Some people believe the strand of Christianity that eventually merged with the government and became dominant is the authentic original form. Others believe Christianity got off track immediately after the first century and has not been restored until recent times. This class will put you in touch with what really happened. As it turns out, there were quite a few Christian groups that competed for adherents in the first few centuries. Some of these groups maintained key New Testament beliefs and practices while others mutated under pressure from philosophy, society, and the government. This class will cover what happened in the main Christian groups in the first five centuries of our history in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
You will see how Church-State relations changed over time. We’ll cover groups like Jewish Christians, the Gnostics, and the Dynamic Monarchians. You will become familiar with key figures such as Origen of Alexandria, Paul of Samosata, Augustine of Hippo. We’ll trace doctrinal developments with regard to Christology, the kingdom of God, and gifts of the spirit. And you will learn how to access primary sources so you can conduct your own research in topics of interest.
