HIS 237 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY I

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1 Author: Peter Engle, Ph.D Revised by: Brad Doerksen Copyright 2005, 2009 HIS 237 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY I I Course Description A study of the Church in the Roman and medieval worlds from the first to the 15 th centuries, this course includes topics such as the expansion of Christianity, the development of doctrine and the struggle against heresy, the establishment of Christendom and the rise of the papacy and monasticism, the decline of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, the contribution of the Celtic Church, the papacy, the Crusades, the Renaissance, medieval monasticism and mysticism and the late medieval reform movements. II Course Textbooks Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity Peabody, MA: Prince Press, III Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, students shall be able to 1. Identify the major eras of church history of the first fifteen centuries and the major figures and movements in each era. 2. Name and define various early theological heresies and the orthodox formulations with which the church combated them. 3. Outline trends in doctrine and practice that took the church away from biblical Christianity and the various reform/renewal movements seeking to restore that foundation within the first 1500 years of church history. 4. Trace the geographical expansion of the major streams of Christianity during the first millennium and a half and the impact of church doctrines and practices on society as a whole. 5. Present the gospel in terms of contemporary thought forms in a post-christian world after the example of persons in their Christian heritage who faced similar challenges, avoiding both withdrawal from, and capitulation to, the surrounding culture. 6. Serve in the local church, interact with Christians from other traditions, and address contemporary societal issues with insights gained from church history. Syllabus version 2009/09/09

2 Syllabus Briercrest Distance Learning Page ii Copyright 2005, 2009 IV Course Requirements Historiographical Essay and Reflection Read the essay A Christian Perspective for the Teaching of History by George Marsden. In the essay, Marsden outlines four areas where Christian faith will inform the interpretation of history. Based on your readings in Gonzalez to this point in the course, provide a critique of his approach using Marsden s four categories. How is Gonzalez interpreting Christian history in these four areas? Would or could fully embracing Marsden s arguments in these four categories result in a history written differently than Gonzalez has done? Your response essay should be words in length, written in academic style. After completing this, write a personal reflection on the approaches of both Marsden and Gonzalez to the writing of history. Do you agree with how they approach history? How might you suggest a Christian could or should do history differently? Your reflection essay should be words in length. These two essays should be submitted together with a single title page but clearly distinguished from each other using headings. Course grade value: 15% Précis A variety of primary source readings will be required in addition to the course texts. For those listed below, you should complete a précis of words. A précis is a summary of an author s argument written in your own words (significant terms central to the authors argument should be retained) without third person references to the author (e.g. not Irenaeus argues that... ). Clarity, precision, and economy of words are vital when writing a précis. The point is to prove you can explain the author s argument in a nutshell as though you are representing them. Irenaeus, Against Heresies book 3, chapters I-V. Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 20. Anselm of Canterbury, Cur Deus Homo (abridged) Course grade value: 7% each (21% total)

3 HIS 237 History of Christianity I Syllabus Page iii Thematic Project A number of major themes run through the first 15 centuries of Christianity. Select one of the themes listed below and develop a project around it. This project should seek to present the significance of that theme within church history and conclude with some suggestions of ways the contemporary church might benefit or learn from the experience of the historical church in regard to that theme. Note: the goal here is to combine historical research with contemporary application. The project can take a number of different forms and there is some space for creativity. Some examples would be a PowerPoint presentation (complete with slides and a manuscript of your speech), the manuscript of a lecture, an instructional booklet, lesson plans with teaching guide, an audio and/or visual presentation, website, or another format of your choice. When being creative it would be wise to consult the instructor to ensure your idea will meet the expectations of the assignment. Whatever format you choose, the research done and content presented should be comparable to that for a 1500 word paper. The format of the project may make it difficult to document sources and show your research as you would in an academic paper. In such cases you should submit evidence of the research that forms the basis of the project (e.g. submitting research notes with a bibliography of sources). The relationship between church and state Monasticism Moral reform Responding to heresy Authority in the church Course grade value: 19% Research Paper Step One: select a topic of interest within the parameters of this course. Submit a proposed research question that your research paper will answer. The topic should be focused enough to be examined in detail. You will receive feedback on the suitability of your topic and research question. Step Two: write a research paper based on your approved research question that provides a clear thesis arguing for a specific answer to the research question. The paper should draw on

