Summer 2014/Pasadena

CH500

Waldrop

CH500: EARLY CHURCH HISTORY (4 Units: 120 hours). Jeffrey Waldrop.

DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the more important themes, people, events, and doctrines in church history. Attention will be given to a variety of leading apologists, theologians, monastics and church leaders of the church in the West and in the East, from the post-apostolic fathers through about the end of the sixth century.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) the ability to place their own confessional tradition within the broader framework of early catholic Christianity; (2) an understanding of the ways in which the doctrines and the practices of the church emerge in specific historical contexts; (3) an understanding of the vocabulary of the Trinitarian, Christological, and soteriological debates of the first four centuries; and (4) an increase of their critical skills in reading and writing through the study of primary source materials and by the writing of an analytical essay.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet for four hours a day for two weeks during the summer quarter. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor, regularly through discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING:

Bettenson, Henry, and Chris Maunder, eds. Documents of the Christian Church. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199568987, Pub. Price $29.95, Kindle $12.09[sections on the period through to A.D. 600 only—100 pp.].

Chadwick, Henry. The Early Church. Penguin, rev. ed., 1993. ISBN: 978-0140231991, Pub. Price $17.00, Kindle $12.89 [314 pp.].

Clark, Elizabeth A. Women in the Early Church. The Liturgical Press, 1984. ISBN: 978-0814653326, Pub. Price $24.95 [258 pp.].

Latourette, Kenneth Scott. A History of Christianity, Vol. 1. Harper Collins, 1975. ISBN: 978-0060649524, Pub. Price $25.99 [320 pp.].

Three primary-source readings: Athenagoras, Athanasius, and Augustine (pdf’s will be provided on on Moodle)

RECOMMENDED READING:

Frend, W. H. C. The Rise of Christianity. Fortress Press, 1984. ISBN: 978-0800619312, Pub. Price $55.00.

MacMullen, Ramsay. Christianizing the Roman Empire: A.D. 100-400. Yale University Press, 1984. ISBN: 978-0300036428. Pub. Price $22.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Reading assignments (about 992 pp.) and reading reflections (10%).

2. A 5-page Analytical Essay on one of the primary source readings (Athenagoras, Athanasisus, or Augustine) (30%).

3. Mid-term exam (30%).

4. FINAL Exam (30%).

PREREQUISITES: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History “a” (CHA).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.