Period I - The Early and Medieval Church - History of Christian Theology

1 – Polytheism

In order to understand the origins and revolutionary nature of Christian theology, it is important to view it in proper relief against the religions in the region at the time of Jesus’s birth. Besides Judaism, which we will discuss in a subsequent lecture, various forms of polytheism dominated the religious landscape at the time Christianity came on the scene. . . . more

Hinduism & Buddhism

Egyptian

Greco-Roman Paganism

Middle Eastern Paganism

Zoroastrianism

2 – The Greco-Roman World

Judaism gave birth to Christianity in a Greco-Roman world where Christianity’s Jewish roots merged with the Roman imperial culture and Greek philosophical ideas to mold Christianity into the institution it became in the early Church and through the Middle-Ages. . . . more

Reason, Oracles and Mystery Cults

Greco-Roman Culture

3 – Christianity’s Jewish Roots

In order to understand Christianity, it is essential to grasp the importance of the following concepts and history to the Jewish community at the time of Christ’s birth:

Monotheism

God’s Covenant with his chosen People

King David and the Temple in Jerusalem

The Babylonian Captivity and Return to Jerusalem

4 – A World in Conflict

Jesus was born into a Jewish world swirling with conflict from the tensions created by:

The Greek Occupation and the Maccabean Revolt

The Diaspora and the Rise of Rabbinical Judaism

The Pharisee, Sadducee, and Essene sects, and

Roman oppression

5 – The Messiah

The Son of God was born and lived in Judah where he quietly changed the world. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus established his divine role as the Savior of the World. He:

Proclaimed his divinity and performed miracles

Taught a gospel of faith, hope and love

Organized a movement

Was crucified and rose from the dead

Charged his disciples to teach all nations

6 – The Apostolic Period – Growth and Transformation (pending)

During the Apostolic Period Christianity was transformed from a small localized Jewish cult into a rapidly growing multi-cultural religion sustaining pressures from outside persecution and internal conflict due largely to the following factors:

Jewish persecution
Paul’s mission to the gentiles
Paul’s epistles
Judaizers
Rise of the Greek Gnostic influence
The written Gospels and epistles from other Church leaders
Roman persecution

7 – Gnosticism and Other Heresies

As the number of gentile converts began to outstrip the number of Jewish members, the influence of Neo-Platonist and other heretical ideas infiltrated the Church giving birth to a number of popular heresies, including:

Docetism
Adoptionism
Gnosticism
Marcionism
Montanism
Neo-Platonism
Manichaeism

8 – Roman Persecution ― Martyrdom

As the movement grew, Christian’s refusal to pay homage to Caesar’s divinity drew the ire of Roman emperors who unleashed waves of intense persecution for nearly two hundred and fifty years. However, instead of hampering the growth of Christianity, often the blood of the martyrs seemed to fertilize the seeds of faith sown by the testimony of its believers including the following Apostolic Fathers:

Ignatius of Antioch
Polycarp
Clement of Rome

9 – Apologists & Internal Debate

This period of persecution and internal divisions inspired apologetic and theological writing from several Christian intellectuals including:

Justin Martyrs
Irenaeus
Origin
Tertullian
Cyprian
Historians

10 – Early Developments in Church Structure & Practices

The rapid growth of Christianity strained its fractured leadership organization resulting in various developments in its structure and practices, including:

Method of selecting priests and bishops
Geographical hierarchical units
The Easter Controversy
Baptism of infants and by sprinkling
Pageantry incorporated

11 – Constantine

The Emperor Constantine’s adoption of Christianity as the state religion ushered in the greatest changes to the Church that had occurred since the death of the Apostles. This dynamic period changed the course of history, so it is essential to study what happened in order to fully understand our world today, including a review of the following issues:

Constantine’s Conversion Story
From Outlawed to Favored Status – Material Benefits
Conversion for convenience
Radical shift in internal attitudes
More organizational and ceremonial developments

12 – Early Monasticism (pending)

Little did the hermit, Anthony, imagine that he would inspire arguably the greatest influence on Christian Theology since the Apostles.

Inspired by pilgrimages to Greek oracles and
In a reaction to the less arduous Christian life after Constantine
Many devote Christians sought unity with the divine by withdrawing from society through monastic living.
They became the foot soldiers of orthodoxy who even defeated the Roman Army at Alexandria.
The monastic system that they established became the source of the majority of subsequent popes, scholasticism and the advent of universities.

13 – The Donatist Controversy

A local dispute regarding a congregation’s rejection of a new bishop because he had not been faithful during a period of persecution led to a Churchwide pivotal controversy regarding:

Worthiness and Authority
The validity of ordinances
Local autonomy verses the pre-eminence of the Bishop of Rome
Councils
Ties between the Church and State

14 – The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, which grew out of the Arian controversy, replaced the dominate Logos-centered Christian theology which placed Jesus as an intermediary between humans and God and subordinated the Son to the Father. . . . more

The Arian Controversy

First Council of Nicaea

The Arian Controversy

The Nicene Creede

The Mystery of the Trinity

15 – The Incarnation Controversy

16 – Councils, Emperors and the Rise of the Roman Papacy (pending)

17 – The Bible (pending)