Pacific Baptist College Spring 2017 Friday 7:30 10:20 am HI 301 Church History Instructor: Christian Torres, Master of Ministry (TBS); Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (PIU); Associate Pastor (Calvary Baptist Church, Yucca Valley, CA); Chaplain (CPT, USAR) E-Mail: christianjtorres@yahoo.com Phone: 661-428-3829 Website: www.christiantorres.blog Church History 1
Course Description [3 Credits] This course is a study of the Christian church from the Apostolic era to modern times with an emphasis on the development of the early church and its spread throughout history as well as modern Christianity and its worldwide influence in human cultures. Goals 1. The students will become familiar with the major events and great turning points in this period of Christian history. 2. The students will survey the weaknesses and strengths of various Christian leaders and movements in order to avoid the former and capitalize on the latter in their own ministry. 3. The students will become enthusiastic for the Lord s work by examining the service rendered in His name by notable Christians during this period of Christian history. 4. The students ability to read and think critically will be developed. 5. The students research and writing skills will be sharpened. Requirements 1. Reading. This is a 300-level course. A minimum 750 pages will be required reading. On average that will be 50-75 pages per week. 2. Objective Tests (11). There will be a total of 11 tests throughout the semester but only the best 10 test results will be calculated into your grade for this course. 3. Mid-term Exam. This is not included in the number of objective tests. 4. Research Paper. For 300-level courses the significant writing assignment should be 7 10 pages in length (i.e., around 1750 3000 words). 5. Final Exam. This is not included in the number of objective tests. Evaluation 1. The students will become familiar enough with the history of the Christian church to be able successfully to answer general objective questions on exams dealing with events, personalities, and dates covered in the text and class lectures. 2. The students will be able to identify clearly and date on exams the major events and personalities in Christian history as presented in the text and class lectures. 3. The students will be able to discuss on exams the major movements that have been influential in changing the course of Christian history, such as the persecutions, the rise of heresy, and the rise of Roman Catholicism. Course Grading Percentages 1. Reading 10% of your grade. You will be given a bibliography and reading chart/list to be turned in at the final exam date. 2. Objective Tests 20% of your grade. There are 11 iterations. Each test will be points each. It will consist of multiple choice, true or false, matching, and essay questions. Hint: The first step to doing well on these tests is showing up! 3. Mid-term Exam 25%. This is not included in the number of objective Textbooks/Sourcebooks: Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church by Earl E. Cairns The Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez, Vol 1 (ISBN 0-06-063325-8) and Vol 2 (ISBN 0-06-063316-5) Galli, Mark, and Ted Olsen. 131 Christians Everyone Should Know. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. Rusten, Sharon with E. Michael. The Complete Book of When & Where in the Bible and throughout History. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005. Eckman, James P. Exploring Church History. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002. Schaff, Philip, and David Schley Schaff. History of the Christian Church. New York: Charles Scribner s Sons, 1910. Dick, John. Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles. Second Ed. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1857. Sell, Henry Thorne. Studies in Early Church History. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1998. Douglas, J. D., Philip Wesley Comfort, and Donald Mitchell. Who s Who in Christian History. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1992. Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987. Church History 2
tests; but will cover objective tests 1 5. 4. Research Paper 20% of your grade. Students will employ the Turabian style. See this article for a quick guide to the Turabian style of writing at http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html. You will choose one topic from the following suggested research topics: a. What were the distinctive marks of the first Christian church? b. Who were the early contenders of the faith, what exactly did they defend and how did they defend it? c. What were the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church? d. What were the circumstances that led to the creation or the supremacy of the Papacy? e. What led to the creation and activities of the Crusaders? f. Who was Luther and how was the German Reformation started? g. What was the Golden Age of Church Fathers? h. How did Christianity spread to Europe and England and who were the players of the spread? i. What led to the split of the Catholic Church? j. What was the Reformation and how did it spread throughout the modern world and church? k. Ten Lessons from 2000 years of Church History 5. Final Exam 25%. This is not included in the number of objective tests; but will cover all objective tests. Professor s proof of grace: if you show up on all the test dates and