FND 100i – Early Church History (Online)
Fall Semester, 2015
Course Outline
Class Start and End Date:
September 3 rd – December 7 th 2015
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Scott Sharman
Office: TBA
Office Hours: By appointment
Phone: 780.807.4107
Email: ssharman@ualberta.ca
Course Description:
This online course introduces the historical development of the Church from the late first century to AD 604. It focuses on the development of institutions and doctrine, the evolving relationship of Church and Empire, the beginnings of monasticism, and the missionary activity of Christianity beyond the Greco-Roman world.
Course Objectives:
Academic Learning Outcomes

An acquaintance with the major figures in Church History from the Apostolic, Ante-
Nicene, Nicene, and post-Nicene periods.
 An initial understanding of the cultural and societal influences on the development and diversity doctrines and the institutional governance of the Church catholic in its various regional expressions.
 An ability to engage critically and analytically with textual, historical, and theological themes raised by the course material.

An ability to successfully communicate course learning both orally and in writing.

An ability to use the skills developed to apply knowledge and understanding of the ancient sources to issues in the Church today. tel 780.392.2450 10012 84 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6A 0B2 www.newman.edu

Human and Spiritual Outcomes

A deepened sense of spiritual connection and rootedness resulting from greater acquaintance with the formative people and events in the life of the early Church.

An increased respect for the living Tradition of the Church and its relevance to personal faithfulness.

An ability to draw effectively on the lessons of history as a resource for their pastoral ministries either as lay people or ordained ministers.
Required Textbooks:
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity Volume 1 . [S.l.]: HarperOne, 2014.
Papandrea, James Leonard. Reading the Early Church Fathers: From the Didache to Nicaea . New
York: Paulist Press, 2012.
Recommended Reading:
Davis, Leo Donald. The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology .
Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 1990.
Course Requirements:
The following represent general course requirements:

Class preparation: This must be done thoroughly and carefully. Ideally each student should devote an average total of approximately nine (9) hours per week to the course lectures, readings, and assignments.
 Class participation: Students are expected to complete the course requirements for each week. College policy as expounded in the Student Handbook will be implemented.
In addition, the following assignments will be required:
1. Weekly précis of primary source readings – 25% of final grade

Students will prepare and submit to the instructor a 1 page double spaced (250 words) précis of the primary source readings for each week of the course. (See Appendix B –
How to Write a Précis).
2. Weekly forum discussions – 20% of final grade
 In the week between course sessions students will post to the online discussion forum at least one comment and one question based on the assigned textbook readings for each
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week. Students will also comment on the post of at least one of their fellow class participants each week. (Additional interaction in the forum discussions is strongly encouraged, and will affect your grades accordingly).
3. Written assignment – 30% of final grade

Students will choose one of either option A) A book review or B) A position essay o A) Book Review, 3-4 pages double spaced (750-1000 words). (See Appendix C –
How to Write a Book Review):
 Option 1: St. Irenaeus of Lyon, On the Apostolic Preaching
 Option 2: St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation
 Option 3: St. Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Benedict o Or B) Position Essay, 5 pages double spaced (1250 words): State your position on one of the statements below. Students may reference seminars, lectures, course readings, and other bibliographic resources. (See Appendix D – How to Write a
Jesus was
 Option 2: The Edict of Milan was a bad thing for the Church
 Option 3: The Creeds did more harm than good for the unity of the Church
 Option 4: Peter was the first pope
 Option 5: Christianity is a Western religion
4. Final Exam – 25% of final grade

