This document provides the course description, objectives, requirements and schedule for HT 501: Early Christian History taught by Steven J. Beardsley in June 2013. The course is an introduction to the establishment and development of Christianity from its origins to 451CE, paying attention to trends, personalities and events. Primary sources and secondary texts will be used. Requirements include online discussion, two papers on primary sources, a timeline chart and a take-home final exam. The course will meet Monday through Wednesday for lectures and discussion.
This document provides the course description, objectives, requirements and schedule for HT 501: Early Christian History. The course is an introduction to the establishment and development of Christianity from its beginnings to the 5th century CE. It will examine major trends, figures and events through primary sources and secondary texts. Requirements include online discussion, two papers analyzing primary sources, a timeline chart and a final take-home exam. Students must complete all assigned reading and viewing before the start of class meetings from June 24-July 29.
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most prominent disciples. She financially supported his ministry and was present at key moments like the crucifixion and empty tomb. As the first witness of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene is considered the "Apostle to the Apostles." However, she was mistakenly portrayed as a repentant prostitute due to merging of biblical texts. Mary Magdalene actually had an important leadership role and high status as a follower and witness of Jesus.
Historical evidence for the authenticity of the BibleSarah Salviander
Evidence is presented to support the New Testament as a reliable record of the ministry of Jesus and of the early Christian church. The means by which the New Testament has been preserved are also examined. Presentation by John Darms.
Jewish-Christian relations and the LUNAR CALENDAR
#LUNAR-CALENDAR #Moon #Jewish #Christian
https://bittube.tv/post/5bd46642-6843-4810-ae42-f2263980e9f2
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Jewish-Christian-relations-and-the-LUNAR-CALENDAR:e
https://tube.midov.pl/w/oNkCi4eXe32eYVzJmzj4JY
https://www.bitchute.com/video/ccDldhP5EyCk/
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Christian you're unique
#Uniqueness #Christianity #Uniqueness-Christianity
https://bittube.tv/post/043c2d95-5f74-4314-926d-4b0524a63bee
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Christian-you're-unique:7
https://tube.midov.pl/w/aac7ac42-f6d3-4f44-8787-9457ae649a13
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This course provides a survey of over 2000 years of Christian history from its origins as a persecuted sect in the Roman Empire to its emergence in the modern world. The class will examine Christianity's spread throughout the empire, its adoption as the imperial religion under Constantine, the rise of the papacy in the west, eastern Byzantine Christianity, the schism between eastern and western branches, and the church's response to modern challenges. Students will read from textbooks on church history as well as primary sources. Coursework includes lectures, discussions, reading assignments, and written reflections. The goal is for students to understand the narrative of Christianity over time and be able to identify major figures, concepts, trends, and issues in both their historical and
Marcus Aurelius was truly the philosopher-king that Plato dreamed of, he was both one of the good Roman Emperors and a Stoic Philosopher who ruled out of a sense of duty while living the modest stoic life.
The paradox of Marcus Aurelius is that as Roman Emperor he likely oversaw the brutal persecution of Christians, but as a Stoic philosopher his main work, the Meditations, offers a Stoic philosophy that reflects many Christian values and teachings. This paradox led some ancient Christians to hope that he indeed was a friend to Christians, including Tertullian and St Justin the Martyr, who was himself martyred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This paradox was explored by the ancient church historian Eusebius in his work Church History or Ecclesiastical History.
We review the history behind Marcus Aurelius, how he was the adopted son of his predecessor, Antonius Pius, who had been adopted by Hadrian. We learn how his marriage to the daughter of Antonius Pius, Faustina, led to the birth of Commodus, who succeeded him as emperor and began the decline of the Roman Empire due to his neglect of his responsibilities, he preferred performing as a gladiator to serving as a stoic Roman Emperor.
We review the history of the persecutions from Nero to Diocletian, and the series of letters between Pliny and Trajan discussing how Christians should be properly persecuted.
We review how modern historians view this paradox, including Henry Chadwick, Walter Kaufman, Matthew Arnold, Copleston, and McGuckin.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/-uQxq1O9xSY
Our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-aC
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine, by Eusebius (263-339), Penguin Classic, introduction by Andrew Louth
https://amzn.to/3eRbZgK
The Path of Christianity: The First Thousand Years Hardcover, by John Anthony McGuckin
https://amzn.to/2UHXMeW
The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick
https://amzn.to/36W9OUB
St Augustine’s key work, On Christian Teaching, is translated often as On Christian Doctrine, teaches us how to read Scriptures and teach and spread our faith to our neighbors. What is the core of this work? We should Love God with all of our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength, and we should love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do not love our neighbor, we cannot Love God, and if we do not Love God and our neighbor, we cannot fathom Scripture, let alone deign to teach and preach the Scriptures.
St Augustine teaches, “Whoever thinks he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but interprets them in a way that does not build up this two-fold Love of God and love of neighbor, does not truly understand the Scriptures. If, on the other hand, a man draws a meaning from Scriptures that builds up the two-fold Love of God and love of his neighbor, although he does not precisely understand the exact meaning of the author, his error is not pernicious, and he is wholly clear from the charge of deception.”
St Augustine further teaches that if someone with a good heart and pure motives has a mistaken interpretation of Scripture, that “if his mistaken interpretation of Scripture tends to build up love, . . . he goes astray in much the same way as a man who by mistake quits the high road, but yet reaches through the fields the same place to which the road leads.”
To support our channel, you can purchase these from Amazon:
On Christian Teaching, by St Augustine, R. P. H. Green, Translator
https://amzn.to/3mmZn5x
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
Best place to purchase eBook for Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 2, which has this work, is https://www.christianbook.com
See our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-s9
This document provides the course description, objectives, requirements and schedule for HT 501: Early Christian History. The course is an introduction to the establishment and development of Christianity from its beginnings to the 5th century CE. It will examine major trends, figures and events through primary sources and secondary texts. Requirements include online discussion, two papers analyzing primary sources, a timeline chart and a final take-home exam. Students must complete all assigned reading and viewing before the start of class meetings from June 24-July 29.
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most prominent disciples. She financially supported his ministry and was present at key moments like the crucifixion and empty tomb. As the first witness of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene is considered the "Apostle to the Apostles." However, she was mistakenly portrayed as a repentant prostitute due to merging of biblical texts. Mary Magdalene actually had an important leadership role and high status as a follower and witness of Jesus.
Historical evidence for the authenticity of the BibleSarah Salviander
Evidence is presented to support the New Testament as a reliable record of the ministry of Jesus and of the early Christian church. The means by which the New Testament has been preserved are also examined. Presentation by John Darms.
