ante-Nicene

American  

[an-tee-nahy-seen, -nahy-seen] / ˌæn ti naɪˈsin, -ˈnaɪ sin /

Also ante-Nicaean

adjective

1. of or relating to the Christian church or period before the Nicene Council of a.d. 325.

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Example Sentences

This list is far from complete; the principal collections of the ante-Nicene fathers include not a few minor and anonymous writers, and the fragments of many others whose works as a whole have perished.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

Throughout the ante-Nicene period, until the reign of Constantine, Christian churches were few in number, and any public dedication of them would have been attended with danger in those days of heathen persecution.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 10 "David, St" to "Demidov" by Various

Nor does Eusebius, who knew the ante-Nicene literature intimately, seem to know of any other view ever having been held.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

The apologetic work of the patristic writers was chiefly done in the ante-Nicene age; after that discussion turned more upon questions within the scope of the Christian Faith.

From The Basis of Early Christian Theism by Cole, Lawrence Thomas

It was to launch myself on an ocean with currents innumerable; and I was drifted back first to the ante-Nicene history, and then to the Church of Alexandria.

From Apologia Pro Vita Sua by Newman, John Henry