Primary Sources of the Early Arian Controversy - according to Rowan Williams (2002)
See William's book, Arius: Heresy and Tradition pp. 58-9; 67-81.
William's most notable deviation from Opitz's chronology is that he reverses the order Alexander's two longer letters, and shortens the span of time from the outbreak of the controversy to the Council of Nicaea has been compacted to about 4 years instead of 6.
| Williams' Date |
Document | Opitz's number (Urk.) |
Opitz's date | 2007 edition order (Doc.) |
| 321 | Arius and his followers to Alexander of Alexandria | 6 | c. 320 | 1 |
| 321 | Summary of letter of a council in Palestine reinstating Arius | 10 | c. 321/2 | 8 |
| Fragment a letter of Alexander of Alexandria to Sylvester of Rome | 16 | ? | 18 | |
| 321/2 | Alexander of Alexandria to Alexander of Byzantium [or Thessalonica] | 14 | 324 | 17 |
| 321/2 | Arius to Eusebius of Nicomedia | 1 | c. 318 | 15 |
| 321/2 | Fragment of a letter from Eusebius of Nicomedia to Arius | 2 | c. 318 | 16 |
| Eusebius of Caesarea to Euphration of Balanea | 3 | c. 318 | 10 | |
| Athanasius of Anazarbus to Alexander of Alexandria | 11 | c. 322 | 11 | |
| Priest George to Alexander of Alexandria | 12 | c. 322 | 6 | |
| Priest George to the Arians in Alexandria | 13 | c. 322 | 7 | |
| 323 | Fragment of a letter of Alexander of Alexandria to all bishops | 15 | 324 | 14 |
| 323 | Eusebius of Nicomedia to Paulinus of Tyre | 8 | c. 320/1 | 4 |
| 324 | Summary of letter of a Council in Bithynia | 5 | c. 320 | 3 |
| Dec. 324 | Emperor Constantine to Alexander of Alexandria and Arius | 17 | Oct. 324 | 19 |
| Fragment of a letter of Paulinus of Tyre | 9 | c. 320 | 5 | |
| Jan /Feb 325 | Alexander of Alexandria to his clergy (actually Athanasius) | 4a | 318/9 | 2.1 |
| Alexander of Alexandria’s encyclical letter on Arius’s deposition | 4b | c. 318 | 2.2 | |
| Eusebius of Caesarea to Alexander of Alexandria | 7 | c. 320 | 9 | |
| Beginning of 325 |
Letter of the Council of Antioch (325) | 18 | Beginning of 325 |
20 |
| 325 | Fragment of a letter of Narcissus of Neronias to Chrestus, Euphronius and Eusebius | 19 | 325 | 21 |
| Spring 325 | Emperor Constantine’s letter calling the Council of Nicaea | 20 | Spring 325 | 22 |
| June 325 | Fragment of a letter from Eusebius of Nicomedia to the Council of Nicaea | 21 | June 325 | 23 |
| June 325 | Eusebius of Caesarea to his church explaining his actions at the Council of Nicaea | 22 | June 325 | 24 |
| June 325 |
Letter of the Council of Nicaea to the Egyptian church |
23 | June 325 | 25 |
| June 19th 325 | Creed of the Council of Nicaea | 24 | June 19th 325 | 26 |
| June 325 |
Emperor Constantine to the church of Alexandria |
25 | June 325 | 29 |
| June 325 | Emperor Constantine to the churches on the Nicene decision concerning Easter | 26 | June 325 | 30 |
| Nov.-Dec. 325 |
Emperor Constantine to the church of Nicomedia |
27 | Nov.-Dec. 325 | 31 |
| Nov.-Dec. 325 |
Emperor Constantine to Theodotus of Laodicea |
28 | Nov.-Dec. 325 | 32 |
| 27 Nov. 327 |
Emperor Constantine to Arius |
29 | 27 Nov. 327 | 33 |
| End of 327 | Arius and Euzoius to the Emperor Constantine | 30 | End of 327 | 34 |
| End of 327 |
Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicaea, recanting in order to be reinstated |
31 | End of 327 | 36 |
| Beginning of 328 |
Fragment of a letter from Emperor Constantine to Alexander of Alexandria |
32 | Beginning of 328 | 37 |
| 333 | Part of an edict against Arius and his followers | 33 | 333 | 28 |
| 333 | Emperor Constantine to Arius and his followers | 34 | 333 | 27 |
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