The term
proto-orthodox Christianity, coined by
New Testament scholar
Bart D. Ehrman, describes the
Early Christian movement which was the precursor of Christian
orthodoxy. Ehrman argues that this group, which became prominent by the end of the
3rd century, "stifled its opposition, it claimed that its views had always been the majority position and that its rivals were, and always had been, ‘
heretics,’ who willfully ‘chose’ to reject the ‘true belief’." (Critics such as
Larry W. Hurtado argue for the traditional view that proto-orthodox Christianity arose directly from the
immediate followers of Jesus.)