by proposing a different understanding of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ. According to Arianism, Jesus Christ was not co-eternal or of the same divine essence (consubstantial) as God the Father. Instead, Arius taught that Jesus, as the Son of God, was a created being and had a beginning. Arius argued that there was a time when the Son did not exist and that the Father alone was truly God in the highest sense. This view posed a direct challenge to the orthodox Trinitarian doctrine, which upheld the belief in the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit—as three distinct persons in one divine essence, co-eternal and consubstantial. Trinitarian Christians held that Jesus Christ was fully God and had always existed as an equal member of the Godhead, not a created being. Arianism gained significant popularity and support, creating divisions and debates within the early Christian church. The controversy over the nature of Jesus Christ's divinity led to the calling of the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD to address and resolve the dispute. At the Council of Nicaea, the Trinitarian position, as articulated by Athanasius and others, prevailed, and the Nicene Creed was adopted. This creed firmly asserted the full divinity of Jesus Christ, stating that He is “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Arianism was officially condemned as a heresy, and its adherents, including Arius, were excommunicated from the orthodox Christian community. In the context of the Latter-day Saint (LDS) concept of the Godhead, there are some similarities and differences between Arianism and Trinitarianism. Like Arianism, LDS theology teaches that Jesus Christ is a separate being from God the Father and that He is the literal Son of God. However, unlike Arianism, the LDS doctrine of the Godhead affirms the eternal nature of Jesus Christ and His divine essence. In LDS theology, Jesus Christ is understood to be the literal Firstborn Son of God in the spirit, and He played a crucial role in the creation of the universe under the direction of God the Father. Furthermore, LDS doctrine teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings with distinct roles but united in purpose as the Godhead. While this view differs from orthodox Trinitarianism, which emphasizes their complete unity in one divine essence, it aligns with the LDS concept of the Godhead as three distinct divine beings working together in perfect harmony to bring about the salvation and exaltation of humankind. Khan Academy Early Christianity , The Spread of Christianity , Christianity in the Roman Empire , Arian Controversy and the Council of Nicaea Various Gnostic Sects: The Gnostic traditions emerged as a philoso