Jewish-Christian relations and the LUNAR CALENDAR
#LUNAR-CALENDAR #Moon #Jewish #Christian
https://bittube.tv/post/5bd46642-6843-4810-ae42-f2263980e9f2
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Jewish-Christian-relations-and-the-LUNAR-CALENDAR:e
https://tube.midov.pl/w/oNkCi4eXe32eYVzJmzj4JY
https://www.bitchute.com/video/ccDldhP5EyCk/
All the platforms I Am on:
https://steemit.com/links/@resetciviliz/link-s
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▶ ETHEREUM
0xAc1FBaEBaCc83D332494B55123F5493a113cE457
▶ TEESPRING
https://periodic-reset.creator-spring.com
Christian you're unique
#Uniqueness #Christianity #Uniqueness-Christianity
https://bittube.tv/post/043c2d95-5f74-4314-926d-4b0524a63bee
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Christian-you're-unique:7
https://tube.midov.pl/w/aac7ac42-f6d3-4f44-8787-9457ae649a13
https://www.bitchute.com/video/cE0i9NvcdOZ1/
All the platforms I Am on:
https://steemit.com/links/@resetciviliz/link-s
▶ BITCOIN
34c3XCeSyoi9DPRks867KL7GVD7tGVcxnH
▶ ETHEREUM
0xAc1FBaEBaCc83D332494B55123F5493a113cE457
▶ TEESPRING
https://periodic-reset.creator-spring.com
This course provides a survey of over 2000 years of Christian history from its origins as a persecuted sect in the Roman Empire to its emergence in the modern world. The class will examine Christianity's spread throughout the empire, its adoption as the imperial religion under Constantine, the rise of the papacy in the west, eastern Byzantine Christianity, the schism between eastern and western branches, and the church's response to modern challenges. Students will read from textbooks on church history as well as primary sources. Coursework includes lectures, discussions, reading assignments, and written reflections. The goal is for students to understand the narrative of Christianity over time and be able to identify major figures, concepts, trends, and issues in both their historical and
Marcus Aurelius was truly the philosopher-king that Plato dreamed of, he was both one of the good Roman Emperors and a Stoic Philosopher who ruled out of a sense of duty while living the modest stoic life.
The paradox of Marcus Aurelius is that as Roman Emperor he likely oversaw the brutal persecution of Christians, but as a Stoic philosopher his main work, the Meditations, offers a Stoic philosophy that reflects many Christian values and teachings. This paradox led some ancient Christians to hope that he indeed was a friend to Christians, including Tertullian and St Justin the Martyr, who was himself martyred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This paradox was explored by the ancient church historian Eusebius in his work Church History or Ecclesiastical History.
We review the history behind Marcus Aurelius, how he was the adopted son of his predecessor, Antonius Pius, who had been adopted by Hadrian. We learn how his marriage to the daughter of Antonius Pius, Faustina, led to the birth of Commodus, who succeeded him as emperor and began the decline of the Roman Empire due to his neglect of his responsibilities, he preferred performing as a gladiator to serving as a stoic Roman Emperor.
We review the history of the persecutions from Nero to Diocletian, and the series of letters between Pliny and Trajan discussing how Christians should be properly persecuted.
We review how modern historians view this paradox, including Henry Chadwick, Walter Kaufman, Matthew Arnold, Copleston, and McGuckin.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/-uQxq1O9xSY
Our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-aC
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine, by Eusebius (263-339), Penguin Classic, introduction by Andrew Louth
https://amzn.to/3eRbZgK
The Path of Christianity: The First Thousand Years Hardcover, by John Anthony McGuckin
https://amzn.to/2UHXMeW
The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick
https://amzn.to/36W9OUB
St Augustine’s key work, On Christian Teaching, is translated often as On Christian Doctrine, teaches us how to read Scriptures and teach and spread our faith to our neighbors. What is the core of this work? We should Love God with all of our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength, and we should love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do not love our neighbor, we cannot Love God, and if we do not Love God and our neighbor, we cannot fathom Scripture, let alone deign to teach and preach the Scriptures.
St Augustine teaches, “Whoever thinks he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but interprets them in a way that does not build up this two-fold Love of God and love of neighbor, does not truly understand the Scriptures. If, on the other hand, a man draws a meaning from Scriptures that builds up the two-fold Love of God and love of his neighbor, although he does not precisely understand the exact meaning of the author, his error is not pernicious, and he is wholly clear from the charge of deception.”
St Augustine further teaches that if someone with a good heart and pure motives has a mistaken interpretation of Scripture, that “if his mistaken interpretation of Scripture tends to build up love, . . . he goes astray in much the same way as a man who by mistake quits the high road, but yet reaches through the fields the same place to which the road leads.”
To support our channel, you can purchase these from Amazon:
On Christian Teaching, by St Augustine, R. P. H. Green, Translator
https://amzn.to/3mmZn5x
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
Best place to purchase eBook for Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 2, which has this work, is https://www.christianbook.com
See our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-s9
Martin Luther, though he is definitely flawed, also has some very good advice in the section of his Large Catechism and Small Catechism on the Ten Commandments. Although we do need to push back when he starts calling the Pope names, the Second Vatican Council tells Catholics that their separated brothers in Christ have much to teach us.
Envy is always envy, and theft is always theft, and these evils are not made right when laws or courts or judges condone our thefts in business or when we inherit property. He illustrates his teaching with the story of Herod, and how his wife Herodias and her daughter Salome conspired to have John the Baptist beheaded.
We also examine the extreme anti-Semitism of Luther, and how several of his commentaries on the commandments of the Decalogue contain unnecessary virulent anti-Semitic comments and slanders. Unfortunately, Adolph Hitler was able to use Luther’s anti-Semitic writings to justify the Nazi policies of the Holocaust.
Blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/martin-luther-large-catechism-on-decalogue-do-not-envy-and-anti-semitism/
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books, we receive a small affiliate commission:
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Book of Concord, Including the Large and Small Catechism
https://amzn.to/3ghTJxK
This document provides an introduction to Gnosticism and the Gnostic Bible. It discusses how Gnostics sought direct knowledge of God without religious officials as intermediaries. Heresiologists condemned Gnostics as heretical threats, but Gnostic theology also influenced mainstream Christian thought. Gnostics embraced wisdom from diverse sources and provided innovative interpretations of creation stories, distinguishing a transcendent deity from a flawed creator. They believed gnosis, or direct knowledge, allowed salvation by reconnecting with the divine light within.
The 400-year period from 1517 to 1918 saw preparations for the Second Coming of Christ. This period was divided into three stages: 1) The Reformation from 1517-1648 which began with Martin Luther, 2) Religious and ideological conflicts from 1648-1789, and 3) The maturation of politics, economy and ideology from 1789-1918 ending with World War I. During the Middle Ages, feudalism and corruption in the Roman Church suppressed humanity's original nature, prompting movements like the Renaissance and Reformation to restore it. The Renaissance revived Hellenism and humanism while the Reformation revived the Hebrew faith tradition, centered on faith in God.
Let us vote on each of the sayings on Jesus, a red bead for each truly authentic saying of Jesus, a pink bead when the saying sure sounds like Jesus, gray, maybe, a black bead for a saying Jesus could not have said, although centuries of biblical scholars thought and taught otherwise.
