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Christianity in History to 1550
CH001-512/712

3 hours per week in semester 1, annually, on-campus & online

Lecturer: Ben Nelson

Overview: This subject gives a survey of major developments in the history of Christian Churches, and promotes training in the use of primary documents. Students will study the church in imperial Rome, including the Apostolic Fathers and the challenge of Judaism; the Apologists and the challenge of Gnosticism, the Christian Empire; and the ecumenical councils and the challenge of Arianism and Augustine. The Church as Christendom is explored, including the Holy Roman Empire; medieval theology; conciliarism; and mysticism, as well as the precursors to the Reformation including Hus; Wycliffe; Luther and Calvin.

Textbooks: Nick Needham, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power: Vol. 1 The Age of the Early Church Fathers (Fearn: Christian Focus, rev. edn. 2017). Mark A. Noll, Turning Points (3rd. edn. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012). Alister McGrath, The Christian Theology Reader (Chichester: Wiley/Blackwell, 5th. edn., 2017).

ACT unit information:
Christianity in History to 1550 CH001-512
Christianity in History to 1550 CH001-712