REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
HT502
History of Christianity I
Spring, May 13-17, 2013
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Instructor: Dr. Bob Smart
Office: Christ Church, PCA Home Phone: 309-287-7297
Office Hours: see sign-up sheets Office Phone: 309-452-7927
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Purpose, theology, and chronology of early Church to Medieval history; beginning with a survey of the book of Acts. Then, proceeding to cover the early history of the Church with special applications from Acts for campus ministry, This course will be multifaceted and will include: development of Christian theology such as the Trinitarian and Christological controversies and the rise of creeds; the institutional church, its hierarchy, development of the sacraments and polity; various views of the religious life including monasticism and early Christian spirituality; and prominent movements and individuals who led them. Studying the flow of the history of the Church will provide the context for considering the significant beliefs (the history of Christian thought) and practices (the history of Christian spirituality) of the people of God. Credit three units.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
I. To gain knowledge of the main events, people, ideas, and practices in the course of Church history in its first fifteen centuries.
II. To understand the development of Christian thought and the formulation of doctrine (the doctrine of grace will be given special attention).
III. To develop an appreciation for the history of Christian spirituality (transformation—both personal and corporate—and mission—in the community and around the world).
IV. To help prepare (some) for presbytery examinations in Church history.
INSTRUCTION, REQUIREMENTS, AND ASSESSMENT
Methods of Instruction: Methods of instruction for this course will include lecture, readings, skype interviews, in-class discussion, discussion of questions and quotations based on reading, timelines, composition of a 10-page paper related to the readings, and a final exam based on the lectures.
Internet, Mobile, Hand-held Device Policy: Basically, "unplugged" is the word. During class time, students need to connect with the instructor, the course material, issues the material raises, and each other. Students are requested not to be or go online. Students may not email, text, tweet, google, or otherwise engage in electronic communication during class time. This includes both sending and receiving information, both of which are detrimental to primary course aims. Instructor reserves the right to lower the final grade of students who violate this policy.
Grading
· Course grades will be assigned based on Reading assignments and participation, timeline, paper, and final exam:
- The following grading criteria will be employed:
A: Oustanding / The required task has been performed with excellence, creativity, and in a manner that demonstrates original insight and sustained effort on the part of the student. Communicates thorough understanding of the subject matter, comprehensible to those with little prior knowledge of the subject. Creates interest, demonstrates keen analytical ability.
B: Above Average / The required task has been performed in a way that demonstrates familiarity with the material covered and facility in analysis and communication of this material. Communicates solid grasp of the subject matter to those who have interest in, and some prior knowledge of, the subject. Demonstrates not only ability to accurately report, but also to analyze.
C: Average / The required task has been performed according to instructions given. Communicates basic understanding of subject matter to those who are interested in and have significant prior knowledge of the subject.
D: Below Average / Instructions have not been followed and the required task has not been performed, though the work submitted represents a legitimate attempt at completing the assignment. Communicates understanding of subject matter only to a friendly audience with extensive prior knowledge.
F: Unacceptable / Instructions have not been followed, the required task has not been performed, and/or the work submitted does not represent a legitimate attempt at completing the assignment. Fails to communicate more than a basic understanding of the subject matter.
TEXTBOOKS/TOOLS FOR STUDY AND MINISTRY
Required
· Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, 2010. 490 pages.
· Bible Readings: Luke 24-Acts 28; Titus and 2 Timothy.
- Schreiner, T.R., Paul: Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ. Downers Grove: IVP, 2001. 504 pages.
- Donald Fairbairn, Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers, 2009. 272 pages.
NOTE: It is assumed that students in this course will own and bring to class an ESV Study Bible.
Assignments
- Completion of reading assignments. Make a list of questions from the readings to be addressed in class discussions, and attach a copy of your favorite quotations for future use (photocopier may make the process easier). Due: Monday, May 13th at the start of class. Attendance and participation in class discussion and prayer. 20% of grade.
