| Fall 2008 7:00-9:45 T University Center |
C M Lehmann Office Hours: 11-12 TTh East Hall 210, 5573, clehmann@usd.edu |
This course treats the emergence of Christianity and the early history of the Christian Church within the pagan, and then Christian, Roman Empire. Through readings in and discussions on ancient texts and modern interpretations, through lectures and presentations, and through research and writing in a specific problem, the student will become familiar with the development of the Early Church in its historical context and with the techniques and discoveries of modern historians, archaeologists, and textual critics.
Students must fulfill the following requirements: midterm and final examinations (50 points each), one 15-20-minute presentation in class (25 points), and a short (5-10 pp) research paper on a topic approved in discussion with the instructor (75 points). Grading: of a total of 200 possible points, 180-200 = A, 160-79 = B, 140-59 = C, 120-39 = D. A student who expects to miss more than one meeting should consult the instructor in the first week. Students who miss class will either find themselves dropped from the class roster or they will receive a reduced final grade.
The class report will be scheduled by the second meeting. Click here for suggested topics.
Graduate students must fulfill the above requirements, omitting the examinations and with the exception that the term paper is to be a major research paper based on ancient sources and demonstrating familiarity with and a critical attitude toward modern interpretations.
Start your research with the textbook, then consult the following resources
The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed Everett Ferguson, 2 vols (New York: Garland, 1997); in I D Weeks reference collection BR162.2 .E53.
L'année philologique (Z7016.M35A); also available on-line in I D Weeks library (you have to be in the library to make this work)
Students must have the following books, which are available at the bookstore:
Henry Chadwick. The Early Church. Penguin History of the Church vol 1. Rev ed. London and New York: Penguin, 1993. 0140231994
Maxwell Staniforth, trans. Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers. Rev ed. London and New York: Penguin, 1987. 0140444750
Augustine. The Confessions. Trans Rex Warner. New introduction and afterward by Martin E Marty. New York: Signet Classics, 2001. 0451527801
The Bible (recommended version: The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version,College Edition. Oxford and New York: Oxford Univ Press, 2007. 0195288823
Recommended: Kate L Turabian. A Manual for Writers. 7th ed. Chicago: Univ of Chicago Press, 2007. 0226823377
| 2 Sept | Introduction; Hellenistic and Jewish Background (Chadwick ch 1) |
| 9 Sept | Christianity and Jewish Sectarianism;
NT Criticism (Mark and handout) Reports: Philo Judaeus, Qumran |
| 16 Sept | Paul and the Gentiles (Chadwick,
ch 2, Acts of the Apostles, Galatians) Report: Date of Jesus's Birth |
| 23 Sept | Authority and Unity in the First Century Church
(Chadwick ch 2) Disc: The letters of Clement and Ignatius and the Didache (in Staniforth) |
| 30 Sept | The Blood of the Martyrs Disc: The letter and martyrdom of Polycarp (Staniforth) Deadline: Have paper topic approved |
| 7 Oct | Eusebius; The Expansion of Christianity (Chadwick ch 3) |
| 14 Oct | The Apologetic Movement
(Chadwick chs 4-6); Crisis and Conversion; The Third Century Reports: Justin Martyr, Origen, Mithraism |
| 21 Oct |
Early Christian Art and Architecture I
and
II Report: Icons |
| 28 Oct | MIDTERM EXAMINATION Study guide |
| 4 Nov | The Persecutions
(Chadwick ch 7) Reports: Imperial Legislation Concerning the Christians, Roman Citizenship Deadline: Submit preliminary bibliography |
| 18 Nov | Constantine and the Christian Empire
(Chadwick chs 8-9); The Pagan Reaction and Christian Triumph
(Chadwick chs 10-11) Report: Constantinople, Constantine's Dream, Julian the Apostate, Egeria and Christian Pilgrimage |
| 25 Nov | Asceticism (Chadwick
ch 12); Orthodoxy and Heresy
(Chadwick ch 13) Reports: Symeon Stylites, Gnosticism, Nag Hammadi Library, John Chrysostom Deadline: Term paper due |
| 2 Dec | The Trinitarian and
Christological Controversies (Chadwick ch 14); The Ecumenical Councils Report: Council of Nicaea |
| 9 Dec | The Byzantine State
and The Church in the West
(Chadwick chs 15-18) Report: Theodosius the Great, The Papacy, Gregory the Great Discussion: Augustine's Confessions 1-9 Deadline: Revised term paper due (optional) |
16 Dec FINAL EXAMINATION,
8-10 PM
Study guide