Mobile Ed: CH201 Historical Theology: The Patristic Period (11 hour course - audio)
Overview
In Historical Theology: The Patristic Period (CH201) Dr. George Kalantzis provides an in-depth study of the theological developments of the early church during the patristic era. Beginning with the world of early Christianity, you will grasp the major historical events, the philosophical ideas, and the pagan religions that shaped the world into which the New Testament church was born. The course covers topics such as persecution and martyrdom, apologetics, Gnosticism, ecclesiology, Christology, and the Trinity in the context of the Roman Empire. Lastly, you will learn what religious, historical, and political influences gave rise to the ecumenical councils that produced the foundational summaries of the Christian faith.
This is the audio only version of CH201 Historical Theology: The Patristic Period. To purchase the full course, click here.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion you should be able to:
- Summarize the key historical events of the Mediterranean world from the sixth century BC to the fifth century AD
- Describe the political, social, and religious context of the Graeco-Roman world
- Identify and explain key philosophical movements that influenced the early church
- Comment on the effects Hellenization had on Judaism, as well as Christianity’s relationship with and break from Judaism
- Discuss the ebb and flow of Christian persecution through the history of the Roman Empire
- Articulate why and how early Christian apologetics developed, and identify the key apologists
- Define Gnosticism, and explain the influence it had on the early church
- Detail the main heresies that were condemned by the early church
- Explain what each ecumenical council of the early church contributed to the development of Christological and Trinitarian language
- Speak accurately about the triune God
Course Outline
Introduction
- Introducing the Speaker and the Course
Unit 1: The World of Early Christianity
- Why Study History & Key Developments of the First Six Centuries
- The Unification of the Mediterranean World
- The Maccabean Interlude
- History of the Roman Empire
- Geography of the Roman Empire
- Social Organization in the Roman Empire: Part One
- Social Organization in the Roman Empire: Part Two
- Slavery in the Ancient World
- Virtue and Humility
- Platonic Thought
- Mystical Theology and Aristotelian Thought
- Roman Religion
- Religion and the Imperial Cult
- Graeco-Roman Attitudes toward Jews
- Graeco-Roman Attitudes toward Christians
Unit 2: Persecution and Martyrdom
- Causes of Christian Persecution
- The First Persecutions under Nero and the First Jewish Revolt
- The Second Persecutions under Domitian
- The Church under the Antonines: Part One
- The Church under the Antonines: Part Two
- Ignatius of Antioch
- The Martyrdom of Polycarp
- The Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne
- The Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas
Unit 3: Apologetics
- Christian Apologetics
- Justin Martyr
- Christianization of Hellenism and Christian Defenses against Civil Charges and Mystery Religions
- Christian Response to Non-Christian Myths and Philosophy
- Marcus Aurelius and Celsus on Christianity
- Two Kinds of Reason
Unit 4: Gnosticism
- Origins of Gnosticism
- Gnostic Basis on the Bible
- Fundamental Tenets of Gnosticism
- Gnostic Movements and Motifs of “Christian Gnosticism”
- Marcion and Christian Gnosticism
- Irenaeus and Gnosticism
- The Self-Defining of the Early Church
- The Rule of Faith
Unit 5: Monarchianism
- Introduction to Monarchianism
- Tertullian and Against Praxeas
- The Self-Revelation of the Triune God
Unit 6: Ecclesiology and Church Order
- The State of the Roman Empire
- Emperor Decius’ Edict
- Those Who Denied the Faith
- Ecclesiology and the Doctrine of Penance
- Sacramental Theology
Unit 7: Conversion of the Empire
- An Imperial Chronology
- The Great Persecution
- Constantine’s Consolidation of the West
- The End of the Great Persecution
- Constantine and the Christological Controversies
- Origen on the Trinity
- The Arian Controversy
- The Council of Nicaea
- From Constantine to Theodosius
Unit 8: Christology and Trinity
- Christological Formulas, Confessions, and Creeds
- The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed
- Christological Language: Part One
- Christological Language: Part Two
- Arianism after Nicaea
- The Cappadocian Fathers: Basil the Great
- The Cappadocian Fathers: Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa
- Trinitarian Language
- Nestorius and Cyril: Part One
- Nestorius and Cyril: Part Two
- Eutyches and the Council of Chalcedon
Conclusion
- Conclusion to the Course
Product Details
- Title: CH201 Historical Theology: The Patristic Period (audio)
- Instructor: George Kalantzis
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2019
- Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
- Resource Type: Audio
- Length: 11 hours
About Dr. George Kalantzis
Dr. George Kalantzis was born and raised by the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. He is Professor of Theology and Director of The Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies at Wheaton College. His research and writing interests focus on the dynamic relationship between the written documents and their interpretation in early Christianity.
He is the author of Caesar and the Lamb: Early Christian Attitudes on War and Military Service, Theodore of Mopsuestia: Commentary on the Gospel of John, and numerous articles and essays on patristic thought. Dr. Kalantzis is also coeditor of Evangelicals and the Early Church: Recovery, Reform, Renewal; Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective; and The Sovereignty of God Debate. He is currently completing a project on wealth and poverty titled Crumbs from the Table: The Eucharist in the Life of the Church.
Dr. Kalantzis holds a BS in Neurophysiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago; an MS in Neurobiology and Neurosciences from Northeastern Illinois University; an MABS (Master of Biblical Studies degree) from Moody Graduate School; a MTS (master’s degree in Theological Studies) in Patristics from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; and a PhD in Patristics and Classics from Northwestern University.