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
Wednesday August 28:  Beginnings
ANT pp. 1-6 (Introduction to the book)
Read about the religions of the Roman Empire at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/empire.html
Early Roman sources on Christianity (Suetonius, Tacitus, Pliny) at http://pages.scrippscollege.edu/%7Eajacobs/rs92/earlyromans.htm
Visit the map of the spread of Christianity http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/christ.html
For more information:  Chadwick, The Early Church,  9-31 (reserve)
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