0320 Felgar Hall Office Hours:

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1 RELS 3053 Early Church Fathers Professor: Rangar H. Cline Fall Dale Tower 0320 Felgar Hall Office Hours: University of Oklahoma 10:30-12 TWR and by appt. Revised: 13 September 2007 Course Description In Early Church Fathers we will examine how Christian theologians, apologists, and biographers attempted to define an orthodox Christianity that was distinct from Greek and Roman religions, Judaism, and other forms of Christianity in the years between ca. 150 and 450 C.E. The course will focus on literary and archaeological evidence for the varieties of Christianity in the period, early Christian doctrinal controversies, and the relationship between emergent Christian orthodoxy, other varieties of Christianity, and non-christian religious groups. Students will read selected works of the Greek and Latin church fathers, biblical texts, and Greek and Latin inscriptions in English translation. Attendance and Expectations of Students Students are expected to come to every class prepared to discuss the day s reading assignment. The professor will evaluate each student s preparation for class and participation in class discussions. *Revision (13 September 2007) -- Beginning September 18, two unexcused absences will result in a final grade reduction of one letter-grade (10%). Two tardies (being more than 5 minutes late to class) will equal one absence. Excused absences include illness, medical and family emergencies, and official university activities. All excuses must be verifiable. Exams There will be two exams (a mid-term and final) and one quiz. The exams will consist of short IDs and essays. The quiz will consist of short answer and identification. The professor will provide further details prior to the first exam. Paper Each student will be required to write a research paper on an approved topic of their choice. The topic must be related to the focus of the course and must be approved by the instructor. The deadline for topic approval is Nov. 1. Presentation Each student will give a class presentation based on his or her paper. The presentations should be approximately ten minutes long. Student presentations are November 27- December 6. Further details and a sign-up sheet for time slots will be available in early November. 1

2 *Revision (13 September 2007): As stated on the first day of class, students will be asked to introduce the class readings, beginning on September 18. A sign-up sheet will be available beginning 13 September. One student will be responsible for introducing the readings on each day, and each student will be expected to introduce the readings twice during the remainder of the semester. The introduction should be no more than five minutes and should include discussion questions for the other students to consider. The introduction of the readings will constitute part of each student s participation grade. Required Texts: 1) Henry Chadwick The Early Church (Penguin, 1993) -- ISBN: ) Joseph Trigg, Origen (Routledge, 2005) -- ISBN ) Benedicta Ward, Harlots of the Desert (Cistercian Publications, 1987). ISBN ) Augustine: Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick (Oxford University Press, 2002) ISBN ) Pauline Allen, John Chrysostom (Routledge, 1999) -- ISBN Recommended Text: A standard translation of the Bible (Old and New Testament) is recommended. There are copies at the OU library. If you need to purchase one, I recommend the New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. This version is a standard scholarly edition and is available at many bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon. However, other translations are okay. Avoid editions that paraphrase, such as the Good News translation. On-Line Readings: A great number of the daily reading assignments will direct you to a web site. For this course, I have decided to take advantage of the large number of patristic sources that are available for free via the Internet. For class, you will want to print out the assigned reading and bring it with you. Notes on the websites: 1) Almost all of the translations of patristic sources available on line come from The Ante-Nicene Fathers and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Series, edited by Alexander Roberts, and published in The translations are old, but generally reliable. They are in the public domain. That is why they are on the Internet for free. These books are available at the OU library. 2) The web sites that provide these texts are affiliated with religious organizations. The texts are those of the ANF and NFPNF series. However, some of the introductory material reflects the viewpoints of the organizations that host the texts. 3) Most of the on-line readings are found at a Catholic website, and (the Christian Classics Ethereal Library), a Reformed Christian website. 2

3 Grades: Class Participation: 10% Mid-Term Exam: 20% Final Exam 25% Paper: 25% Paper Presentation: 15% Quiz: 5% Scale: A+ = ; A = 93-96; A- = B+ = 88-89; B = 83-87; B- = C+ = 78-79; C= 73-77; C- = D+ = 68-69; D = 63-67; D- = F = 59 and below. Absences and Make-Ups If you must miss an exam or other assignment, you must provide an official, cogent and verifiable excuse at least 48 hours prior to the absence. Students will not be allowed to make up assignments or exams unless they provide a verifiable excuse. Academic Integrity: Please see OU s Statement on Academic Integrity at Very briefly, plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. If you are found to have cheated, plagiarized, or committed other acts of academic dishonesty, you will at least fail the assignment, probably fail the class, and you may be subject to further disciplinary actions by the University of Oklahoma. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism or academic dishonesty, please ask your professor and see the website listed above. 3

4 Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Exams Aug. Week One: The Apostolic Age (Chadwick 9-22) 21: Introduction The Origins of Christianity 23: The Expansion of Christianity Acts 1-12 Week Two: Apostolic Fathers (Chadwick 23-31) 28: Paul and the Corinthians Acts 13-20; I Corinthians : Ignatius CCEL Ignatius Letter to the Smyrnaeans at Week Three: Apostolic Fathers (cont.) Sept. 4: Polycarp of Smyrna Introductory Note and Epistle to the Philippians at 6: Shepherd of Hermas Quiz Read Visions and Commandments at Week Four: Defending and Defining Orthodoxy (Chad , 74-83) 11: Gnosticism Read Irenaeus: Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses), Book 1, Chapters 1-5 at 12 : Justin Martyr. Read Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho, Sections 1-12 at / Week Five: Tertullian, Montanus, and pre-nicene Christianities (Chad ) 18 Tertullian: Read On Idolatry at 20 Tertullian (Cont.) Read Against Marcion I at Week Six: Origen and Alexandrian Theology 25 Origen. Introduction and Commentary on Lamentations 27 Commentary on John 1 Oct. Week Seven: Origen (cont.); 2 nd -3 rd Century Martyrdoms 2: Mid-Term Exam 4: Pliny -- Scillitan Martyrs Perpetua (Chadwick ) Read: Passion of Perpetua at Week Eight: Constantine and the Council of Nicea 9: Council of Nicea (read canons of Nicea, Chadwick ) 11: Fourth Century Conflicts: Read: Alexander s (via Athanasius) Deposition of Arius at 4

5 Week Nine: Christian Asceticism 16: Anthony and Anchorites Read Life of Anthony: Sections 1-53 at 18: Pachomius and Coenobitic Monasticism Read Part I of Rule of Pachomius at Week Ten: Christian Asceticism (cont.) 23: Read Harlots of the Desert: Chapters 1, 2, 3. 25: Harlots of the Desert: Rest of the Book Week Eleven: John Chrysostom 30: Read Introduction in Mayer and Allen Nov. 1: Read Against the Games and Theaters; Against the Jews 1. Deadline for paper topic approval. Week Twelve: Jerome (Chadwick ) 6: Life and Times of Jerome. Read NCF intro at CCEL 8: Read Letter 22: To Eustochium at CCEL Week Thirteen: Augustine (Chadwick ) 13-- Confessions Introduction and Books I-V Confessions V-IX Week Fourteen: Augustine Confessions X-XIII 22 Thanksgiving Holiday Week Fifteen 27 Student Presentations 29 Student Presentations Dec. Week Sixteen: 4 Student Presentations 6 Student Presentations and Review. Papers Due by 5 p.m. Final Exam: Friday, December 14 8 a.m. 5