H7110A History of the Early Church

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The early centuries (i.e. to the 4^th or 5^th centuries) of the Christian church’s history were a formative period where doctrine was consolidated and institutional structures were established. As such, this period is fundamentally important to an understanding of the subsequent history of the church. This introductory unit provides an approach to the study of church history, with particular reference to the Early Church period. In doing so, it sets the context for doctrinal and institutional development, with an analysis of the various conflicts, challenges and relationships that occurred and which set the foundation for the ongoing development of the church. The unit may serve as a Core unit and part of a Major in Church History within the Bachelor awards.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of significant events in the early Church in light of their social, cultural and religious context.
2. account for contributions of leading figures in the early Church.
3. illustrate the capacity to interpret primary sources from this historical period.
4. exhibit the capacity to utilise the secondary sources relating to this period.
5. demonstrate the importance to the Church’s present mission of key events and personalities in the early Church from the available literary sources

Weekly Topics

1. Studying Church History: An Introduction; Why Study Church History?; Course Overview; Course Requirements; Analysing the Sources.
2. Church History Methodology; What is Church History?; Approaches to the Study of History.
3. The Birth of the Church in Context Alexander and the Hellenistic World; The Jewish Milieu; The Roman Empire. The Challenges of Judaism, Paganism, Greek Philosophy and the Roman State.
4. Christian Witness and Martyrdom in the Sub-Apostolic Age; Causes of Persecution; Martyrdom.
5. Reasoning with Athens: the Apologists’ Engagement with Culture; Case Study: comparing and contrasting the approaches of St Justin Martyr and Tertullian
6. Gnosticism: The Enemy Within; Orthodoxy vs. Heresy; Gnostic Belief Systems; Manichaeism; The Apologists’ Defence.               
7. Defining Orthodoxy; Montanism; Marcion; Formation of the New Testament Canon.
8. Controversy and Schism: Church Life and Thought 180-250AD; The Church in Gaul, Rome, North Africa and Alexandria; Paschal, Doctrinal and Disciplinary Controversies.
9. The Decian Persecution; Decian Persecution; St Cyprian of Carthage; the Lapsi; the Novatian Schism; Baptismal Controversy.
10. The Diocletian Persecution; Emperor Diocletian; The Tetrarchy; the Great Persecution and its Consequences; The Rise of Constantine; Edict of Milan.
11. Constantine the Great: Emperor and Saint; Religious Policies; the Donatist Dispute; Constantinople – the New Rome.
12. Arianism and the First Oecumenical Synod; The Alexandrian Background; Beginnings of the Controversy; Arius and his Teaching; Road to Nicaea; the Synod; Arian Dispute until the Death of Constantine; St Athanasios the Great.