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The Early Christian Attitude to War: A Contribution to the History of Christian Ethics, with a Foreword by the Rev. W.E. Orchard, D.D. (London: Headly Bros, 1919).

Author: John Cecil Cadoux
Foreword: Rev. William Edwin Orchard

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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

Names of Emperors are printed in Capitals.

Many of the dates given are conjectural or approximate. Where two figures are given, they indicate either the limits of a reign or the probable termini between which the date of an event or a composition falls.

In the case of martyrdoms, it is to be noted that the written Acta do not always date from immediately after the events they narrate. The Acta quoted however usually contain for the most part early and reliable material.

A.D.
14	Death of AUGUSTUS.
14–37	TIBERIUS.
29	Crucifixion of Jesus.
37–41	GAIUS (CALIGULA).
?40	Conversion of the centurion Cornelius.
41–54	CLAUDIUS.
41	Martyrdom of James, the son of Zebedee.
47	Paul preaches to Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus.
49	Conversion of the gaoler of Philippi.
50–61	The extant Epistles of Paul.
54–68	NERO.
?62	The Epistle of James.
64	Fire at Rome; Nero persecutes the Christians.
	The Martyrdom of Peter and Paul at Rome.
64–70	The Gospel of Mark.
	The Pastoral Epistles (? of Paul), i.e. 1 and 2 Tim. and Tit.
The Epistle to the Hebrews.
	The (First) Epistle of Peter.
68–69	GALBA : OTHO : VITELLIUS.
69–79	VESPASIANUS.
66	Outbreak of Jewish War against Rome.
?67	Christians of Jerusalem withdraw to Pella.
70	Jerusalem captured by the Romans.

A.D.
70–80	The Gospel of ‘Matthew.’
	The Gospel and Acts of Luke.
?75	The Epistle of ‘Barnabas’ (Egypt).
79–81	TITUS.
80–90	The Didakhe (Syria).
81–96	DOMITIANUS.
93	The Apocalypse of John (Asia Minor).
?94	The (First) Epistle of Clemens of Rome to the Corinthians.
96–98	NERVA.
98–117	TRAJANUS.
100	The Vision of Isaiah (= Ascension of Isaiah vi-xi. 40)
100–110	The Fourth Gospel (Asia Minor).
	The Johannine Epistles (Asia Minor).
?110	The Epistles (Asia Minor) and martyrdom (Rome) of Ignatius of Antioch.
?110	The Epistle of Polukarpos of Smyrna to the Philippians.
112	The Correspondence between Plinius and Trajanus about the Christians of Bithynia.
117–138	HADRIANUS.
110–130	The apocryphal Gospel of Peter.
?130–150	The ‘Elders’ cited by Eirenaios.
138–161	ANTONINUS PIUS.
140	The Shepherd of Hermas (Italy).
140–141	The Apology of Aristeides (Athens).
144–154	Markion flourished (Italy).
?150	The so-called Second Epistle of Clemens of Rome.
	The so-called Second Epistle of Peter.
	The Epistle to Diognetos.
153	The Apology of Justinus (usually reckoned as two) (Rome).
?154	(before 165) Tatianus’ Address to the Greeks (Rome).
155	The martyrdom of Polukarpos at Smyrna.
155–160	Justinus’ Dialogue with Truphon the Jew.
?	Justinus’ On the Resurrection.
?160	The apocryphal Acts of John.
161–180	MARCUS AURELIUS.
160–170	The apocryphal Acts of Paul.
161–169	The martyrdom of Karpos, Papulos, and Agathonike at Pergamus.
163–167	The martyrdom of Justinus and his companions at Rome.
?170	The Excerpta ex Theodoto.
173 or 174	The incident of the so-called ‘Thundering Legion.’
177–180	Athenagoras’ Legatio pro Christianis (? Athens) and De Resurrections.
	Celsus’ True Discourse.