Using this voting method, the self-appointed members of the Jesus Seminar in 1985 pronounced that only fifteen sayings were truly said by Jesus, while another seventy-five sayings were probably words of Jesus. There were a few eminent scholars in the group, most were middling academics, none were from the most eminent theological universities. But it was great television, great headlines, great press, controversial conspiracies, grabbing ten minutes of fame for this or that ignorant expert.
The original attendees of the Jesus Seminar have mostly been forgotten, with only a spare mention by Dr Wikipedia, but unfortunately the historical Jesus baton was passed to Bart Ehrman, one of the foremost textual critics of the New Testament, which means his specialty is examining the ancient Greek manuscript texts for variants. Dr Timothy Johnson wrote a book disputing the claims of the historical Jesus, The Real Jesus, which will be our main source. This book first looks back to the history of the church since the Reformation, and in the United States since World War II and the GI Bill, to understand how such beliefs can become widespread.
In addition to Professor Johnson's book, The Real Jesus, we will be consulting other works. If you wish to purchase these books, these links will help support our channel with a small affiliate commission:
The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels, by Luke Timothy Johnson
https://amzn.to/3b0f77J
The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth, by Ben Witherington III
https://amzn.to/3C82S4O
Scripture in Tradition: The Bible and Its Interpretation in the Orthodox Church, by John Breck
https://amzn.to/3E5Kmuh
The History of Christian Theology, Audiobook, by Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3m3l8qu
The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant, by John Dominic Crossan
https://amzn.to/3CaZaYi
Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith, by Marcus Borg
https://amzn.to/3puaHyk
The History of the Bible: The Making of the New Testament Canon, Audiobook, by Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3C6zQT2
The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History, Audiobook, by Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/2Zgcps4
These are my blogs on this topic:
https://wp.me/pachSU-5Z
https://wp.me/pachSU-63
https://wp.me/pachSU-7O
https://wp.me/pachSU-97
Martin Luther profoundly changed marriage and the family through his teachings during the Reformation. He rejected the Catholic tradition of celibacy and asceticism, seeing marriage as both natural and necessary. Luther placed high importance on marriage, women, children, and the home. He taught that the home should be the center of life and introduced practices like daily Bible reading, hymn singing, and catechism that made religion a central part of family life. Luther's views permanently altered how Christians viewed and conducted marriage, parenting, and the family role.
This document provides background on Robert P. Jones, an author who has written books on the history of American evangelicals, civil rights, and Republican politics. It discusses Jones' upbringing in the Baptist church in the South and his subsequent studies on American religion during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Civil Rights eras. The document notes that Jones' books explore the complicated history of how the Southern Baptist church approached issues of slavery and civil rights over time, from defending slavery before the Civil War to gradually becoming more supportive of racial justice issues in recent decades.
The document provides a brief history of the Catholic Church from the time of Christ and the Apostles to the Second Vatican Council. It describes how the Church was founded by Christ's command to spread the gospel to all nations. Key events included the persecution of early Christians under Roman emperors, the Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity, and the Great Schism that divided the Church into Western and Eastern branches. The Protestant Reformation led to new denominations but the Council of Trent initiated reforms and reaffirmed Catholic doctrine. The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s brought renewal and reforms to the modern Catholic Church.
Some where between heaven and earth lesson 6 church hist. 1Andre Fernandez
The document provides an overview of some key differences between Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism. It discusses the Great Schism of 1054 that resulted in the excommunication of the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church. Some key beliefs of Eastern Orthodoxy are outlined, such as the equal authority of scripture and tradition, the veneration of icons and saints, and salvation occurring through cooperation with God rather than predestination. Differences in views of the role of the church, clergy, and salvation are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of church history from the Apostolic Era (33-100 AD) to the Ante-Nicene Era (100-325 AD). It describes the authority and ministry of the apostles, the growth of the early Christian church, and the environment of the Roman Empire. It also discusses heretical movements like Gnosticism and challenges faced by the church such as Roman imperial persecutions during this time period.
This summary provides the context and purpose for Paul's letter to the Romans in 3 sentences:
Paul wrote Romans around 55-57 AD to the gentile Christian community in Rome to explain his gospel and theology, particularly the concept of the "righteousness of God" which is revealed through faith. Romans served to provide a complete exposition of Paul's message as Christianity had grown significantly in Rome within a decade, establishing a community despite persecution from the dominant pagan Roman society for their rejection of traditional gods. The letter had a profound impact on Christian thought and various theological doctrines have been derived from it.
This document provides an introduction and table of contents to the book "Ten Great Religions" by James Freeman Clarke. It outlines the objective of comparing the major world religions to understand their key characteristics, origins, truths and errors. Such comparative theology can furnish new evidence for Christianity by showing that it is adapted to all races, in contrast to ethnic religions that are partial. It also demonstrates that Christianity is progressively developing, while ethnic religions are arrested. The book aims to conduct this comparative analysis of Christianity and religions like Confucianism, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Scandinavian, Jewish and Islamic faiths.
The bible ,the quran & sciencee :
The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge.
Each of the three monotheistic religions possess its own collection of Scriptures. For
the faithful-be they Jews, Christians or Muslims-these documents constitute the
foundation of their belief. For them they are the material transcription of a divine
Revelation; directly, as in the case of Abraham and Moses, who received the
commandments from God Himself, or indirectly, as in the case of Jesus and
Muhammad, the first of whom stated that he was speaking in the name of the Father,
and the second of whom transmitted to men the Revelation imparted to him by
Archangel Gabriel.
If we take into consideration the objective facts of religious history, we must place the
Old Testament, the Gospels and the Qur'an on the same level as being collections of
written Revelation. Although this attitude is in principle held by Muslims, the faithful
in the West under the predominantly Judeo-Christian influence refuse to ascribe to the
Qur'an the character of a book of Revelation.
Such an attitude may be explained by the position each religious community adopts
towards the other two with regard to the Scriptures.
Judaism has as its holy book the Hebraic Bible. This differs from the Old Testament
of the Christians in that the latter have included several books which did not exist in
Hebrew. In practice, this divergence hardly makes any difference to the doctrine.
Judaism does not however admit any revelation subsequent to its own.
Christianity has taken the Hebraic Bible for itself and added a few supplements to it.
It has not however accepted all the published writings destined to make known to men
the Mission of Jesus. The Church has made incisive cuts in the profusion of books
relating the life and teachings of Jesus. It has only preserved a limited number of
writings in the New Testament, the most important of which are the four Canonic
Gospels. Christianity takes no account of any revelation subsequent to Jesus and his
Apostles. It therefore rules out the Qur'an.
This document provides an introduction and table of contents for a book that examines passages from the Bible, Gospels, and Quran in light of modern scientific findings. It discusses the authenticity of the sacred texts and how they have been interpreted over time. The introduction notes that each religion considers its own scriptures to be divine revelation but do not always extend that recognition to other faiths' texts. It argues that an objective analysis should consider all three scriptures equally.
