DESCRIPTION: This course will survey the history of Christianity from its
roots in the New Testament to the Council of Orange in 529, and in the East,
through the Christological and Iconoclastic Controversies to the Seventh
Ecumenical Council (787). Our approach will be to look at the lives and
contributions of important leaders in the church; to follow the growth and
development of the church's doctrines and worship life, as well as the ordinary
lives of Christians through these formative periods. We will also draw
attention to the cultural context of early Christianity, its ethnic diversity,
and the roles and contributions of women.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: For those students preparing for a
vocation of Christian ministry, this course will provide a solid foundation of
understanding of doctrine and practice, as it developed in the early centuries
of the church. This knowledge is essential for leaders making important
decisions about the doctrinal, moral and liturgical practices of contemporary
church life. Moreover, students will find their faith challenged and deepened
by reading and discussing these early Christian authors.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students taking this course will demonstrate a general
knowledge of the important leaders, ideas, events and developments in early
Christianity, with a view toward becoming able and articulate interpreters of
these matters to others. Students will also demonstrate an ability to think
historically and critically about the history of the church, through study and
discussion of both primary and secondary readings. This approach will foster a
broad appreciation for the diversity of the Christian tradition.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING: