Course Schedule
Page last updated 4:30 pm Pacific Time, Monday Nov 18, 2013
This schedule is subject to change at the
Professor’s discretion.
It is the responsibility of each student
to keep up with schedule changes, even if absent. Check the
course website for updates.
Assignments should be completed in time for class on the day on which
they are listed on the syllabus.
Students should bring to class any texts assigned for the day or
detailed notes.
Texts listed below are required readings unless they are prefaced by “For
more information.” “For more information” readings
are suggested but not required. Added 9/15/13: The e-book The Early Christian World mentioned below is online on the Pacific Library site. Go to http://pacific.library.edu and search for "early Christian world" in POUNCE. (I can't link directly to it from this site, since the library e-books are behind a password-protected firewall.)
ANT=Ehrman, After
the New Testament
CLA = Ehrman & Jacobs, Christianity in Late
Antiquity
Moss = Moss, Myth of Persecution
Mon Aug 26 |
Introductions |
Wed Aug 28 |
|
Fri Aug 30 |
Boundaries and Appearances
ANT pp. 320-328
1 Clement (text 55)
Didache (text 56)
Ignatius’s letters to the Ephesians,
Magnesians, and Smyrnians (text 57)
On Sakai
Ignatius’s letter to the Trallians
Shepherd of Hermas (selections)
ANT pp. 309-316 (Scriptures
& Canonical Lists)
Chapter 9
Introduction
Muratorian Canon (text 51)
Irenaeus (text 52)
Origen (text 53)
Eusebius (text 54)
|
Mon Sept 2 |
NO CLASS, Labor Day
|
Wed Sept 4 |
Mission and Expansion
ANT pp. 7-24; 353-56
Chapter 2 Introduction
Acts of John (text 1)
Acts of Thomas (text 2)
Dialogue with Trypho (text 3)
Hippolytus: the Apostolic
Tradition (text 65)
For more information: Early
Christian World Chapter 11 “Mission and Expansion” (e-book);
Chadwick, The Early Church, 54-66
|
Fri Sept 6 |
Early Persecution and Martyrdom
ANT Chapter 3: pp. 25-50
Chapter Introduction
Ignatius’s letter to the Romans (text 4)
Martyrdom of Polycarp (text 5)
The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and
Lyons (text 6)
Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs (text 7)
Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas
(text 8)
map of persecutions at http://pages.scrippscollege.edu/%7Eajacobs/rs92/persmap.jpg
For more information:
Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them, 48-67
(reserve); Early Christian World Chapter 31 “Martyrdom and
Political Oppression” (e-book)
|
Mon Sept 9 |
Early Persecution and Martyrdom Part II
Moss, pp. 1-34, 55-56, 79-82 -- CHANGED
|
Wed Sept 11 |
Early Persecution and Martyrdom Part III
Moss, chapter 3 -- CHANGED
|
Fri Sept 13 |
Justin and Early Christian Apology
ANT Chapter 4: pp.
51-71, 75-82
Chapter 4 Introduction
Minucius Felix: Octavius (text 9)
Justin: First Apology (text
10)
Athenagoras: Plea Regarding the
Christians (text 11)
Tertullian: Apology (text 13)
Justin selections on Sakai
For more information: Early Christian World Chapter 21
“The Early Apologists” (e-book)
|
Mon Sept 16 |
Early Persecution and Martyrdom Part IV
Moss, Chapter 4 -- CHANGED
|
Wed Sept 18 |
Early Persecution and Martyrdom Part V
Moss, Chapter 6
|
Th Sept 19 |
REQUIRED event
Colliver Lecture on Religion: Why Were the Early Christians Persecuted?
