The Early Church

Examines the beginning of the Christian movement during the first centureis AD, and the explosive force of its expansion throughout the Roman world.

The Jewish background; the earliest Church; the Gentile Church; encounter with the Roman Empire

2. Faith and Order

The bonds of unity; gnosticism; the Ministry and the Bible; forms of the Ministry

3. Expansion and Growth

Causes of success; the geographical extension of the Church; the defence of the Faith

4. Justin and Irenaeus

Justin Martyr; