The Church established by the life and teaching of Christ and the witness of His Apostles and disciples underwent tremendous growth and change during the three centuries following the Resurrection and Pentecost experience.  This course examines fifteen fundamental issues that underlay this change and growth. Its aim is to do so on a level that moves beyond superficial discussion and answers through deep and personal exploration of the sources we have from this era and the scholarship that reflects their earlier study. The issues chosen are theological, cultural, historical, ecclesiological, philosophical, and sociological, and though perennial, represent some of the “hottest” areas of early Church study today.

   The student in this course should have already had either Honors 1220/1221 (or, with permission, be currently taking it) or REL 3310 (Church History I). The heart of the course will be our Tuesday Colloquia during which we will discuss in-depth the individual reading that each student has done on the assigned topic, comparing sources and scholarly conclusions. Each Thursday the new topic will be introduced and outlined by the instructor and the student who has chosen the question as her or his own. The basic sources will be laid out and assigned and students may present their own understanding of the issues and questions that illuminate them. The Tuesday Colloquia should reflect the full range of questions and approaches developed each Thursday. The student who chooses this course must be prepared to do a moderate amount of regular reserve or on-line reading in addition to the three assigned texts, and be willing to participate openly in the discussions on both class days each week.  

Eusebius, History of the Church, Penguin

Bart Ehrmann, After the New Testament:
    A Reader in Early Christianity, Oxford

Robin Jensen, Understanding Early Christian    
    Art, Routledge