CLA 111 – Early Church History 1&2 – 3 Units

📘 Course Overview

CLA 111 – Early Church History (1 & 2) (3 Units) introduces students to the development of Christianity from the Apostolic Age through the Medieval period. It explores the people, events, theological debates, and cultural contexts that shaped the early church. The course is usually divided into two parts:

• Part 1: Apostolic and Patristic Era (1st–4th centuries)
• Part 2: Councils, Doctrinal Development, and Medieval Christianity (5th–10th centuries)

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Identify key figures (apostles, church fathers, emperors, reformers).
• Understand the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
• Analyze theological controversies (Trinity, Christology, canon formation).
• Evaluate the role of councils (Nicaea, Chalcedon, Constantinople).
• Trace the development of monasticism and missionary movements.
• Discuss the relationship between church and state in late antiquity.

🗂 Course Content Outline

Unit 1: The Apostolic Age (1st Century)

• The life and mission of the apostles.
• The spread of Christianity in the Roman world.
• Persecution under Roman authorities.
• Formation of the New Testament canon.

Unit 2: The Patristic Era (2nd–4th Centuries)

• Early apologists (Justin Martyr, Tertullian).
• The role of bishops and the rise of church hierarchy.
• Theological debates: Gnosticism, Arianism, Montanism.
• Constantine and the legalization of Christianity.

Unit 3: Councils and Doctrinal Development (4th–6th Centuries)

• Council of Nicaea (325) and the Nicene Creed.
• Council of Chalcedon (451) and Christological debates.
• Augustine of Hippo and the doctrine of grace.
• The rise of monasticism (Anthony, Benedict).

Unit 4: The Medieval Church (6th–10th Centuries)

• Missionary expansion (Patrick in Ireland, Boniface in Germany).
• The papacy and its growing influence.
• Theological contributions of Gregory the Great.
• The tension between Eastern and Western Christianity.

📚 Suggested Readings

• William J. Bennett, Tried by Fire: The Story of Christianity’s First Thousand Years (2018).
• Sinclair B. Ferguson, In the Year of Our Lord: Reflections on Twenty Centuries of Church History (2018).
• Henry Chadwick, The Early Church (Penguin Classics).

📝 Assignments & Activities

• Reflection Papers: Discuss how early church struggles resonate with modern Christianity.

📊 Assessment

• Quizzes on key dates and figures.
• Midterm exam covering Apostolic & Patristic eras.
• Final exam covering Councils & Medieval Christianity.
• Research paper (8–10 pages) on a chosen figure or controversy.