History of Christianity I: From Jerusalem to Chang'An BGST-2022-S1-CH101
Discover how the rich spiritual legacies are relevant to you and learn to construct your own historical papers.
History of Christianity I is the first of a two course survey (3 credits each) on the history of Christianity over the last 2,000 years.
The course aims to identify the significant historical movements in the first 1,500 years of church history and consider their influence and relevance for contemporary Christians, especially those living in Asia. We begin with the theological, historical and spiritual developments in what John Calvin calls the ‘Golden Age of the Church’, that is, the age of the church fathers (2nd to 5th centuries). From here, we then examine the history of three major streams of Christianity, namely the Orthodox, Oriental and Western (Latin) Christianities, from the Middle Ages right up to the pre-Reformation period.
Topics to be discussed include the formation of the biblical canon and how this affects our Christian beliefs, the challenge of evangelism and Christian living in a multi-cultural and religious society like the Roman Empire, the insights that we may gain from the Nestorian evangelization of China in the 8th century, and the legacy of medieval theology and spirituality for modern day Christianity.
The guiding principle is to consider the relevance of these historical movements for contemporary Protestant / Evangelical Christianity.
Dr Lai Pak-Wah
Digital Theological Library
BGST Overdrive
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CH101 Course Synopsis
FREE PREVIEWIntroduction
Historiography Lecture Slides
Whirlwind Tour of Church History: An Overview
Whirlwind Tour of Church History Lecture Slides
Patristic Christianity I
Background to Early Christanity Lecture Slides
Scripture and Canon Lecture Slides
Article: Introduction to Church History Bradley and Mueller
How to Write Historical Paper Lecture Slides
CH101 How to write Historical-Theological Papers
Epistle to Diogentus
Reading: The Didache
Patristic Christianity II - online
Doctrine of Salvation : From OT to NT Lecture Slides
Pre Nicene Doctrine of salvation Lecture Slides
Post Nicene Doctrine of Salvation Lecture text
Post Nicene Doctrine of Salvation Lecture Slides
Patristic Christianity III
Christian Martyrdom Lecture Slides
Christian Monasticism Lecture Slides
Augustine and his legacy Lecture Slides
Reading the Martyrdom of Polycarp
Byzantine Christianity I: The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent
Origins of Byzantium to Ecclesiastical Reforms in the 7th Century
The Rise & Impact of Islam
Origins of Byzantium Lecture Slides
Lecture MCQ Questions 4.1
Lecture MCQ Questions 4.2
Byzantine Christianity II
The Iconoclastic Controversy Lecture Slides
The Flourish and Decline of Byzantium Lecture Slides
Reading : against those who Attack the holy images - John Damacuscus
Christianities in Asia I
Historical Overview Lecture Slides
Monophytsites Lecture Slides
Lecture MCQ Questions 5.1
Lecture MCQ Questions 5.2
Christianities in Asia II
Nestorians in Persia Lecture Slides
Nestorians in China Lecture Slides
Reading: Chinese Nestorian Texts
Lecture MCQ Questions 6
Medieval Christianity in the West I
The Rise and conversion of the west Lecture Slides
Papal-Frankish Alliance / Carolingian Renaissance / Church in Disarray Lecture SlidesFile
Reading: Ecclesiastical History - Bede
Lecture MCQ Questions 7
Medieval Christianity in the West II
Monastic and Papal Reforms / Crusades Lecture Slides
The New Religious Orders Lecture Slides
Reading: Crusade Texts
Lecture MCQ Questions 8
Medieval Christianity in the West III
Black Death Avignon Popes and Papal Schism Lecture Slides
Medieval Scholasticism / The Renaissance / Medieval Church Lecture Slides
Reading: On Humility and Pride - Bernard of Clairvaux