4 Syllabus Briercrest Distance Learning Page iv Copyright 2005, 2009 both primary and secondary sources (including both monographs and journal articles), and be written in academic style. As you begin to write, imagine the questions that would be raised by a friendly sceptic : what warrant do you have for the claims you are making? The best history papers give priority to primary sources for research and for evidence to back up their arguments. For example, something written by a historical figure generally carries more weight than what someone has written about him or her. The paper should be words in length. Course grade value: 25% Final Exam The exam will draw from all course materials, including assigned readings. Note: there are no grades directly given for the assigned readings, however, the exam will test you on your familiarity with all of the readings. Course grade value: 20% V Course Outline Unit One: Unit Two: Unit Three: Unit Four: Unit Five: Unit Six: Introduction to the Story of Christianity (to 100 CE) The Sub-Apostolic Church to Constantine ( CE) The Church of the Empire: Acceptance and Consolidation ( CE) Legitimized Dissent: The Rise of Monasticism ( CE) The Orthodox East: Parallels & Divergences ( CE) Unity, Division and the Calls for Reform: The Church of the Late Middle Ages ( CE) VI Additional Readings Following is a schedule of the readings for the course, which are included at the back of the binder.

5 HIS 237 History of Christianity I Syllabus Page v Document Read With Related Assignments George Marsden, A Perspective for the Teaching of History Emperor Tiberius, On the Imperial Cult Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book 3, Chapters I-V Eusebius, Life of Constantine: Book 1, Chapters XXIV-XL Augustine, City of God (abridged) Dhouda of Septimania, Manual for my Son (abridged) Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration 20 Patrick, Confession Anselm of Canterbury, Cur Deus Homo (abridged) Mary Cunningham, The Parting of the Ways John of Damascus, On the Divine Images Julian of Norwich, Showings (abridged) Savonarola, Letter to the Nuns of Annalena John Myrc, Sermon for All Souls Day Unit One Unit One Unit One Unit Two Unit Three Unit Three Unit Three Unit Three Unit Four Unit Four Unit Five Unit Five Unit Six Unit Six Unit Six Historiographical essay and reflection Précis Précis Précis

6 Syllabus Briercrest Distance Learning Page vi Copyright 2005, 2009 Bibliography GENERAL AND BACKGROUND WORKS Arnold, Eberhard. The Early Christians in Their Own Words. Farmington, PA: The Plough Publishing House, Bainton, Roland H. Christianity. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, Bauman, Michael and Martin I. Klauber. Historians of the Christian Tradition. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, Bruce, F. F. New Testament History. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the Centuries. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Chadwick, Owen. A History of Christianity. New York, NY: St. Martin s, Cory, Catherine A. and David T. Landry, eds. The Christian Theological Tradition. 2d ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, De Borchgrave, Helen. A Journey into Christian Art. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, Bradley, James E. and Richard A. Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research, Reference Works, and Methods. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Cantor, Norman F., ed. The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. New York, NY: Viking, Douglas, J. D., ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Dowley, Tim, ed. The Baker Atlas of Christian History. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, Introduction to the History of Christianity. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, Drane, John. Introducing the New Testament. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row, Eckman, James P. Perspectives from Church History. Wheaton, IL: Evangelical Training Association, Evans, Helen C. Saint Catherine s Monastery, Sinai, Egypt. New Haven, CN and London: Yale University Press, Ferguson, Everett, ed. Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. New York, NY: Garland, Gonzalez, Justo L. Church History: An Essential Guide. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, Harrington, Joel F. A Cloud of Witnesses: Readings in the History of Western Christianity. Boston, MA and New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, Hastings, Adrian, ed. A World History of Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, House, H. Wayne. Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Langer, Hexter and Richard Pipes. Western Civilization. Vol.1. 2d ed. (New York, NY, Evanston, IL, San Francisco, CA, and London: Harper and Row, 1975.

7 HIS 237 History of Christianity I Syllabus Page vii Latourette, Kenneth Scott. A History of Christianity. 2 Vols. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, McGrath, Alister E. Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Oxford: Blackwell, McKim, Donald K. Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, McManners, John, ed. The 0xford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Noll, Mark A. Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. 2d ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Southern, R.W. Western Society and the Church in The Middle Ages. New York, NY: Penguin Books, Speake, Graham. Mount Athos: Renewal in Paradise. New Haven, CN and London: Yale University Press, Thurston, Bonnie Bowman. The Widows: A Women s Ministry in the Early Church. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, Tucker, Ruth A. and Walter Liefeld. Daughters of the Church: Women and Ministry from New Testament Times to the Present. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Vos, Howard F. Exploring Church History. Nelson s Christian Cornerstone Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Wakefield, Gordon S., ed. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster, Walton, Robert G. Chronological and Background Charts of Church History. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, UNIT ONE Bell, Albert A. Exploring The New Testament World. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Byfield, Ted, ed. The Veil is Torn: A.D. 30 to A.D. 70, Pentecost to the Destruction of Jerusalem. Vol. 1, The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years. Canada: Friesens, Davies, J. G. The Early Christian Church: A History of Its First Five Centuries. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, Dunn, James D. G. Christology in the Making. 2d ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993.

