COS 222-Kinghorn-Syllabus

COS 222 Theological Heritage II Early Church

Kenneth Kinghorn, Instructor

Course Description This course is an introduction to the development of Christian theological heritage through the first five centuries. The sessions focus on the central historical figures, movements, methods, and doctrinal issues, with attention to their theological significance for Christian ministry today.

I. General Goals • To understand and appreciate the Christian Tradition, so as to see that our generation lives in connection with its rich Christian heritage. • To grasp the historical expressions of the church that defined its community and mission. • To comprehend the issues that motivated the Church to develop its beliefs, practices, and structures. • To understand and appreciate the history of Christian thought and the challenges, misunderstandings, and to which the church responded. • To learn to distinguish between form and content. • To gain insights into the nature and practice of Christian ministry. • To evaluate one’s Christian vocation in the light of the obstacles and opportunities, in the context of the church’s Christian heritage.

II. Specific Goals • To understand and articulate the doctrine of the Trinity, and the historical debates in the early church around the nature of Christ. • To understand and articulate a doctrine of salvation in the light of the controversies of the early church. • To understand the history and significance of the creeds and ecumenical councils. • To appropriate historical theology for pastoral ministry.

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COS 222-Kinghorn-Syllabus

C. Texts Required Reading 1. González, Justo L., The Story of Christianity , Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, Paperback. (Vol. 2 will be used for COS 322.) 2. Bondi, Roberta, To Love as God Loves Paperback. 3. Bettenson, Henry; Maunder, Chris, Documents of the Christian Church , 4 th edition.

Suggested Additional Reading 1. The Baker Atlas of Christian History , ed. Tim Dowley. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996. 2. McKim, Donald K., Theological Turning Points: Major Issues in Christian Thought . ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Before the class begins, prepare two papers, double-spaced, about six pages in length.

First paper: The theology of the Apostles Creed and the creeds produced by the four Ecumenical Councils of 325, 381, 431, and 451. Apply the theology of these ancient landmark documents to the needs, challenges, and opportunities in the United Methodist Church.

Second paper: Discuss the theological contributions of Augustine to catholic theology, the sacraments, Manicheism, and . Show Augustine’s relevance for the church today.

• Paginate your written work. • Include the titles of your papers and the section headings within them. • Always proof read your papers carefully. • ALPS standards require that class members submit written work before the deadline. An automatic reduction of one grade letter is required for work received after the stated closing date for submitted work. ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷

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COS 222-Kinghorn-Syllabus

Outline of the Class Sessions

I. The Fullness of Time This lecture examines the preparation of the world for the coming of Christ. The class looks at the religious and cultural milieu of the world in which Christianity took root. Read González, pages 13–23. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 1–4.

II. The Early Church Organizes The class will look at the early Christian congregations with respect to their worship, ministry, organization, and status in the Roman world. READ GONZÁLEZ , 25–39. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 28–33; 66–70.

III. Public Worship and Christian Fine Arts The class will look at the early developments of public worship, the sacraments, Christian art, hymns, and music, as well as early forms of Christian devotion and spiritual formation. Read González, 105–117. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 25–28; 70–71. Read Bondi, pages 9–56.

IV. The Early Church and the Roman Government to 311. This session deals with church-state relationships in the first centuries of Christianity. Read González, , pages 97–104; 119–126 Read Bettenson & Maunder, , pages 7–16.

V. Early Heresies This lecture deals with , error, apostasy, and schism. The class focuses on the major Jewish and Gentile heresies, which threatened the church. Read González, pages 69–81; 173–179. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 37–52; 55–57; 83.

VI. The Apostolic Fathers This class session deals with the major Christian writers in the decades immediately following the writers of the New Testament—Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Hermas, Polycarp, Barnabas, the Epistle to Diogenetus, 2 Clement, and the Didache. Read González, pages 83–93. Read Bondi, pages 78–100.

VII. The Apologists This unit covers those Christian writers who first took up the task of making a reasoned defense and recommendation of their faith to educated non-Christian scholars and philosophers. Read González, pages 93–96; 209–252. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 33–37; 60–66; 74–83.

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COS 222-Kinghorn-Syllabus

VIII. Christianity Becomes a State Church This unit traces the shift from small, persecuted congregations to a large state-supported church. This turning point can be associated with the “conversion” of Constantine in 313. Read González, pages 131–155. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 17–24. Read Bondi, pages 101–109.

IX. The Ecumenical Councils The early fourth- and fifth-century church worked out its Christology and its Trinitarian formula in four major Ecumenical Councils—Nicea (325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), and Chalcedon (451). Of special importance are the doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, and salvation. Read González, pages 186–207. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 26–28.

X. Early Church Schisms Students will consider the nature and implications of schism in the church. Class discussion focuses on the ancient Christological heresies, as well as Novatianism, , and Pelagianism and their relevance for today. Read González, pages 173–186.

XI. Major Christian Theologians Students will become acquainted with the major writers who do not fit into the general categories already covered. The class will consider the Alexandrian and Anthiochian schools, as well as such towering as Irenaeus, Clement and Origen of Alexandria, Tertullian, , Ambrose, and Augustine. Read González, pages 85–96; 210–252.

XII. The Beginning of the Read González, pages 253–261; 295–313. Read Bettenson & Maunder, pages 84–87.

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