The document provides an overview of Christianity, including its founder Jesus Christ, sacred texts of the Bible, core doctrines such as the Trinity, virgin birth of Jesus, his resurrection, and the last judgment. It also discusses Christian ethics centered around love and the Ten Commandments. The core teachings, beliefs, and issues of Christianity are examined through explaining its history and theological concepts.
En the trinity_is_not_a_biblical_beliefLoveofpeople
The Trinity is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible and was not a doctrine that Jesus or his followers preached. It was a doctrine that developed gradually over centuries through theological debates and controversies. Major Christian references acknowledge that the Trinity as it is understood today was not a part of early Christian teachings and was not fully formulated until the 4th century. The doctrine of the Trinity was established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE under Roman Emperor Constantine, rather than being derived directly from the Bible or teachings of Jesus.
Challenges and Controversies in Christian HistoryMark Pavlin
This slide deck study on selected topics in Christian history is one of a series to help leaders of a Bible study or Sunday School class who are too busy to research and prepare as well as they would like for the task. The entire series is engaging, colorful and challenging and is ready to go even at the last moment. More are in the works. Search using keyword "lessonstogo",
THE PLATONIC AND NEOPLATONIC TRADITIONS AND ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITYDr Ian Ellis-Jones
Excerpts from a major thesis written by Dr Ian Ellis-Jones - copyright Ian Ellis-Jones - all rights reserved - for information only - commercial use (except by copyright holder) prohibited
Christianity began in the 1st century CE as an offshoot of Judaism, centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is based on the belief that God sent his son Jesus to redeem humanity from sin. The Bible is Christianity's sacred text, comprised of the Old and New Testaments. Core beliefs include the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
aA Compilation of LDS or Mormon Church History Events by Dr. Doug Maughan including the Joseph Smith papers Complete Chronology. Prepared for Bro. Maughan's Fall 2013 Church History Class and LDS World Travel Church History Tour Summer 2013
Martin Luther, though he is definitely flawed, also has some very good advice in the section of his Large Catechism and Small Catechism on the Ten Commandments. Although we do need to push back when he starts calling the Pope names, the Second Vatican Council tells Catholics that their separated brothers in Christ have much to teach us.
Envy is always envy, and theft is always theft, and these evils are not made right when laws or courts or judges condone our thefts in business or when we inherit property. He illustrates his teaching with the story of Herod, and how his wife Herodias and her daughter Salome conspired to have John the Baptist beheaded.
We also examine the extreme anti-Semitism of Luther, and how several of his commentaries on the commandments of the Decalogue contain unnecessary virulent anti-Semitic comments and slanders. Unfortunately, Adolph Hitler was able to use Luther’s anti-Semitic writings to justify the Nazi policies of the Holocaust.
Blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/martin-luther-large-catechism-on-decalogue-do-not-envy-and-anti-semitism/
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books, we receive a small affiliate commission:
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Book of Concord, Including the Large and Small Catechism
https://amzn.to/3ghTJxK
This document provides an introduction to Gnosticism and the Gnostic Bible. It discusses how Gnostics sought direct knowledge of God without religious officials as intermediaries. Heresiologists condemned Gnostics as heretical threats, but Gnostic theology also influenced mainstream Christian thought. Gnostics embraced wisdom from diverse sources and provided innovative interpretations of creation stories, distinguishing a transcendent deity from a flawed creator. They believed gnosis, or direct knowledge, allowed salvation by reconnecting with the divine light within.
The 400-year period from 1517 to 1918 saw preparations for the Second Coming of Christ. This period was divided into three stages: 1) The Reformation from 1517-1648 which began with Martin Luther, 2) Religious and ideological conflicts from 1648-1789, and 3) The maturation of politics, economy and ideology from 1789-1918 ending with World War I. During the Middle Ages, feudalism and corruption in the Roman Church suppressed humanity's original nature, prompting movements like the Renaissance and Reformation to restore it. The Renaissance revived Hellenism and humanism while the Reformation revived the Hebrew faith tradition, centered on faith in God.
Let us vote on each of the sayings on Jesus, a red bead for each truly authentic saying of Jesus, a pink bead when the saying sure sounds like Jesus, gray, maybe, a black bead for a saying Jesus could not have said, although centuries of biblical scholars thought and taught otherwise.
Using this voting method, the self-appointed members of the Jesus Seminar in 1985 pronounced that only fifteen sayings were truly said by Jesus, while another seventy-five sayings were probably words of Jesus. There were a few eminent scholars in the group, most were middling academics, none were from the most eminent theological universities. But it was great television, great headlines, great press, controversial conspiracies, grabbing ten minutes of fame for this or that ignorant expert.
The original attendees of the Jesus Seminar have mostly been forgotten, with only a spare mention by Dr Wikipedia, but unfortunately the historical Jesus baton was passed to Bart Ehrman, one of the foremost textual critics of the New Testament, which means his specialty is examining the ancient Greek manuscript texts for variants. Dr Timothy Johnson wrote a book disputing the claims of the historical Jesus, The Real Jesus, which will be our main source. This book first looks back to the history of the church since the Reformation, and in the United States since World War II and the GI Bill, to understand how such beliefs can become widespread.
In addition to Professor Johnson's book, The Real Jesus, we will be consulting other works. If you wish to purchase these books, these links will help support our channel with a small affiliate commission:
The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels, by Luke Timothy Johnson
https://amzn.to/3b0f77J
The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth, by Ben Witherington III
https://amzn.to/3C82S4O
Scripture in Tradition: The Bible and Its Interpretation in the Orthodox Church, by John Breck
https://amzn.to/3E5Kmuh
The History of Christian Theology, Audiobook, by Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3m3l8qu
The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant, by John Dominic Crossan
https://amzn.to/3CaZaYi
Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith, by Marcus Borg
https://amzn.to/3puaHyk
The History of the Bible: The Making of the New Testament Canon, Audiobook, by Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3C6zQT2
The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History, Audiobook, by Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/2Zgcps4
These are my blogs on this topic:
https://wp.me/pachSU-5Z
https://wp.me/pachSU-63
https://wp.me/pachSU-7O
https://wp.me/pachSU-97
Martin Luther profoundly changed marriage and the family through his teachings during the Reformation. He rejected the Catholic tradition of celibacy and asceticism, seeing marriage as both natural and necessary. Luther placed high importance on marriage, women, children, and the home. He taught that the home should be the center of life and introduced practices like daily Bible reading, hymn singing, and catechism that made religion a central part of family life. Luther's views permanently altered how Christians viewed and conducted marriage, parenting, and the family role.
This document provides background on Robert P. Jones, an author who has written books on the history of American evangelicals, civil rights, and Republican politics. It discusses Jones' upbringing in the Baptist church in the South and his subsequent studies on American religion during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Civil Rights eras. The document notes that Jones' books explore the complicated history of how the Southern Baptist church approached issues of slavery and civil rights over time, from defending slavery before the Civil War to gradually becoming more supportive of racial justice issues in recent decades.