A.D.
177–178	Persecution at Lugdunum (Lyons) in Gaul.
180–192	COMMODUS.
180 (July)	Martyrdom of the Scillitans.
?181	Theophilos of Antioch’s Ad Autolycum.
180–185	Martyrdom of the Senator Apollonius (Rome).
181–189	Eirenaios’ Adversus Haereses (Lyons).
	Clemens of Alexandria’s Logos Protrepticus.
?190	Eirenaios’ Proof of the Apostolic Preaching (quoted in footnotes as Demonstr) (Lyons).
170–200	Pseudo-Justinus’ Oration to the Greeks.
193	PERTINAX, etc.
193–211	SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS.
195	Julius Africanus serves under Severus in an expedition to Osrhoene.
197	Tertullianus’ Ad Martyres.
	Tertullianus’ Ad Nationes.
	Tertullianus’ Apologeticus.
198–203	Tertullianus’ De Spectaculis.
	Tertullianus’ De Cultu Feminarum.
	Tertullianus’ De Baptismo.
	Tertullianus’ De Paenitentia.
	Tertullianus’ De Patientia.
	Tertullianus’ De Oratione.
	Tertullianus’ De Idololatria.
	Tertullianus’ De Praescriptione Haereticorum.
	Tertullianus’ Adversus Judaeos.
190–210	Clemens’ Stromateis.
190–200	Clemens’ Paedagogus.
?200	Pseudo-Justinus’ Cohortatio ad Gentiles.
200	Hippolutos’ De Antichristo.
200–210	Hippolutos’ treatise against Noetos.
203	Hippolutos’ Commentary on Daniel.
203	Martyrdom of Perpetua, etc., at Carthago.
?205	Clemens’ Quis Dives Salvetur?
204–206	Tertullianus’ De Exhortatione Castitatis.
207	Tertullianus becomes a Montanist.
200–220	The apocryphal Acts of Peter.
208–213	Tertullianus’ Adversus Marcionem.
	Tertullianus’ De Anima.
210	Tertullianus’ De Pallio.
211–217	CARACALLA and (211–212) GETA.
211	Tertullianus’ De Resurrectione Carnis.
	Tertullianus’ De Corona Militis.

A.D.
211–212	Tertullianus’ De Fuga in Persecutione.
212	Tertullianus’ Ad Scapulam.
213	Tertullianus’ Scorpiace.
?215	Pseudo-Meliton’s Apology to Antoninus (i.e. Caracalla) (in Syriac).
217–218	MACRINUS.
218	Tertullianus’ De Monogamia.
	Tertullianus’ De Jejunio.
218–222	ELAGABALUS.
?220	Hippolutos’ Canons.
220	Tertullianus’ De Pudicitia.
222–235	ALEXANDER SEVERUS.
	Julius Africanus’ Κεστιί.
?223	The Bardesanic Book of the Laws of the Countries (otherwise called The Dialogue on Fate).
226	Hippolutos’ Refutatio omnium haeresium.
228–230	Origenes’ De Principiis.
233	Origenes’ De Oratione.
235–238	MAXIMINUS THRAX.
235	Origenes’ Homilies on Judges.
	Origenes’ Exhortation to Martyrdom.
238	GORDIANUS I, II, etc.
238–244	GORDIANUS III.
230–250	The apocryphal Acts of Thomas.
238–248	Minucius Felix’ Octavius.
241	Gregorios Thaumatourgos’ Panegyric on Origenes.
243	Pseudo-Cyprianus’ De Pascha Computus.
244–249	PHILIPPUS ARABS.
After 244	Origenes’ Homilies on Numbers.
	Origenes’ Commentary on Romans.
247	Cyprianus’ Ad Donatum.
	Cyprianus’ Ad Quirinum Testimoniorum adversus Judaeos libritres.
247–265	Dionusios of Alexandria’s letters and other writings.
248	Origenes’ Contra Celsum.
249	Cyprianus’ De Habitu Virginum.
249–251	DECIUS. Persecution.
250–258	Cyprianus’ Epistles.
249–250	Origenes’ Homilies on Joshua.
250	Cyprianus’ De Laude Martyrii.
?250	Commodianus’ Instructiones.
	Commodianus’ Carmen Apologeticum.Didaskalia (Syria).
250	Martyrdom of Pionios at Smyrna.

A.D.
	Trial of Achatius at Antioch in Pisidia.
251	Cyprianus’ De Lapsis.
251–253	GALLUS and VOLUSIANUS.
252	Cyprianus’ Ad Demetrianum.
	Cyprianus’ De Dominica Oratione.
253–60	VALERIANUS.
253–254	Cyprianus’ De Mortalitate.
254	Gregorios Thaumatourgos’ Canonical Epistle (Pontus).
?255	Novatianus’ (?) De Spectaculis.
	Pseudo-Cyprianus’ Quod Idola Dii non sint.
256	Pseudo-Cyprianus’ De Rebaptismate.
	Cyprianus’ De Bono Patientiae.
	Cyprianus’ De Zelo et Livore.
257	Cyprianus’ Ad Fortunatum de exhortatione martyrii.
258	Martyrdom of Cyprianus (Carthago).
259	(Jan.) Martyrdom of Fructuosus (Spain).
	(May) Martyrdom of Montanus and Lucius (Carthago).
	(May) Martyrdom of Marianus and Jacobus (Numidia).

