Heresies in Early Christianity

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Gnosticism

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Salvation comes through secret knowledge; the material world is evil; Christ only appeared to be human.

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Marcionism

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Rejected the Old Testament and portrayed the God of the OT as evil and distinct from the God of the NT.

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Montanism

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Claimed direct revelation from the Holy Spirit through ecstatic prophecy; rejected Church authority.

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Sabellianism / Modalism

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Denied the Trinity; claimed the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct persons, but 'modes' of one God.

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Arianism

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Denied the full divinity of Jesus; claimed He was a created being, not co-eternal with the Father.

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Macedonianism

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Denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

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Nestorianism

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Taught that Christ was two separate persons (one human, one divine); denied that Mary is the 'Mother of God' (Theotokos).

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Monophysitism

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Claimed Christ has only one nature (divine), not two (human and divine).

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Monothelitism

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Taught Christ had only one will (divine), not a human will.

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Iconoclasm

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Rejected the use of religious images (icons); considered it idolatry.