Christian History and Theology

Course Objectives

This course examines the rise and development of formative Christianity within the Roman Empire between the second and fifth centuries. Key areas of focus include:

• The formulation of Christian doctrines, theology, and practices
• The use of scripture and the emergence of the New Testament canon
• The formation of “orthodoxy” and “heresy”
• Interactions between Christians and non-Christians in Graeco-Roman society
• Developing an LDS approach to understanding ancient Christianity

Course Documents and Readings

• Syllabus
• Class Schedule
• Writing Assignment Instructions
• Book Review Instructions
• Sample Book Review 1
• Sample Book Review 2
• Approval Sheet for Book Review Book
• Paper Proposal Instructions
• Example of Annotated Bibliography
• Guidelines for Term Paper

Student Resources

• Basic Bibliographic Helps for Research, Christianity A.D. 100–400
• Useful Internet Resources on Early Christianity & Journals
• Lampe, Patristic Greek Lexicon (Preface and Abbreviations)
• Latin Dictionary: Christian Abbreviations
• SBL Handbook of Style
• Request Meeting to Discuss Paper

Optional Articles Mentioned in Class

• Blumell & Wayment, “The ‘Number of the Beast’: Revelation 13:18 and Early Christian Isopsephies
• Blumell & Dosoo, “A Coptic Magical Text for Virginity in Marriage”

Readings for Class by Date

September 4

• Blumell, “Scripture as Artifact”
• Optional: Primary Sources for Jewish Revolt

Lecture Slides

• Background: NT & Jewish Revolt
• Apostolic Fathers & Didache
• 1 & 2 Clement

September 12

Lecture Slides

• Ignatius of Antioch
• Epistle to Diognetus

September 19

• Tacitus, Annals 15.44
• Pliny, Epistles 10.95–96
• Hadrian’s Rescript to Minucius Fundanus

Lecture Slides

• Christianity in the Roman World

September 26

• The Martyrdom of Polycarp
• Origen, Exhortation to Martyrdom
• Tertullian, To the Martyrs
• Optional: Martyrs of Lyon

Lecture Slides

• Early Christian Apologetic Discourse

October 3

• Justin, 1 Apology
• Justin, 2 Apology
• Optional: Minucius Felix, Octavius
• Optional: Tertullian, Apology

October 10

• Epiphanius, Panarion 42
• Muratorian Canon
• Ptolemy, Letter to Flora
• Gospel of Truth
• Optional: Irenaeus, Against Heresies (selections)

Lecture Slides

• Marcion and Textual Criticism
• Gnosticism

October 17

• Blumell, “Textual Criticism”
• Blumell, “Luke 22:43–44: An Anti-Docetic Interpolation?”
• Optional: Blumell, “A Text-Critical Comparison of the KJV NT”

Lecture Slides

• The Text of the Bible

October 24

• Protevangelium of James
• Gospel of Peter
• Secret Gospel of Mark
• Optional: Robinson, “Noncanonical Sayings of Jesus”

Lecture Slides

• Non-Canonical Gospels
• Anti-Christian Literature

October 31

• Dionysius of Alexandria, Letter about Edict of Decius
• Novatian, On the Trinity
• Hippolytus, Against Noetus
• Optional: Cyprian, Epistles 17, 18, 20, 23, 27, 55
• Optional: Cyprian, On the Lapsed

Lecture Slides

• The Church in the Third Century
• Decius, Valerian, and the Christians
• The Church in Rome in the Third Century

November 7

Lecture Slides

• Tertullian and Origen
• Eusebius of Caesarea

November 14

• Constantine: Primary Sources
• Edict of Milan
• Acts of Phileas
• Optional: Martyrs of Palestine

Lecture Slides

• The Great Persecution
• The Constantinian Revolution

November 28

• Nicaea: Primary Sources
• Blumell, “Rereading Nicaea and Its Creed”

Lecture Slides

• The Council of Nicaea

December 5

• Aftermath of Nicaea
• Athanasius, Festal Letter 39
• Optional: Jerome, Life of Paul of Thebes

Lecture Slides

• The Council of Nicaea

December 12

• Didymus, On the Holy Spirit
• Optional: Imperial Laws and Christianity