The document provides a brief history of the Catholic Church from the time of Christ and the Apostles to the Second Vatican Council. It describes how the Church was founded by Christ's command to spread the gospel to all nations. Key events included the persecution of early Christians under Roman emperors, the Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity, and the Great Schism that divided the Church into Western and Eastern branches. The Protestant Reformation led to new denominations but the Council of Trent initiated reforms and reaffirmed Catholic doctrine. The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s brought renewal and reforms to the modern Catholic Church.
Some where between heaven and earth lesson 6 church hist. 1Andre Fernandez
The document provides an overview of some key differences between Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism. It discusses the Great Schism of 1054 that resulted in the excommunication of the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church. Some key beliefs of Eastern Orthodoxy are outlined, such as the equal authority of scripture and tradition, the veneration of icons and saints, and salvation occurring through cooperation with God rather than predestination. Differences in views of the role of the church, clergy, and salvation are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of church history from the Apostolic Era (33-100 AD) to the Ante-Nicene Era (100-325 AD). It describes the authority and ministry of the apostles, the growth of the early Christian church, and the environment of the Roman Empire. It also discusses heretical movements like Gnosticism and challenges faced by the church such as Roman imperial persecutions during this time period.
This summary provides the context and purpose for Paul's letter to the Romans in 3 sentences:
Paul wrote Romans around 55-57 AD to the gentile Christian community in Rome to explain his gospel and theology, particularly the concept of the "righteousness of God" which is revealed through faith. Romans served to provide a complete exposition of Paul's message as Christianity had grown significantly in Rome within a decade, establishing a community despite persecution from the dominant pagan Roman society for their rejection of traditional gods. The letter had a profound impact on Christian thought and various theological doctrines have been derived from it.
This document provides an introduction and table of contents to the book "Ten Great Religions" by James Freeman Clarke. It outlines the objective of comparing the major world religions to understand their key characteristics, origins, truths and errors. Such comparative theology can furnish new evidence for Christianity by showing that it is adapted to all races, in contrast to ethnic religions that are partial. It also demonstrates that Christianity is progressively developing, while ethnic religions are arrested. The book aims to conduct this comparative analysis of Christianity and religions like Confucianism, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Scandinavian, Jewish and Islamic faiths.
The bible ,the quran & sciencee :
The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge.
Each of the three monotheistic religions possess its own collection of Scriptures. For
the faithful-be they Jews, Christians or Muslims-these documents constitute the
foundation of their belief. For them they are the material transcription of a divine
Revelation; directly, as in the case of Abraham and Moses, who received the
commandments from God Himself, or indirectly, as in the case of Jesus and
Muhammad, the first of whom stated that he was speaking in the name of the Father,
and the second of whom transmitted to men the Revelation imparted to him by
Archangel Gabriel.
If we take into consideration the objective facts of religious history, we must place the
Old Testament, the Gospels and the Qur'an on the same level as being collections of
written Revelation. Although this attitude is in principle held by Muslims, the faithful
in the West under the predominantly Judeo-Christian influence refuse to ascribe to the
Qur'an the character of a book of Revelation.
Such an attitude may be explained by the position each religious community adopts
towards the other two with regard to the Scriptures.
Judaism has as its holy book the Hebraic Bible. This differs from the Old Testament
of the Christians in that the latter have included several books which did not exist in
Hebrew. In practice, this divergence hardly makes any difference to the doctrine.
Judaism does not however admit any revelation subsequent to its own.
Christianity has taken the Hebraic Bible for itself and added a few supplements to it.
It has not however accepted all the published writings destined to make known to men
the Mission of Jesus. The Church has made incisive cuts in the profusion of books
relating the life and teachings of Jesus. It has only preserved a limited number of
writings in the New Testament, the most important of which are the four Canonic
Gospels. Christianity takes no account of any revelation subsequent to Jesus and his
Apostles. It therefore rules out the Qur'an.
This document provides an introduction and table of contents for a book that examines passages from the Bible, Gospels, and Quran in light of modern scientific findings. It discusses the authenticity of the sacred texts and how they have been interpreted over time. The introduction notes that each religion considers its own scriptures to be divine revelation but do not always extend that recognition to other faiths' texts. It argues that an objective analysis should consider all three scriptures equally.
The document provides an overview of Christianity, including its founder Jesus Christ, sacred texts of the Bible, core doctrines such as the Trinity, virgin birth of Jesus, his resurrection, and the last judgment. It also discusses Christian ethics centered around love and the Ten Commandments. The core teachings, beliefs, and issues of Christianity are examined through explaining its history and theological concepts.
En the trinity_is_not_a_biblical_beliefLoveofpeople
The Trinity is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible and was not a doctrine that Jesus or his followers preached. It was a doctrine that developed gradually over centuries through theological debates and controversies. Major Christian references acknowledge that the Trinity as it is understood today was not a part of early Christian teachings and was not fully formulated until the 4th century. The doctrine of the Trinity was established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE under Roman Emperor Constantine, rather than being derived directly from the Bible or teachings of Jesus.
Challenges and Controversies in Christian HistoryMark Pavlin
This slide deck study on selected topics in Christian history is one of a series to help leaders of a Bible study or Sunday School class who are too busy to research and prepare as well as they would like for the task. The entire series is engaging, colorful and challenging and is ready to go even at the last moment. More are in the works. Search using keyword "lessonstogo",
THE PLATONIC AND NEOPLATONIC TRADITIONS AND ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITYDr Ian Ellis-Jones
Excerpts from a major thesis written by Dr Ian Ellis-Jones - copyright Ian Ellis-Jones - all rights reserved - for information only - commercial use (except by copyright holder) prohibited
Christianity began in the 1st century CE as an offshoot of Judaism, centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is based on the belief that God sent his son Jesus to redeem humanity from sin. The Bible is Christianity's sacred text, comprised of the Old and New Testaments. Core beliefs include the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
aA Compilation of LDS or Mormon Church History Events by Dr. Doug Maughan including the Joseph Smith papers Complete Chronology. Prepared for Bro. Maughan's Fall 2013 Church History Class and LDS World Travel Church History Tour Summer 2013
CHRIST AND CULTURE To Reinie CHRIST AND CULTURE VinaOconner450
CHRIST AND CULTURE
To Reinie
CHRIST AND CULTURE
Copyright, 1 95 1 , by Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporate.ct,
Printed in the United States of America
All rights in this book are reserved.
No part of the book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written per
mission except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in critical articles and reviews. For
information address:
Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. ,
10 East 53rd Street, New York, N. Y. 10022.
First HARPER TORCHBOOK edition published 1956
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
]. The Enduring Problem
I. THE PROBLEM
II. TOW ARD A DEFINITION OF CHRIST
III. TOWARD THE DEFINITION OF CULTURE
IV. THE TYPICAL ANSWERS
2. Cbrist Against Culture
I. THE NE'V PEOPLE AND
"
THE WORLD
"
II. TOLSTOY
'
S REJECTION OF CULTURE
III. A NECESSARY AND INADEQUATE POSITION
IV. THEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
3. Tbe Cbrist of Culture
ix
xi
1
11
29
39
I. ACCOMMODATION TO CULTURE IN GNOSTICISM AND ABELARD 83
II.