- Prepare a time-line showing the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the “ends of the earth” through AD 1500. Due: Wednesday, May 15th 2013 at the start of class. 20% of the grade.
- A true research paper employing significant scholarly resources in the articulation and defense of a theologically and sound thesis. Identify five challenges the early church faced in the spread of Christianity, and how the Lord shaped His people through persecution, defense of the faith, and commitment to the orthodoxy of the Gospel (10-15 pages). Due: Wednesday, May 15th for 30% of grade.
- A Final Exam covering the lecture material to be taken subsequent to May 17 and proctored by Matt Stahl at RTSH by the end of May. Final Grades due May 31, 2013. 30% of grade.
Timeline (20%)—due on May 15, 2013. Based on your readings, provide a timeline of Church history for the first 1500 years (approximate), listing what you believe to be the 50 key dates of people and events. You may be as creative as you like, providing me a hard copy of the timeline, or you may use something like timerime.com, tiki-toki.com, or xtimeline.com to generate an online version. (I suggest you not use dipity.com because many students have had significant problems with this website—lost information, website crash, etc.)
If you choose to provide an online timeline, I will be looking for three things in order to earn an A: (1) significant dates chosen; (2) a graphic depicting each date (picture of person/event, etc.); and (3) a brief description (2-3 sentences is adequate) of the person/event. If you choose the other option, I will be looking primarily at creativity (in addition to the dates chosen).
This will help you get a sense of the flow of Church history, and give you a framework to help you locate other key people and events.
Schedule:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1st Paper due
9:00……………………. .Prayer…………..and…………..Word…………………..
9:05 ……Intro… …….. section 4 section 8 section 12 section 16
10:30……Section 1 ….. section 5 section 9 section 13 section 17
12:00 ….……………..lunch break……………………………………………………
1:00 ………. Q&A 1 Q&A 2 Q&A 3…… section 18
1:30 section 2 section 6 section 10 section 14 section 19
3:30 ……section 3………section 7…. section 11 section 15 section 20
5:00 ………………………………Dismissal…………………………………….
Summary: Brief Prayer & Word Times, One Orientation & Introduction and 20 Lectures followed by applications and discussions; Three Q & A times with campus leaders, pastors, and seminary professors; accounts of campus revivals; and time for fellowship around meals and breaks.
Lectures:
Intro: Background for Church History: Extent, Content, and Uses
1. The Growth of the Early Church
1. Why did Christianity spread?
2. Among whom did it spread?
3. Where did it spread? Acts, Palestine to Rome by 325/ Palestine Eastward
2. Jesus and the Early Church: Acts & NT
1. New Covenant Outpourings of the Spirit
2. Spirit-filled Community
3. Spiritual Fruit
4. Greiving/Quenching the Holy Spirit
3. The Blood of the Martyrs: Early Jewish & Roman Persecutions
4. Defenders of the Faith: The Apologists
5. Rise of Heresies: Gnosticism, Marcionism, & Montanism
6. Development of Doctrine: Canon, Creed, & Catholic Church
7. Early Church Fathers: Irenaeus and Tertullian
8. Alexandrian Christianity: Clement and Origen
9. Spirituality: Worship, Baptism, & Christian Life
10. Institutional Growth of the Church: Constantine
11. Monasticism: Eastern, Western, & Evaluation
12. Nicene Controversy & Creed:
· Athanasius vs. Arius
· Apollinarius-Christ is truly human
· Nestorius-Christ is one person
· Eutyches-Christ had two natures
13. Julian, Chrysostom, Ambrose
14. Jerome & Augustine
15. The Middle Ages
· Intro
· Medieval Missions
· Schism: East & West
· Early Middle Ages
16. Bernard of Clairvaux
17. Christianity & Islam: The Crusades
18. Dominicans, Franciscans, & Waldensians
19. The Sacramental System
20. Wycliffe, Huss, & Savonarola
· Scholastics
· Mysticism
· Humanism
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