In this unit students will undertake a historical theological study of the first five centuries of Christianity, with an emphasis on the way in which doctrine and liturgy came to be formed. Through examination of different contexts and cultures across the Middle East, North Africa and Western Europe, students will investigate how different apologetic, exegetical and ecclesiastical understandings created controversies and how these were resolved.
Unit code: CH1123Z
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1
Unit discipline: Church History
Proposing College: St Barnabas College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Outline a chronology of key people and events within the Christian community c.50-600 CE and analyse their significance. |
| 2. | Outline key theological debates during the period. |
| 3. | Identify key elements of Christian liturgy and praxis and how they developed in the early church. |
| 4. | Articulate key principles of historical interpretation of ancient Christian texts. |
| 5. | Assess the relevance for the contemporary church of a historical understanding of the early church. |
| 6. |
Introduction unit
Lectures, discussions, and guided engagement with key primary texts.
Bradshaw, Paul F. The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship 2nd ed.; New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Giles, Kevin. Patterns of Ministry Among the First Christians 2nd ed. Eugene: Cascade Books, 2017.
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Reformation. New York: HarperOne, 2010.
Guy, Laurie. Introducing Early Christianity: a Topical Survey of its Life, Beliefs and Practices. Leicester: IVP, 2004.
Hall, S. G. Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church. 2nd edition. London: SPCK, 2005.
Humphries, Mark. Early Christianity. London: Routledge, 2006.
Ludlow, Morwenna. The Early Church. London/New York: IB Tauris, 2009.
Ramsay, Boniface. Beginning to Read the Fathers: Revised Edition. New York: Paulist Press, 2012.
Stevenson, J (ed). A New Eusebius. 3rd edition. Edited by W. H. C. Frend. London: SPCK, 2013.
Stevenson, J (ed). Creeds, Councils, and Controversies. 2nd edition. Edited by W. H. C. Frend. London: SPCK, 1989.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper - 15-minute oral presentation | 1000 | 25.0 | |
| Document Study - Document Study | 1000 | 25.0 | |
| Essay - Major Essay | 2000 | 50.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 4 Nov, 2024
Unit record last updated: 2024-11-04 08:52:26 +1100