use all 11 tests as your study guide for the final exam, then you ll do just fine here! Evaluation Iteration/Criteria/Topics Points Percentage of Final Grade Reading 750 and above 10% 700 749 pages 90 650 699 pages 80 600 649 pages 70 550 599 pages 60 500 549 pages 50 Objective Tests 1 (The Spread of Christianity in the Empire to ) 2 (The Struggle of the Old Imperial Church for Survival, 313) 3 (The Supremacy of the Old Imperial Church, 313 590) 4 (The Rise of the Empire and Latin-Teutonic Christianity, 590 800) 5 (Ebb and Flow in Relationships Between Church and State, 800 1054) 20% 6 (The Supremacy of the Papacy, 1054 1305) 7 (Medieval Sunset and Modern Sunrise, 1305 1517) 8 (Reformation and Counter- Reformation, 1517 1648) 9 (Rationalism, Revivalism and Denominationalism, 1648 1789) 10 (Revivalism, Missions, and Academic Calendar (Subject to Change) 1/20 Lecture 1 Syllabus, Intro, Difficulties of Studying Church History, Spread of Christianity in the Empire to Buy, borrow textbook now! 1/27 Lecture 2 The Struggle of the Old Catholic Imperial Church for Survival Test 1 2/3 Lecture 3 The Supremacy of the Old Catholic Imperial Church Test 2 2/10 Lecture 4 The Rise of the Empire and Latin-Teutonic Christianity Research topic and proposal due Test 3 2/17 Lecture 5 Ebb and Flow in Relationships Between Church and State Test 4 2/24 Lecture 6 The Supremacy of the Papacy Test 5 3/3 Lecture 7 Medieval Sunset and Modern Sunrise Test 6 3/10 Mid-term exam Lecture 8 Reformation and Counter- Reformation I 3/17 Spring Break 3/24 Lecture 9 Reformation and Church History 3
Mid-Term Research Paper Modernism, 1789 1914) 11 (Church and Society in Tension Since 1914) Exam covering Objectives tests 25% 1 5 Title page 1 20% Thesis statement 2 Introduction 1 Body 4 Organization structural 2 development of the Idea Conclusion 3 Mechanics 1 Usage 1 Citation 1.5 Bibliography (Minimum of 3 2.5 books, 2 journals and 1 reliable web-based) Appearance 1 Final Exam Covering all objective tests 25% Total % Grading Scale 1. 93-% A 2. 86-92% B 3. 78-85% C 4. 70-77% D 5. 69% and below F (Repeat) Student s Guide to A Successful Semester: 1. Seek the Lord and His righteousness first and all these things shall be added unto you. 2. Pray for your professors that they would pursue to be godly before God and men. 3. Pray for the Holy Spirit s illumination in your reading and study. 4. Do the reading and preparation well. Do not procrastinate. Take notes well. A professor of mine once said, The weakest ink is mightier than a college student s strongest memory! 5. Make studying an enjoyable time. Counter-Reformation II Test 7 3/31 Lecture 10 Reformation and Counter-Reformation III Test 8 4/7 Lecture 11 Reformation and Counter-Reformation IV Test 9 4/14 Lecture 12 Rationalism, Revivalism and Denominationalism Test 10 4/21 Lecture 13 Church and Society in Tension Since 1914 I Test 11 4/28 Lecture 14 Church and Society in Tension Since 1914 II Final review; study guides Lecture 15 Church and Society in Tension Since 1914 III 5/5 Final exam Reading list due Research paper due Church History 4
Selected Bibliography Church History: Reference 1. Bercot, David W., ed. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. Hendrickson, 1998. 2. Cross, F. L. and E. A. Livingstone, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3 rd ed. Oxford, 1997. 3. Douglas, J.D., ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Rev. ed. Zondervan, 1988. 4. Green, Samuel G., A Handbook of Church History from the Apostolic Era to the Dawn of the Reformation. London: The Lutterworth Press, 1937. 5. McKim, Donald K., ed. Historical Handbook of Biblical Interpreters. InterVarsity, 1998. 6. McManners, John Ed., The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford: Oxford Univ Press, 1990. 7. Newman, A. H., A Manual of Church History. Valley Forge, PA: The Judson Press, 1964. 2 Vols. 8. Reid, Daniel G., et al. Dictionary of Christianity in America. InterVarsity, 1990. Church History: General 1. Bainton, Roland H., Christianity. New York: American Heritage, 1985. 2. Baker, Robert A., A Summary of Christian History. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1959. 3. Buis, Harry, Interdisciplinary Historical Charts. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1982. 4. Clouse, Robert G., et al. Two Kingdoms: The Church and Culture Through the Ages. Moody, 1993. 5. Durant, Will, The Story of Civilization. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965. 11 Vols. 6. Hassell, C. B. and Hassell, Sylvester, History of the Church of God. Conley, GA: The Old School Hymnal Company, 1973. (Primitive Baptist) 7. Houghton, S. M., Sketches from Church History. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1991. 8. Hurlbut, Jesse L., The Story of the Christian Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970. 9. Jacobs, Charles M., The Story of the Church. Philadelphia: The Muhlenberg Press, 1947. (Lutheran) 10. Jones, William, The History of the Christian Church. Gallatin, TN: Church History Research & Archives, 1983 reprint of 1826 ed. 2 Vols. 11. Miller, Andrew, Miller s Church History. London: Pickering and Inglis, n.d. 1091 pp. 12. Sheldon, Henry C., History of the Christian Church. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1985. 5 Vols. 13. Wylie, J.A., The History of Protestantism. Carginah, Kilkeel, Co. Down, N. Ireland: Mourne Missionary Trust, 1985. 2 Vols. Church History 5