Prof. Candida Moss
7 pm, DeRosa University Center Ballroom
|
Fri Sept 20 |
Special guest: Prof. Candida Moss
Moss, Chapters 7-8
|
Mon Sept 23 |
Critical Analytical Paper 1 Deadline A |
Wed Sept 25 |
Christian Diversity Part I—Jewish-Christian Self-Definition
& Early Christian Anti-Judaism
ANT pp. 131-135; 95-130
Chapter 6 Introduction
Gospel According to the Ebionites (text
19)
Chapter 5 Introduction
Epistle of Barnabas (text 15)
Justin: Dialogue with Trypho (text
16)
Melito of Sardis: On the Passover
(text 17)
For more information: Chadwick,
Early Church, 66-73 (reserve)
|
Th Sept 26 |
Critical Analytical Paper 1 Deadline B |
Fri Sept 27 |
Christian
Diversity Part II—Gnosticism
ANT pp. 144-154, 160-77,
227-30
Gnostic Texts Introduction
The Secret Book of John (text 22)
The Gospel of Truth (text 24)
Ptolemy's Letter to Flora (text 25)
On the Origin of the World (text 26)
Coptic Apocalypse of Peter (text 35) Text canceled
For more information: Chadwick,
Early Church, pp. 33-41 (reserve); Early Christian World Chapter 35
“Gnosticism” (e-book)
|
Mon Sept 30 |
Christian Diversity Part III—Irenaeus on Unity and Diversity
ANT pp. 193-211
Chapter 7 Introduction
Irenaeus: Against the Heresies
(text 31)
Critical Analytical Paper 1 Deadline C MOVED TO NOON TUESDAY |
|
Church Organization and Liturgy
Review texts 55-57 and your notes on
those texts from August 28-30 with an eye to church offices: who
are the leaders? How does one become a church leader? Who
is/is not allowed to take a church office?
ANT pp. 328-332, 343-60
Hippolytus:
Apostolic Tradition
(text 58)
Chapter 11 Introduction
Didache (text 61)
Justin: First Apology (text 62)
Tertullian: Apology (text 63)
Tertullian: On the Crown of
Martyrdom (text 64)
Hippolytus: The Apostolic
Tradition (text 65)
The Didascalia (text 66)
For more information: Chadwick, Early
Church, pp. 45-53 (reserve)
|
Wed Oct 2 |
Tertullian and Controversies in the Church
REVISED 9/30
ANT pp. 211-213 (text 32, chapters 1,6,7,13 only)
ANT pp. 218-226 (texts 33, 34)
ANT pp. 408-410 (text 73, chapters 4-10 only)
ANT pp. 399-400, 401-3 (text 72, chapters 1-2, 4-5 only)
Tertullian handout
Recommended: We will look at ANT pp. 435-36 (text 76) in class, but it is not required
For more information: Chadwick, Early
Church, pp. 52-53, 84-93 (reserve); Early Christian World Chapter 40 “Tertullian” (e-book)
|
Fri Oct 4 |
Fall
Break – NO CLASS
|
Mon Oct 7 |
Christian
Philosophers as Theologians -- Clement & Origen Rev Oct 2
Clement: The Educator, chapters 1 (first three paragraphs only), 2, 5, 7, 10 (ANT pp. 387-88, 389-93, 393-97)
Origen: Commentaries on Genesis not required; we may discuss in class (ANT 375-81)
Origen: On First Principles ANT on God, the trinity, Christ: beginning-ch 2, section 2, on the soul, creation, and Christ: ch. 8-Book II, ch 6; on interpreting scripture: Book IV ch 2-end (ANT 413-first column 418, 420-22, 424-29)
Origen: Against Celsus chapters 1-3, 28, 30-32, 39-40, 68 (ANT 82-84, 86-88, 90-91, 92-93)
Selection from Porphyry at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/porphyry1.html
For
more information: Wilken, The Christians
as the Romans Saw Them, pp. 126-63 (reserve)
|
Wed Oct 9 |
The Great Persecution and the End of Persecutions
ANT pp. 340-42, 430
Cyprian:
On the Unity of the Catholic Church (text 60)
Novatian: On the Trinity
(introductory paragraph only of text 75)
CLA 1-23
Chapter 1 (Book Introduction)
Chapter 2 Introduction
Acts of Saint Felix (text 1)
Lactantius: The Deaths of the
Persecutors (text 2)
For more information: Chadwick, Early
Church, pp. 116-24 (reserve)
|
Fri Oct 11 |
Constantine updated 10/9
CLA pp. 24-25
Chapter 3 Introduction
Handout from class on Oct 9
CLA pp. 25-44, 68-74
The Origin of Constantine (text 3)
Eusebius: Life of Constantine
(text 4)
Chapter 4 Introduction
Theodosian Code: On Religion—pick
out laws by Constantine (text 6)
For more information: Chadwick, Early Church, pp. 125-29 (reserve); Early
Christian World Chapter 42 “Constantine” (e-book)
|
Mon Oct 14 |
Church and
State: The Council of Nicaea and Arianism
CLA pp. 155-167, 242-256, 190-200
Chapter 7
Introduction
Trinitarian Controversy
Introduction
Arius: Thalia (text 20)
Alexander of
Alexandria: Letter to Alexander of
Constantinople (text 21)
Arius: Letter to
Alexander of Alexandria (text 22)
Chapter 8 Introduction
Creed and Canons of Nicaea
(text 33)
Athanasius on the
Incarnation of the Word
For more information: Chadwick, Early
Church, pp. 113-16 (reserve); Early Christian World Chapter 38 “Arianism” (e-book)
|
Wed Oct 16 |
Critical Analytical Paper 2 Deadline A |
Fri Oct 18 |
Critical Analytical Paper 2 Deadline A--changed |
Mon Oct 21 |
After Nicaea--Julian the "Apostate," The Cappadocians, and the
Defense of Orthodoxy - updated 10/18
CLA 48-53, 167-177, 256-59
Julian,
Letters on Religion
(text 6 only -- no need to read text 7)
Gregory of
Nazianzus:
Third Theological Oration (text 23)
Creed and
Canons of Constantinople (text
34)
Readings on Basil, Gregory of Nyssa,
and Gregory Nazianzus on Sakai
For more information: Chadwick, Early Church, pp.