"
CULTURE-PROTESTANTISM
"
AND A. RITSCHL 91
III. IN DEFENSE OF CULTURAL FAITH I 0 I
IV. THEOLOGICAL OBJECTIONS 108
4. Christ Above Culture
I. THE CHURCH OF THE CENTER
II. THE SYNTHESIS OF CHRIST AND CULTURE
III. SYNTHESIS IN QUESTION
5. Christ and Culture in Paradox
I. THE THEOLOGY OF THE DUALISTS
II. THE DUALISTIC MOTIF IN PAUL AND MARCION
n1. DUALISM IN LUTHER AND MODERN TIMES
lV. THE VIRTUES AND VICES OF DUAI.ISM
vii
116
120
141
viii CONTENTS
6. Christ the Transformer of Culture
I. THEOLOGICAL CONVICTIONS
II. THE CONVERSION MOTIF IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL
III. AUGUSTINE AND THE CONVERSION OF CULTURE
IV. THE VIEWS OF F. D. MAURICE
7. A "Concluding Unscientific Postscript"
I. CONCLUSION IN DECISION
II. THE RELATIVISM OF FAITH
III. SOCIAL EXISTENTIALISM
IV. FREEDOM IN DEPENDENCE
Index
230
234
24 1
249
257
FOREWORD
The present volume makes available in print and in expanded
form the series of lectures which Professor H. Richard Niebuhr
gave at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in January, 1 949,
on the Alumni Foundation. This lectureship was inaugurated in
1 945. Since that time the Seminary has had the privilege of present
ing to its students and alumni at the time of the midwinter convoca
tions the reflections of leading Christian thinkers on important
issues and, in part, of stimulating the publication of these refl.ec�
tions for the benefit of a wider audience.
The men and their subjects have been:
1945-Ernest Trice Thompson, Christian Bases of World Order
1946-Josef Lukl Hromadka, The Church at the Crossroads
1947-Paul Scherer, The Plight of Freedom
1948-D. Elton Trueblood, Alternative to Futility
194g-H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture
1950--Paul Minear, The Kingdom and the Power
1951 -G. Ernest Wright, God Who Acts
Dr. Niebuhr makes a distinguished contribution in this dear and
incisive study in Christian Ethics.
Austin Presbyterian Theological ...
History of Christianity (elementary-middle school). Nicene Creed. Constantinople vs. Rome. Roman Catholic vs. Eastern Orthodox. Spread of Christianity.
This document provides an overview of the objectives and content for a course on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It will cover key events from the establishment of the New Testament church through the apostasy and restoration. Students will read the assigned text to understand principles and apply them. Topics include the Great Apostasy, Renaissance/Reformation, discovery of America, religious freedom in the U.S., and providential timing for the restoration in 1830.
Over the first few centuries CE, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and local Christian communities developed their own traditions and leadership structures. This led to diversity and theological disagreements. A series of ecumenical councils were held to address heresies and establish orthodox Christian doctrine, such as the divinity of Christ. Key events that helped form the universal Catholic Church included Constantine's legalization of Christianity in 313 CE and the councils of Nicea in 325 CE and Chalcedon in 451 CE which defined core Christological doctrines. By the end of the 4th century, the biblical canon was largely fixed and the Nicene Creed provided a common foundation of belief for dispersed Christian communities to unite as one church.
A Christian (Adventist) Attempt to Integrate Faith and Historyniwres
The document discusses strategies for integrating faith and history in teaching and scholarship. It proposes developing a Christian worldview, confronting assumptions in the history discipline, studying revealed actions of God in history, allowing a Christian worldview to suggest topics and guide fact selection, applying Christian understandings of human nature and moral standards, and focusing on spiritual factors like the role of the Christian church. The goal is to examine history through insights from the Christian faith.
The document summarizes the rise of Christianity from the life of Jesus to the establishment of the Christian Church. It describes how Jesus' teachings led to the founding of Christianity after his death. It then explains how Christianity grew rapidly and eventually became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine. Key figures mentioned include Jesus, the apostles Peter and Paul, Emperor Constantine, and his mother Helena.
1. The document discusses the origins and early history of Christianity from the time of Jesus through the establishment of churches in the 1st and 2nd centuries.
2. It describes Jesus as a Jewish prophet and religious leader who was executed under Roman authority but whose followers believed he was resurrected.
3. Christianity rapidly established communities across the Roman Empire and the New Testament, comprised of writings from the 1st century, became the foundational text for the emerging religion.
St.Francis.Heytyrop.Penult.Version.4__Scott Thomas
1) The document discusses St. Francis of Assisi's meeting with Sultan Malek el-Kamel in 1213 during the Fifth Crusade and how this encounter has been portrayed and interpreted over time.
2) It questions whether Francis was on a mission of peace or supported the Crusades, as accounts of the meeting are limited and contradictory.
3) The document argues that critical theory and social constructivism perspectives from international relations can provide a framework for understanding how the encounter has been constructed and interpreted differently over hundreds of years.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Assessment and Planning in Educational technology.pptxKavitha Krishnan
In an education system, it is understood that assessment is only for the students, but on the other hand, the Assessment of teachers is also an important aspect of the education system that ensures teachers are providing high-quality instruction to students. The assessment process can be used to provide feedback and support for professional development, to inform decisions about teacher retention or promotion, or to evaluate teacher effectiveness for accountability purposes.
Physiology and chemistry of skin and pigmentation, hairs, scalp, lips and nail, Cleansing cream, Lotions, Face powders, Face packs, Lipsticks, Bath products, soaps and baby product,
Preparation and standardization of the following : Tonic, Bleaches, Dentifrices and Mouth washes & Tooth Pastes, Cosmetics for Nails.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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Training: ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System - EN | PECB
ISO/IEC 42001 Artificial Intelligence Management System - EN | PECB
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Training Courses - EN | PECB
Webinars: https://pecb.com/webinars
Article: https://pecb.com/article
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This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
Natural birth techniques - Mrs.Akanksha Trivedi Rama University
Early christian history syllabus
1. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Course Description
An introduction to the establishment, spread and development of the Christian faith up to and
including the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE, paying particular attention to major
trends, personalities, and events influencing the life of the church during the first five centuries
as it took shape in the Jewish culture and the Greco-Roman world. Primary sources in translation
and secondary church history sources will be used.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to understand the importance
of early Christian history and competently employ this knowledge in reading, research, and
ministry. This knowledge will also inform and contribute to a greater facility in dealing with the
New Testament, which is firmly rooted in the context of these earliest centuries.
finalsite, LiveText & Google+
This class will employ finalsite, LiveText & Google Plus to furnish online components to the
learning experience.
At the finalsite web site you will find copies of the syllabus and any other class materials in
Adobe Acrobat format, which you can view online and download. Also, you can utilize email
and threaded discussions to stay in contact with both the instructor and your fellow students. In
addition, announcements will be posted and a class calendar will be kept. You can reach the
course by going to Urshan Graduate School of Theology’s web site at http://www.ugst.edu. You
will need to click on the “Students” button and sign in using your username and password that
can be obtained from UGST when you sign up for the course.
