CH005-712 - Early Church History

  • 2,784 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • Category foundational unit
    A
  • church historyUnit Discipline

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code CH505.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Functional knowledge and understanding of the early history of Christianity.

B. Be able to

1. Explain the major phases and developments in the early history of Christianity from 30-451 in their political and social contexts

2. Evaluate the contribution of selected people to the development of Christianity from 30-451

3. Synthesise data from selected primary and secondary sources to formulate Critical historical viewpoints on the period from 30-451

4. Present Critical evidence-based perspectives on the history of Christianity from 30-451

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying perspectives from the  ‘The Emergence of Christianity (30-451)’ to inform ministry practice as a reflective practitioner

Content

1. The First Christians and their Churches.
2. The Apostolic Fathers and Apologists in their cultural and intellectual world.
3. Key Early Theological Issues and Figures: 2nd & 3rd Centuries.
4. Church and Empire to Constantine and the persecution of Christians.
5. The Interaction of Church and Society after Constantine.
6. The Trinitarian and Christological Controversies in their social and political context.
7. Augustine, his context and his theology.
8. The Bible in early Christianity: canon, exegesis, and preaching.
9. The Christian life in early Christianity and selected ethical issues.
10. Composition of and contributors to early Christianity: women, Roman class groupings and the churches, urban and rural churches.
11. The development of ascetic and monastic movements, the cult of saints and the Virgin Mary, and the Papacy to Gregory "the Great".

Set Readings

It is expected that the topics above be studied with reference to relevant primary sources. The Ad Fontes series (Fortress Press) or other editions of patristic works and related primary sources should be consulted as required. 

 

Recommended

Anatolios, K., Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011).

Brown, P., Augustine of Hippo: A Biography (Berkeley: University of California, 2000).

Cohick, L. H. and A. Brown Hughes, Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second Through Fifth Centuries (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2017).

Davidson, I. J., The Birth of the Church: From Jesus to Constantine AD 30-312 (Baker History of the Church, Vol 1; Grand Rapids/Oxford: Baker/Monarch, 2004).

Davidson, I. J., A Public Faith: From Constantine to the Medieval World: AD 312-600 (Baker History of the Church, Vol 2; Grand Rapids/Oxford: Baker/Monarch, 2005).

Gallagher, E. L. and J. D. Meade, The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis (London: OUP, 2017).

Harrison, C., Augustine: Christian Truth and Fractured Humanity (Oxford: OUP, 2002).

Harvey, S. A. and D.G. Hunter (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies (Oxford: OUP, 2008).

Hunter, D. G., Marriage, Celibacy, And Heresy In Ancient Christianity: The Jovinianist Controversy New York: OUP, 2009).

Martens, P W, Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014).

Moss, C. R., Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012).

Rhee, H., Loving the Poor, Saving the Rich: Wealth, Poverty, and Early Christian Formation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2012).

Tabbernee, W (ed), Early Christianity in Contexts (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2014).

Wilhite, D., The Gospel according to Heretics: Discovering Orthodoxy through Early Christological Conflicts (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2015).

Young, F., L. Ayres, and A. Louth (eds), The Cambridge History of Early Christian Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007).

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