8 Syllabus Briercrest Distance Learning Page viii Copyright 2005, 2009 Hinson, E. Glenn. The Early Church: Origins to the Dawn of the Middle Ages. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, Hort, Fenton John Anthony. Judaistic Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, Hurtado, Larry W. One God One Lord: Early Christian Devotion and Ancient Jewish Monotheism. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress, Maier, Paul L. In The Fullness of Time. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, McBirnie, William Steuart. The Search for the Twelve Apostles. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, Nash, Ronald H. Christianity & the Hellenistic World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Patzia, Arthur G. The Emergence of the Church: Context, Growth, Leadership & Worship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition ( ). Vol 1, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, Sanders, E. P. Judaism: Practice and Belief, 63 BCE - 66 CE. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress, Schaff, Philip. Apostolic Christianity A.D Vol. 1, History of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Wells, C. M. The Roman Empire. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, UNIT TWO Benko, Stephan and John J. O Rourke. The Catacombs and the Colosseum: The Roman Empire as the Setting of Primitive Christianity. Valley Forge, PA: Judson, Byfield, Ted, ed. A.D. 70 to 250; From the Fall of Jerusalem to the Decian Persecution; A.D. 250 to 350; From the Decian Persecution to the Constantine Era. Vols. 2 & 3, The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years. Canada: Friesens, Frend, W. H. C. Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Gonzalez, Justo L. From the Beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon.Vol. 1, A History of Christian Thought. Rev. ed. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, Hamman, Adalbert. How to Read the Church Fathers. London: SCM Press, Jefford, Clayton N. Reading the Apostolic Fathers: An Introduction. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, Schaff, Philip. Ante-Nicene Christianity A.D Vol. 2, History of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980.

9 HIS 237 History of Christianity I Syllabus Page ix UNIT THREE Bredero, Adriaan H. Christendom and Christianity in the Middle Ages. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,1994. Byfield, Ted, ed. A.D ; The Fall of the Western Roman Empire. Vol. 4, The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years. Canada: Friesens, Gonzalez, Justo L. From Augustine to the Eve of the Reformation. Vol. 2, A History of Christian Thought. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Growth of Medieval Theology ). Vol. 3, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, Schaff, Philip. Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D ; Mediaeval Christianity A.D Vols. 3 & 4, History of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Stevenson, J., ed. Creeds, Councils, and Controversies: Documents illustrative of the history of the Church A.D London: SPCK, Ullman, Walter. A Short History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages. London: Methuen, UNIT FOUR Davies, Oliver and Fiona Bowie. Celtic Christian Spirituality: An Anthology of Medieval and Modern Sources. New York, NY: Continuum, Duckett, Eleanor Shipley. The Gateway to the Middle Ages: Monasticism. New York, NY: Dorset Press, Frank, Karl Suso. With Greater Liberty: A Short History of Christian Monasticism and Religious Orders. Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, Galli, Mark. Francis of Assisi and His World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Hall, Christopher A. Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Hanson, R. P. C. The Life and Writings of the Historical Saint Patrick. New York, NY: The Seabury Press, Knowles, David. Christian Monasticism. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, Lehane, Brendan. Early Celtic Christianity. New York, NY: Barnes and Noble, Lawrence, C. H. Medieval Monasticism. London: Longman, Macmanus, Francis. Saint Columban. New York, NY: Sheed and Ward, Oakley, Francis. The Western Church in the Later Middle Ages. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1979.

10 Syllabus Briercrest Distance Learning Page x Copyright 2005, 2009 UNIT FIVE Papadakis, Aristeides. The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir s Seminary Press, Chapman, John. Saint Benedict and the Sixth Century. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, Constantantelos, Demetrios J. Understanding the Greek Orthodox Church: Its Faith, History, and Practice. New York, NY: The Seabury Press, Meyendorff, John. The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir s Seminary Press, Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Spirit of Eastern Christendom ( ). Vol. 2, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, Runciman, Steven. The Byzantine Theocracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Schaff, Philip. The Middle Ages Vol. 5, History of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Sherrard, Philip. Byzantium: Great Ages of Man. Nederland: Time-Life International, Vivian, Tim, trans. Journeying into God: Seven Early Monastic Lives. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, Ware, Timothy. The Orthodox Church. London: Penguin Books, UNIT SIX Evans, G. R. Faith in the Medieval World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Oberman, Heiko. The Harvest of Medieval Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, Schaff, Philip. The Middle Ages: Vol. 6, History of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, Southern, R. W. Western Society and the Church of the Middle Ages. London: Penguin Books, Volz, Carl A. The Medieval Church: From the Dawn of the Middle Ages to the Eve of the Reformation. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1997.