The LiveText website will be used exclusively to receive all written assignments (with the
exception of the online postings). I will not receive the papers for this course via email. You
must use LiveText. You can reach the LiveText website at https://www.livetext.com. If you do
not have a LiveText account, please contact Carolyn Simoneaux, Registrar. Please note that all
submission times are based on Eastern Standard Time.
Finally, it is essential for you to utilize a feature of your UGST email, namely Google+. It is
through the hangout function of Google+ that the class will live connect when not in session on
campus. The instructions for setting up your Google+ can be found by clicking this link. At the
times stipulated either in the syllabus or via further communication, you need to log-in online to
your UGST email account from a computer with functioning webcam/microphone. Please do so
5 minutes before the stipulated time. You will then receive an invitation to join a “Hangout.”
If you need any assistance or if you would like to attempt a trial run, please contact Marjorie
Truman (314-921-9290 ext. 7110).
1
2. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Required Reading/Viewing (see reading/viewing requirements below)
* Also available in a Kindle Edition
John Philip Jenkins. Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors
Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years. New York, NY:
HarperCollins, 2011.*
In this fascinating account of the surprisingly violent fifth-century church, Philip Jenkins describes how
political maneuvers by a handful of powerful characters shaped Christian doctrine. Were it not for these
battles, today’s church could be teaching something very different about the nature of Jesus, and the papacy
as we know it would never have come into existence. Jesus Wars reveals the profound implications of what
amounts to an accident of history: that one faction of Roman emperors and militia-wielding bishops
defeated another.
Thomas F. Matthews. The Clash of Gods: A Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art. Princeton,
NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999.
Between the third and sixth centuries, the ancient gods, goddesses, and heroes who had populated the
imagination of humankind for a millennium were replaced by a new imagery of Christ and his saints.
Thomas Mathews explores the many different, often surprising, artistic images and religious interpretations
of Christ during this period. He challenges the accepted theory of the "Emperor Mystique," which,
interpreting Christ as king, derives the vocabulary of Christian art from the propagandistic imagery of the
Roman emperor. This revised edition contains a new preface by the author and a new chapter on the origin
and development of icons in private domestic cult.
Richard A. Norris. The Christological Controversy (Sources of Early Christian Thought).
Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1980.*
This book is a collection of texts designed to illustrate the development of Christian thought about the
person of Christ in the patristic era. The earliest text translated comes from the latter half of the second
century, when the ideas and problems, which were to dominate Christological thought in this period, were
first crystallized. The latest is the well-known "Definition of the Faith" of the Council of Chalcedon, which
generally has been accepted as defining the limits of Christological orthodoxy.
Cyril Richardson. Early Christian Fathers (Library of Christian Classics). New York, NY:
Touchstone, 1995.*
Richard E. Rubenstein. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ’s Divinity in the
Last Days of Rome. New York, NY: Mariner Books, 2000.*
The life of Jesus, and the subsequent persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire, have come to
define what many of us know about early Christianity. The fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots
within the Christian community as it was forming, however, is a story that is rarely told. Richard E.
Rubenstein takes readers to the streets of the Roman Empire during the fourth century, where a divisive
argument over the divinity of Jesus Christ was underway. Ruled by a Christian emperor, followers of Jesus
no longer feared for the survival of their monotheistic faith, but they found themselves in different camps—
led by two charismatic men—on the topic of Christian theology. Arius, an Alexandrian priest and poet,
preached that Jesus, though holy, is less than God, while Athanasius, a brilliant and violent bishop, saw any
diminution of Jesus' godhead as the work of the devil. Between them stood Alexander, the powerful Bishop
of Alexandria, in search of a solution that would keep the empire united and the Christian faith alive.
2
3. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Everett Ferguson. Church History, Volume 1: From Christ to Pre-Reformation. Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 2005.*
Church History offers a unique contextual view of how the Christian church spread and developed. It did
so not in a vacuum, but in a setting of times, cultures, and events that both influenced and were influenced
by the church. Church History looks closely at the integral link between the history of the world and that of
the church.
Volume one explores the development of the church from the days of Jesus to the years prior to the
Reformation. Filled with maps, charts, and illustrations, it offers overviews of the Roman, Greek, and
Jewish worlds; insights into the church’s relationship to the Roman empire, with glimpses into pagan
attitudes toward Christians; the place of art and architecture, literature and philosophy, both sacred and
secular; and much more, spanning the time from the first through the thirteenth centuries.
Empires – Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites. DVD. 2003.
Empires – The Roman Empire in the First Century. DVD. 2002.
Reading/Viewing Requirements (see required reading/viewing above)
The spine of the course is Everett Ferguson’s Church History, Volume 1: From Christ to Pre-
Reformation. We will be using the first 14 chapters (through Augustine, Pelagius, and
Semipelagianism).
Cyril Richardson’s Early Christian Fathers and Richard Norris’ The Christological Controversy
are collections of early Christian texts from the first five centuries, along with introductory
surveys of the period and the texts. It is from these books that you are to choose two primary
source texts to compare in your comparison paper and one additional primary source text for
your response paper. You are responsible for your exposure to this material, as well as the
introductions to each text.
Richard Rubenstein’s When Jesus Became God, John Philip Jenkin’s Jesus Wars, and Thomas
Matthews’ The Clash of Gods are to be read in their entirety.
You are also to view both DVDs in their entirety before classes commence. This represents over
7 hours of important information, which should not be shortchanged and is considered class time.
If you are totally unfamiliar with the story of the Roman Empire, it is suggested that you also
watch Rome – Power & Glory. DVD. 1998.
Course Requirements
Your performance in the class will be evaluated by the following items and grading schedule:
1) Online posting and class participation – 10%.
2) Primary Sources Papers (2)
a. Comparison Paper – 15%
b. Response Paper – 15%
3) Chronological Timeline Chart (to be submitted with the Final/Take Home Exam) – 10%.
4) A Final/Take Home Exam (1) – 50%.
3
4. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
This course by its very structure requires class attendance. It also requires that all reading be
completed before we begin class at UGST on Monday, June 24th. All Primary Sources Papers
must also be completed and submitted to the instructor two weeks before class begins.
TWO IMPORTANT NOTES:
First, all work must be completed and turned in on time. If it is late, it will not be graded and
thus the student will receive no credit for that work. Again, online posting (due: June 3), primary
source papers (due: June 10), chronological timeline and final/take home exam (due: July 29)
must be completed and turned in on time in order to be graded and receive credit. Late is the
same as if you did not do it. All work should be done according to academic integrity and
avoiding all forms of cheating and plagiarism.