133-59 (reserve) |
Wed Oct 23 |
Asceticism
Part IA—Life of Antony
Gregg, Athanasius pp. 29-65 Critical Analytical Paper 2 Deadline B
|
Fri Oct 25 |
Asceticism Part IB—Life of Antony
Gregg, Athanasius pp. 65-99
|
Mon Oct 28 |
Asceticism Part II—Monasteries in Egypt
CLA 291-311
Pachomius:
Rules (text 38)
Sayings of
the Desert Fathers (text 39)
Antony:
Letter 1 (text 40,
selection)
Critical Analytical Paper 2 Deadline C -- moved to TUESDAY OCT 29
|
Wed Oct 30 |
Asceticism Part III—Sanctification, Saints’ Lives, and Syria
CLA 377-389, 404-416
Jerome:
Letter to
Eustochium (text 37)
Theodoret:
The Religious History
(text 47)
Life of
Pelagia (text 49)
|
Fri Nov 1 |
Pilgrimage and Cult of the Saints
CLA pp. 331-350, 360-65
Chapter
10 Introduction
Egeria: Travel Journal (text 42)
Gregory of Nyssa: Letter on Pilgrimage (text 43)
Lucianus: On the Discovery of Saint Stephen (text
45)
|
Mon Nov 4 |
Jerome and Augustine
Selections from Jerome on Sakai
CLA pp. 80-92, 377-389
Augustine:
Confessions (text 11)
Jerome:
Letter to
Eustochium (text 37) moved from Wed OCT 30
For more information: Chadwick,
Early Church, pp. 213-36 (reserve) |
Wed Nov 6 |
Augustine on Sin and Grace updated 11/4
The Confessions in CLA 80-92
City of God selections in handout (and on Sakai)
Selections from Augustine on Marriage and Sexualityin handout (and on Sakai)
|
Fri Nov 8 |
Religion, Power,
and Violence
Readings on Sakai
For more information: Chadwick, Early Church, pp.
160-173, 184-191 (reserve)
REREAD AUGUSTINE - updated 11/6; see discussion questions on Sakai
Critical Analysis Paper 3 Deadline A
Note: there is no Deadline B for this paper; Deadline A papers will be returned with comments 11/11 or 11/12
|
Mon Nov 11 |
Christology and
the Councils of Ephesus & Chalcedon
CLA pp. 178-188, 259-267
Christological
Controversy Introduction
Nestorius: Letter to Cyril of Alexandria (text 24)
Cyril of Alexandria: Third Letter to Nestorius
(text 25)
Canons of Ephesus (text 35)
Definition and Canons of Chalcedon (text 36)
For more information: Chadwick,
Early Church, pp. 192-212
(reserve); |
Wed Nov 13 |
The West,
the Barbarians, and the Papacy
Readings on Sakai
|
Th Nov 14 |
Critical Analysis Paper 3 Deadline C
|
Fri Nov 15 |
Class canceled
Group proect topics due!!!
|
Mon Nov 18 |
Exam |
Wed Nov 20 |
Changed: Meet in Library to work on projects |
Fri Nov 22 |
Work on Projects in Groups
|
Mon Nov 25 |
Project outlines and proposals due
email them to Dr. S. |
Wed Nov 27 |
NO CLASS: Thanksgiving |
Fri Nov 29 |
NO CLASS: Thanksgiving |
Mon Dec 2 |
Work on Group Projects and Presentations in class
|
Wed Dec 4 |
Presentations
|
Fri Dec 6 |
Presentations |
|