260–268	GALLIENUS. Edict of Toleration.
260	Martyrdom of the soldier Marinus at Caesarea.
265	The Periodoi Petrou, which are lost, but of which the Clementine Homilies and the Clementine Recognitions are later abridgements, and to which the so-called Epistles of Clemens and Peter to James were originally prefixed.
268–270	CLAUDIUS II.
270–275	AURELIANUS.
272	Paulus of Samosata ejected from the see of Antioch by the secular power.
275–284	TACITUS, etc., etc.
284–305	DIOCLETIANUS and (286–305) MAXIMIANUS.
270–300	Methodios’ Symposium (Olympus in Lycia).
	Writings of Victorinus, bishop of Petavium (Petau).
293	Constantius Chlorus and Galerius made Caesars.
295	Martyrdom of Maximilianus at Teveste in Numidia for refusing to be a soldier.
298	Martyrdom of Marcellus and Cassianus at Tingi in Mauretania.
?300	The Synod of Illiberis (Elvira in Spain).
	Galerius tries to purge the army of Christians.
303	Outbreak of the Great Persecution.
?	Martyrdom of the veteran Julius in Moesia.

A.D.
304	(April) Martyrdom of Pollio in Pannonia.
	(Oct.) Martyrdom of Tarakhos, etc., in Cilicia.
305	Diocletianus and Maximianus resign, leaving GALERIUS and CONSTANTIUS as Augusti, and Maximinus Daza and Severus as Caesars.
305	or later (Jan.) Martyrdom of Typasius in Mauretania.
305	Lactantius’ De Opificio Dei.
	Lactantius’ Divinae Institutiones.
	Lactantius’ De Ira Dei.
306	Constantius dies at York: Constantinus becomes Caesar in the West. Maxentius supplants Severus in Italy.
304–310	Arnobius’ Adversus Nationes.
300–313	‘Adamantios’ Dialogus de Recta Fidei.
	Eusebios’ Praeparatio Evangelica.
307	LICINIUS made Augustus by Galerius.
	CONSTANTINUS assumes the title of Augustus.
309	(Jan.) Martyrdom of Quirinus in Pannonia.
310	MAXIMINUS DAZA becomes Augustus.
311	Death of Galerius.
312	(Jan.) Martyrdom of Lucianus at Nicomedia.
300–325?	The Egyptian Church-Order.
312	Constantinus adopts the sign of the cross in his campaign against Maxentius.
	Maxentius defeated at the Milvian Bridge, and slain.
313	(Jan.) Constantinus and Licinius issue the Edict of Milan.
	Licinius defeats Maximinus Daza in Thrace and publishes the Edict of Milan at Nicomedia. Suicide of Daza at Tarsus.
312–314	Eusebios completes his Church History (including The Martyrs of Palestine).
	Lactantius inserts the panegyrical addresses to Constantinus in his Divinae Institutiones (I i. 13–16, VII xxvi. 11–17, and four brief apostrophes in II i. 2, IV i. I, V i, 1, VI iii. I).
314	Lactantius’ De Morte Persecutorum.
	Synod of Arelate (Arles) in Gaul.
320f.	Licinius persecutes the Christians.
	Martyrdom of Theogenes and Marcellinus, and of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste.
323	Licinius defeated by Constantinus, captured, and shortly afterwards slain.
	CONSTANTINUS sole Emperor.
325	Council of Nicaea.

A.D.
330–340	Acta Disputationis Archelai.
336	St. Martinus of Tours leaves the army.

337–339	Eusebios’ Life of Constantinus.
?350	Letter of Athanasios to Ammonios (Amun) pronouncing slaughter in warfare legal (Migne PG xxvi. 1169 f, 1173).
361–363	JULIANUS, the last pagan Emperor.
363 ff	JOVIANUS, etc., etc., etc.
363	Gregorios of Nazianzus complains of the character of soldiers.
350–375	The Testament of Our Lord (Syria or S.E. Asia Minor).
?	St. Victricius (later archbishop of Rouen) leaves the army.
374	Basilios the Great recommends that soldiers who have shed blood should abstain from communion for three years.
375–400	The Apostolic Constitutions.
386–387	Ambrosius of Milan declares the rightfulness of military service.
390	Johannes Khrusostomos (Chrysostom) complains of the character of soldiers.
400	Paulinus of Nola persuades a friend to leave the army.
Augustinus argues for the legitimacy of military service for Christians in Contra Faustum Manichaeum.
412	and in a letter to Marcellinus.
416	Non-Christians forbidden by law to serve in the army.
418	Augustinus’ letter to Bonifacius.

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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE - John Cecil Cadoux, The Early Christian Attitude to War [1919]

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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE