Early Church History: From the Fall of Jerusalem to the Rise of Augustine

COURSE OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

This course covers the history of the early Christian church, from the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD to the influence of St. Augustine in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. Students will explore key events, theological developments, and figures that shaped the foundations of Christian thought and practice. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

• The Holy Bible (Translation: Student’s Choice)
• Church History in Plain Language (Bruce L. Shelley)

Reading Assignments (25% of Final Grade)

• The reading of assigned sections from the required text is a very important component of this course. They are listed below under each of the video links.

Notebook Assignment (25% of Final Grade)

• Keep a notebook devoted specifically to this course. Organization of materials is important to make them accessible for future use. At the end of the course, you will be asked to submit a photo of your notes as part of your requirements for this course.

Final Examination (50% of Final Grade)

• The final examination will be distributed during the last scheduled class. Students will be given one month to complete the exam and return it to the instructor. This can be done through the class website. Students are allowed to use the notes and books from class during the test but not allowed to search the internet for answers (this will be on the honor system).

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THE VIDEOS ALONG WITH CLASS NOTES AND MATERIAL IS UNDER THE CURRICULUM TAB ON THIS PAGE

Reading Assignments (Read and Take Notes):

• Week 1 Textbook: Ch. 3 Only Worthless People: Catholic Christianity 
• Week 2 Textbook: Ch. 5 Arguing About the Event: The Rise of Orthodoxy 
• Week 3 Textbook: Ch. 6 The Rule of Books: The Formation of the Canon 
• Week 4 Textbook: Ch. 8 Apostles to Intellectuals: The Alexandrians 
• Week 5 Textbook: Ch. 9 Laying Her Scepter Down: The Conversion of an Empire 
• Week 6 Textbook: Ch. 10 Splitting Important Hairs: The Doctrine of the Trinity 
• Week 7 Textbook: Ch. 11 Emmanuel: Christ in the Creeds 
• Week 8 Textbook: Ch. 13 The Sage of the Ages: Augustine 

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How to Complete the Course:

After you have watched all the video lectures, taken notes for each class, and completed the required reading, please follow these steps to complete the course:

• Email us at [email protected] to let us know you’ve finished the coursework and are ready to commence with your Final Examination. Along with your message, please attach a single photo of your course notebook for our records.
• Once we receive your submission, a member of our admin team will confirm receipt. At that point, you will have four weeks to complete and submit your Final Examination.
• When your Final Examination is complete, send an email to [email protected] and let us know you have finished. One of our instructors will review and grade your work. If a passing grade is achieved, we will issue and email you a digital certificate of completion.