The First Christian Centuries

The formative period of early Christianity was crucial to the development of Christian faith. It was during this time that the basic parameters of many of key doctrines of the church were worked out—parameters that have exerted a normative influence on Christian life and thought ever since. Many of the issues that were debated in early Christianity remain alive today, and while present-day Christians may or may not consider themselves bound by the ancient creeds, Christian critical theological discourse assumes a familiarity with their basic tenets. 

This course invites students into an exploration of key theological developments from the second to seventh centuries. We’ll give special attention to the formation of the ecumenical creeds and developments in the doctrines of the canon, the Trinity, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and the sacraments. We will also put these developments in context, examining the world in which early Christianity was born, raised, and transformed. Throughout our time together, we’ll reflect on why Christians believe what we believe and how the way we talk about God matters.

Students will come away from this course with a knowledge of major themes, ideas, doctrines, and controversies from early Christian theology; familiarity with major figures associated with these developments; and, most importantly, the tools of critical thought required to examine and analyze—and sometimes reassess—theological ideas.