General information

• Study points: 6.00
• Language: English
• Category: Lectures
• Duration: 52.0 hours 
• Periodicity: Taught every three years (2011-2012, 2014-2015, ...)
• POC: POC Theology and Religious Studies

Taught by

Lamberigts Mathijs
Dupont Anthony (cooperator)

Aims

Content

After a short introduction in which an answer will be given to the question why to study Early Church History, the following items will be dealt with:

• The early Christian Communities in/and the Roman Empire (the political, economic and social situation of the Roman Empire; the origin and development of Christianity in a Jewish and Hellenistic context)
• The development of a Christian theology (use of the Bible; origin of Creeds; Councils; religious life; ascetism and monasticism)
• The development of the notion orthodoxy
• The writings of the Fathers (Greek patrology; Latin patrology)
• Texts of important authors will be read by way of reading seminars.

Course Material

• Course notes will be available. They will mainly be based on J. MCMANNERS, The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, Oxford-New York, 1990.
• Further Literature: B. RAMSEY, Beginning to Read the Fathers, New York-Mahwah, 1985; Early Christianity. Origins ans Evolution to A.D. In Honour of W.H.C. Frend, edited by I. HAZLETT, London, 1991.

Evaluation description

Examination type:
    oral with written preparation
Evaluation type:
    Closed book

Explanation

Written preparation and oral presentation. Questions: some examples

• Describe the important areas of unity in the Roman Empire.
  
  
  
• How did the first Christians teach Scripture?
  
  
  
• What are the main reasons for the specification 'ecumenical' council?
  
  
  
• Describe the Gnostic movement.
  
  
  
• Why is Tertullian so important for the Western patristic theology?
  
  
  
• Anthony and Pachomius are examples of two different forms of ascetism. Explain.