What evidence speaks against the view that numerous alternative forms of Christianity competed with one another before an orthodox form was ever established?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The evidence against the view that numerous alternative forms of Christianity competed before an orthodox form was established includes: A) alternative forms emerged later, indicating they were not original competitors but later developments; B) some were influenced by external sources rather than originating within the early Christian community; C) the influence of Greek philosophical schools on some alternative forms shows a blending of external ideas rather than a purely internal development; D) their dependence on and reaction to earlier Christian documents suggests they were responses to an already existing form of Christianity, rather than co-original competitors.

What Evidence Speaks Against the View That Numerous Alternative Forms