Early Christianity - Syllabus
Term 1
WEEK
1 Introduction - Aims, Objectives, Methods 2 The Gospels as Sources for Provincial Life
The Life and Death of Jesus
3 Pauline Teaching
Pauline Missionary Activity
4 Pauline Missionary Activity
Pagan Views of Christians in the First and Second Centuries
5 Christian Literature in the First to Third Centuries I (Apostolic Fathers to Apocryphal Gospels and Acts)
Christian Literature in the First to Third Centuries II (Apologetic, Philosophy, Heresy)
6 Reading week
7 Christian Literature in the First to Third Centuries III (Clement, Tertullian, Origen)
Christian Conduct and Morality
Martyrs - Phenomenon and Fact
9 Sex, Bodies, Renunciation
Martyrs Revisited: Prudentius
seminar ‘Christianity in Context’ (the class will be split into two groups)
Term 2
1 Martyrs Revisited
Persecution from Decius to Diocletian
2 Constantine Basics
Constantine Works
3 Constantine
Constantine
4 Church and State
Julian
5 Christian Art
6 Reading week: no classes
7 Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
8 Monks
Saints
9 More monks and saints
Christian Rome
10 Theodosius, Libanius and Ambrose
Theodosius, Libanius and Ambrose
Term Three will probably be revision only.