EARLY CHURCH HISTORY Course Description Course Rationale Course Objectives Texts Contacting the Professor

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1 GHI EARLY CHURCH HISTORY (3 hours) Cincinnati Bible Seminary Spring 2014 (March 11 May 6) Indianapolis campus (Indian Creek Christian Church) Jerran Jackson, D.Min. Jerran10@aol.com (812) office (812) cell Revised October 27, 2013 Course Description A study of the history of the early church in the first six centuries, carrying the story down to the pontificate of Gregory the Great. Special attention will be given to how certain problems within the church gave rise to developments that created an institution radically different from that pictured in the New Testament. Course Rationale In the centuries directly after the apostolic age, the early church developed and spread. The church made some great strides and some great errors. As we become acquainted with how the early church grew and faced challenges, we can: (1) Gain inspiration from her leaders, (2) Evaluate her responses to threats, (3) Identify how to avoid some of her errors, and (4) Follow her example in expanding the kingdom of God in our world. Course Objectives In this course, students will: 1. Interact with primary documents from the first six centuries of the early church. 2. Trace and evaluate church leadership developments in the first centuries of the church. 3. Investigate theological questions the early church faced. 4. Evaluate the reliability of the New Testament canon. 5. Explore in depth a topic of each student s own choosing. 6. Meet key leaders in the first six centuries of the early church. Texts 1. Henry Chadwick, The Early Church (revised edition) New York, NY: Penguin Books, ISBN Paul L. Maier, Eusebius: The Church History; A New Translation with Commentary Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, ISBN (If you already own a copy of Eusebius Ecclesiastical History, you may use it.) 3. Bart D. After the New Testament: A Reader in Early Christianity New York, NY: Oxford University Press, ISBN Contacting the Professor You may reach me through jerran10@aol.com You may call me at Clarksburg Christian Church: (812) You may call or text my cell phone (812) You may talk with me face to face before class, during breaks, or after class.

2 2 SCHEDULE Dr. Jackson may alter the schedule and/or assignments. March 11 Session #1 Lecture Background to the Early Church Get to know Students and Syllabus Lecture The Early Church, A.D , Part #1 Primary Source work the New Testament (Small groups work together and report) Review the assignments for the course Chadwick: Chapters 1, 2, 5 Eusebius: Books 1, 2 Ehrman: Apostolic Fathers: 28-35, , Tertullian: 75-82, , , , Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs 41 Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas 42 March 18 Session #2 Lecture The Early Church, A.D , Part #2 Discuss the Apostolic Fathers and other Reading Lecture Tertullian Primary Source Tertullian (Small groups work together and report) Chadwick: Chapters 3, 4, 6, 7 Eusebius: Books 3, 4, 5 Origen: 82-93, , Justin: 18-24, 57-64, , Irenaeus: Ptolemy s Letter to Flora: March 25 Session #3 Lecture The Early Church, A.D Part #1 Class Presentations Canon Presentations Lecture Origen Primary Source Origen (Small groups work together and report) Present vocally your initial Term paper idea Chadwick 7 Eusebius: 6, 7, 8 Letter to Diognetus: The Muratorian Canon: Hippolytus: the Apostolic Tradition: , Didascalia:

3 April 1 Session #4 (Mid-Term) Turn in Canon Paper (if you chose this option) Lecture The Early Church, A.D , Part #2 Class Presentations Canon Presentations Report on paper your Term paper idea & receive confirmation, alteration, or denial Midterm Test Review Primary Source Unity of the Catholic Church (Small groups work together and report) Do for next week: Take Home Mid-Term Test Chadwick 8, 9 Eusebius: 9, 10 Infancy Gospel of Thomas: Paul s Letter to the Laodiceans: 295 Apocalypse of Peter: April 8 Session #5 Lecture The Early Church, A.D , Part #1 Check another student s Mid-term Identifications and Short-Answers together Lecture Athanasius Primary Source Athanasius & Council of Nicea (Small groups work together & report) Chadwick 10, 11, 12 Jerome s defense of Mary s perpetual virginity April 15 Session #6 Lecture The Early Church, A.D , part #2 Lecture Jerome Primary Source Jerome (Small groups work together and report) Chadwick 13, 14, 15 Skim Council of Chalcedon: April 22 Session #7 Turn in Council Paper (if you chose this option) Lecture The Early Church, A.D Lecture Pelagius Present vocally any final questions you have about your Term paper & get feedback 3

4 4 Primary Source Pelagius and Chalcedon (Small groups work together and report) Chadwick 16, 17 Skim Augustine, Confessions of St. Augustine, Books 1-7 April 29 Session #8 Turn in Term paper Lecture Augustine Class Presentations Term paper findings or conclusions Lecture The Early Church Outside of the Mediterranean Basin Primary Source Augustine (Small groups work together and report) Chadwick 18, Conclusion Skim Second Council of Constantinople: May 6 Session #9 (Final) Lecture The Early Church, A.D Final Test Review Lecture Review of the Early Church Era Group Discussion wrapping up Do this week: Final Take Home Test GRADING Quizzes 4 questions over last week s lectures plus a 5 th question: Did you complete all of the reading for this week? Each question is worth 5 points Eight Quizzes (sessions 2-9) x 25 points = 200 points Canon Paper OR Heresy/Council s Paper Write a 5 page paper on the reliability and authoritativeness of the Canon, OR on one of the Early Church heresies addressed by one of the first 5 Ecumenical Councils. Canon papers are due by April 1. Council papers are due by April 22. Worth 100 points Class Presentation Sign up to do one of these two class presentations directly related to your 5 page papers: (1) A deacon who grew up in your church commented during Sunday School class that he was not sure 2 nd Peter and Jude should be in the Bible. He also said maybe some other books should be in the Bible. Prepare a 5 minute explanation for your Elders on the question of the reliability and authoritativeness of the Canon. (Sessions 3 & 4) (2) Make a 5 minute presentation which (1) Defines an Early Church heresy which was addressed by one of the first 5 Ecumenical Councils, (2) Explains the Council s response

5 5 to this heresy, (3) Evaluates the Council s Response, and (4) Connects this response to the mission of Christ s Church (Sessions 5-7) Worth 30 points Class Participation Every week (sessions 2-8) bring a written question for the Participate in the Make a class presentation when it is your turn and offer comments Ask questions during the lectures Participate in the Primary Source discussions and reports Nine sessions x 25 points = 225 points Term Paper Write a page paper on an issue from the Early Church period of your choice which has been approved by Dr. Jackson. Your paper should present your conclusions regarding the issue critically examined and supported by copious primary and secondary sources. Worth 200 points Mid-Term Test 7 Identifications worth 5 points each = 35 points 4 Short Answer questions worth 5 points each = 20 points 1 of 2 essays worth 20 points = 20 points Total Value = 75 points Bonus Points If you complete all of the Reading Assignments on time, in other words, you are able to answer yes to all of the reading questions on the quizzes You will receive a bonus of 50 points Final Test 8 Identifications worth 5 points each = 40 points 4 Short Answer questions worth 5 points each = 20 points 2 of 3 essays worth 30 points each = 60 points Total Value = 120 points FINAL GRADE BASED ON 1000 points Follow the CCU Grading Scale Grade Percentage Points A A B B B C C C