Students will complete an online 1 hour written exam.
Position Essay):
 Option 1: Arius was a good Christian just doing his best to understand who
General Academic Information:
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a serious offence and will not be tolerated. See NTC Academic Calendar for details of the College policy dealing with academic dishonesty.
Acceptable Documentation Style:
For this course we will follow the Turabian (Chicago) Documentation Style.
For more information see Kate Turabian. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and
Dissertations, 8 th Edition (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2013).
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Extensions and Late Submission Policy:
Please do not ask for extensions (except in the case of genuine emergencies). L ate submissions will be accepted with a penalty of 10% off the grade per day late (up to a maximum of five days). After five days an automatic fail grade will be allocated.
For incomplete courses regulations see the NTC Academic Calendar
Grading:
NTC has adopted Alberta Alpha Four Point Grading System. This is set out in the NTC
Academic Calendar and is reproduced here for your convenience. Please note that an A grade is reserved for work which demonstrates excellence.
Undergraduate Studies
C.Th., Dip.Th., B.Th.
Graduate Studies
M.T.S., M.Div., M.Th.,
G.C.C.S.A., M.R.E.
Grade
Meaning
Good
Grade
Excellent A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
Adequate C+
C
C-
Marginal D+
D
Fail F
Grade
Point
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
Grade
Meaning
Excellent A+
A
A-
Good
Grade Grade
Point
B+
B
B-
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
Adequate C+
C
C-
2.3
2.0
1.7
Fail D+
D
F
For grade appeal procedure see the NTC Student Handbook
1.3
1.0
0.0
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Course Schedule:
Session 1 (Sept. 3)
Personal Introductions
Review of syllabus
Historical Figure of the Week: Eusebius
Lecture: Introduction to the study of Church history
Session 2 (Sept. 10)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 7-39), Papandrea (pp. 18-32)
Primary Source Reading: The Didache
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Clement of Rome
Lecture: Christian origins and the Apostolic Church
Session 3 (Sept. 17)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 41-68), Papandrea (pp. 15-17; 27-29),
Primary Source Reading: The Martyrdom of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Polycarp of Smyrna
Lecture: Persecution and the Age of the Apologists
Session 4 (Sept. 24)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 69-96), Papandrea (pp. 119-138)
Primary Source Reading: Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (Chapters 1-15)
Historical Figure of the Week: Tertullian of Carthage
Lecture: Heresy and the Emergence of Ancient Catholicism: Canon, Creeds, Bishops, and
Theologians
Session 5 (Oct. 1)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 97-122; 173-180), Papandrea (pp. 168-175)
Primary Source Reading: Cyprian, On the Unity of the Church
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Cyprian of Carthage
Lecture: The Question of the Lapsed; The Spread of the Faith
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Session 6 (Oct. 8)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 132-156; 193-198), Papandrea (pp. 176-183)
Primary Source Reading: The Oration of Constantine
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Helen, Mother of Constantine
Lecture: Constantine and the Christian Empire; Julian the Apostate
Session 7 (Oct. 15)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 157-172), Online Primary Source 6
Primary Source Reading: St. Athanasius, The Life of Anthony
Historical Figure of the Week: The Desert Mothers
Lecture: Desert Fathers, Hermits, and the Rise of Monasticism
Session 8 (Oct. 22)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 182-192; 199-208), Papandrea (pp. 183-186)
Primary Source Reading: St. Athanasius, Defense of the Nicene Council
Historical Figure of the Week: Arius
Lecture: Christological Controversies Part 1: Arianism and the Council of Nicea
Session 9 (Oct. 29)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 209-219; 296-302)
Primary Source Reading: St. Gregory of Nyssa, On Not Three god’s
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Macrina
Lecture: Christological Controversies Part 2: The Council of Constantinople; the Cappadocians; the Council of Chalcedon
Session 10 (Nov. 5)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 220-252)
Primary Source Reading: Augustine, Confessions Book I
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Monica
Lecture: Doctors of the Church: Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom
** Reading Week – No Class (Nov. 12) **
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Session 11 (Nov. 19)
*Position Essay assignment due at the beginning of this class
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 259-261); Journal Article TBA
Primary Source Reading: The Tome of Leo
Historical Figure of the Week: Pope St. Leo the Great
Lecture: The fall and sack of Rome; Growing distance between east and west
Session 12 (Nov. 26)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 253-258; 269-89)
Primary Source Reading: The Rule of Gregory, Books I, II, IV
Historical Figure of the Week: St. Gregory the Great
Lecture: The Church beyond the Empire; Missions to the Germans and Angles
Session 13 (Dec. 3)
Textbook Reading: Gonzalez (pp. 289-293); Journal Article TBA
Primary Source Reading: The Quran, Surat Maryam
Historical Figure of the Week: Muhammad
Lecture: The Church and the effects of the Arab conquest
Final Exam (TBA)
Selected Bibliography:
Barnes, Timothy D. Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian
Empire. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1993).
Brent, Allen. A Political History of Early Christianity (New York: T&T Clark / Continuum,
2009).
Brown, Peter. Authority and the Sacred: Aspects of Christianisation of the Roman
World. (Cambridge University Press, 1995).
Burrus, Virginia, ed. Late Ancient Christianity, A People's History of Christianity (Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2005).
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Cameron, Averil. Christianity and the Rhetoric of Empire: The Development of Christian
Discourse. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991).
Chadwick, Henry. East and West: The Making of a Rift in the Church: From Apostolic Times until the Council of Florence, Oxford History of the Christian Church (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2003).
_____. The Church in Ancient Society: From Galilee to Gregory the Great, Oxford History of the
Christian Church (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002).
Comby, Jean. How to Read Church History, vol. 1. (New York: Crossroad, 1989).
Esler, Philip F. ed. The Early Christian World, 2 vol. (New York: Routledge, 2000).
Evans, G.R. ed. First Christian Theologians: An Introduction to Theology in the Early Church
(Oxford: Blackwell, 2004).
Fowden, Garth. Empire to Commonwealth: Consequences of Monotheism in Late
Antiquity. (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1993).
Fox, Robin Lane. Pagans and Christians. (San Francisco: Harper, 1986).
Freeman, Charles. A New History of Early Christianity. (New Haven: Yale University Press,
2009).
Frend, W.H.C. The Early Church. (London, SCM, 1982).
_____. The Rise of Christianity. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984).
Hall, Stuart G. Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church, 2nd ed. (London: SPCK, 2005).
Hazlett, Ian ed. Early Christianity: Origins and Evolution to A.D. 600 (Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1991).
Hinlicky, Paul. Divine Complexity: The Rise of Creedal Christianity. (Minneapolis: Fortress
Press, 2010).
Holum, Kenneth. Theodosian Empresses: Women and Imperial Dominion in Late
Antiquity. (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1982).
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Humphries, Mark. Early Christianity. (New York: Routledge, 2006).
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, 5th ed. (New York: Continuum, 2000).
Lössl, Josef. Early Church: Christianity in Late Antiquity. (New York: T&T Clark, 2010).
MacMullen, Ramsay. Christianizing the Roman Empire A.D. 100-400. (Yale University Press,
1984).
Markus, R. A. The End of Ancient Christianity. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990).
Meyendorff, John. Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450-680. (Crestwood,
NY: St. Vladimir Seminary Press, 1989).
Pelikan, J. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. Volume 1: The
Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600). (University of Chicago Press, 1975).
Ramsay, B. Beginning to Read the Fathers. (Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1985).
Roldanus, Johannes. The Church in the Age of Constantine: The Theological Challenges (New
York: Routledge, 2006).
The Cambridge History of Christianity, vols. 1 and 2. (New York / Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2005-2007).
Wilken, Robert L. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. (Yale University Press, 1984).
Young, Frances (with Andrew Teale). From Nicaea to Chalcedon, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2010).
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