Second, all work must be edited. Good writers find a way to edit their writing. Utilize the
Writing Center at Urshan College for learning the rules of grammar, crafting a thesis statement,
or going about the task of writing up your research. For help with editing, find a fellow
classmate that knows how to edit. If you turn in unedited work, it will cost you. Examples of a
lack of editing are run-on sentences, sentence fragments, inconsistent use of tense, spelling
errors, and obvious misuse or absence of punctuation. Unedited writing having greater than 3 of
these errors per page will receive a grade no higher than a 2.5 (B-). Unedited writing having
greater than 5 errors per page will receive no credit. This is not about how well you express
yourself. This is about a fundamental level of competence and excellence required in all written
materials.
Online Posting
You are required to complete a posting on the discussion board of the Early Christian History
class. This can be found on the class website.
Under the discussion entitled “Who Am I?”, you are to compose an introduction of yourself
including the following information—name, where you are from, educational background, status
at UGST (on-campus vs. distance learning vs. auditor; M.T.S. vs. MDiv. vs. MACM; first-year,
second year, third year, etc.), why you are taking Early Christian History and what you hope to
get out of it. Feel free to add other details to the introduction and please read everyone else’s
introduction.
This posting must be completed the first Monday in June (June 3). The posting should be a
separate posting within the “Who Am I?” discussion board. Please follow the example of the
professor.
Class Participation
Your vocal participation and interaction are essential to the success of the class and the
achievement of the course objectives. You must think, refine, question, articulate, and interact
with both your fellow students and the professor.
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5. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Primary Source Papers
The purpose of these short papers is to facilitate your knowledge of and interaction with some of
the key primary historical sources (the foundation of all modern forms of history) in early
Christian history. Without the primary sources, there is no history. The class sessions
themselves will be a sort of secondary source in which these (and other) primary sources are
discussed. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with all of these primary sources in
advance of the class, though no more than three of these may be used for the papers.
Comparison Paper
The primary source comparison paper should contain the following elements:
• no more than 4 and no less than 3 double-spaced typed pages (12 point font, 1” margins
all around and footnotes with consistent style);
• a comparison of two primary sources from early Christian history;
• the development and execution of an argument that explains how the two works under
consideration illustrate an aspect of the development of early Christian history;
• the argument must be based on the primary text and not on secondary sources. (For
example, one might argue that Paul was a radical Jew and cite passages from his letters.
An incorrect method for this paper would be to merely cite Daniel Boyarin’s book by that
name to make that argument.)
Response Paper
The primary source response paper should contain the following elements:
• 3 double-spaced typed pages (12 point font, 1” margins all around and footnotes with
consistent style);
• an in-depth examination of one primary source from early Christian history (not already
used in comparison paper);
• some supporting secondary sources may be briefly employed, but the argument must be
clearly your own;
• begin with historical context for the author and the text (approximately 1.5 pages);
• end with analysis and opinion concerning the significance and contribution of the text to
our understanding of church history (approximately 1.5 pages).
The student is to read the primary source(s), consult any secondary sources (see recommended
resources below and any others found in research) necessary for filling in the gaps in historical
context (whether for the student or for the paper), and then write each paper according to the
above-specified elements.
Chronological Timeline Chart
The chronological timeline chart—to be turned in with the final/take home exam—should be a
class-long project. The purpose is to allow you to gain a sense of time and connectedness
concerning the major trends, personalities, and events influencing the life of the church during
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6. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
the first five centuries. As you read in preparation for the class and write papers on the primary
sources, you should spend time plugging in people, places, events, writings, and any other items
which have struck you as having significance for the study of church history. There are no right
or wrong answers; however, time spent in organization and design will greatly influence both the
functionality of the chart and the value of your grade, though the timeline is more of a learning
aid than a measurement of learning or aptitude. The Chronological Timeline Chart will be due,
along with the Final/Take Home Exam, on Monday, July 29th.
Final/Take Home Exam
The final exam will be a take-home assignment that will be distributed at the conclusion of
classes. It will be comprehensive and will require the student to draw upon all of the work done
in the class to date. The Final/Take Home Exam will be due on Monday, July 29th.
Inclusive Language Policy
This class will follow Urshan Graduate School of Theology’s inclusive language policy: “All
faculty are expected to bring Christian sensitivity to gender issues in all relationships at the
graduate school, remembering our historic commitment to women in ministry. Appropriately
inclusive language should be used in the classroom and in written communications. In addition
to setting a good example, faculty should train students in their verbal and written expressions to
employ inclusive language.”
Contact Information and Office Hours
If you have any further questions or do not fully understand any part of the syllabus or the
structure of the class, please contact the Instructor.
Steven J. Beardsley Mobile: 302-709-1905
12 Balanger Road Church: 302-738-7899
Chapel Hill Email: sbeardsley@ugst.edu
Newark, DE 19711-3806
UGST Office: By appointment only
Home Office: By phone between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm EST
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7. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Class Schedule
Monday: 2-6 pm
Tuesday: 9-1 pm & 2-6 pm
Wednesday: 9-1 pm & 2-6 pm
Thursday: 9-1 pm & 2-6 pm
Friday: 9-12 pm & 1-3 pm
Class Timeline, Schedule, and Dates
April 1-June 24
Required Reading/Viewing
Reading primary sources and writing Primary Source Papers
Developing Chronological Timeline Chart
June 3
Online Postings due
June 10
All Primary Source Papers due
June 24-28
Classes on the campus of UGST
June 29-July 29
Completing Chronological Timeline Chart
Completing Final/Take Home Exam
July 29
Chronological Timeline Chart due
Final/Take Home Exam due
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8. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Course Recommended Resources
Marilyn McCord Adams. What Sort of Human Nature? Medieval Philosophy and the
Systematics of Christology. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1999.
Henry Chadwick. The Early Church. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1967.
F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, Eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd
Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Everett Ferguson, Ed. Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. New York, NY: Garland Publishing,
Inc., 1990.
Robin Lane Fox. Pagans and Christians. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986.
W.H.C. Frend. The Rise of Christianity. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1984.
Edward R. Hardy. Christology of the Later Fathers. Louisville and London: Westminster
John Knox Press, 1954.
Timothy Paul Jones. Christian History Made Easy. Torrance, CA: Rose Publishing, 1999.
J.N.D. Kelly. Early Christian Doctrines. Revised Edition. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row
Publishers, 1978.
__________. The Oxford Dictionary of Popes. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press,
1986.
Joseph H. Lynch. The Medieval Church: A Brief History. London and New York:
Longman, 1992.
Colin McEvedy. The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History. New York: Penguin,
1992.
John Meyendorff. Christ in Eastern Christian Thought. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s
Seminary Press, 1975.
Susan Lynn Peterson. Timeline Charts of the Western Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1999.
Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Cox, Eds. Ante-Nicene Fathers. 10
Vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1994.
Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Cox, Eds. Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers. First Series. 14 Vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1994.
Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Cox, Eds. Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers. Second Series. 14 Vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1994.
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9. Steven J. Beardsley June, 2013
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biblical Studies HT 501: Early Christian History
Robert C. Walton. Chronological and Background Charts of Church History. Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986.
Robert L. Wilken. The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press, 1984.
Frances M. Young. From Nicaea to Chalcedon; A Guide to the Literature and its
Background. London: SCM Press, 1983.
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