Disciplina arcani

The concept, however, was first proposed by another Calvinist, Isaac Casaubon, in 1614 as a way of explaining the absence of certain doctrines in early Christian writings.

He explained the absence of references to Catholic dogma like the Mass, transubstantiation and the cult of saints by recourse to the disciplina arcani.

[3] Later, in the middle of the 3rd century, Origen of Alexandria addressed the polemics against Christianity by the pagan Celsus in his Contra Celsum.

Celsus accused Christianity of being a religion of secrecy like the Greco-Roman mysteries, and Origen replied that while the prominent doctrines of Christianity are well-known to the entire world, including the virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, punishment of the wicked and rewarding of the just, there are a few elements that must be retained within the group.

There is evidence that Christians were careful to maintain specific articles of the religion, including removing members of the church who had not yet been baptized before the liturgical eucharist took place.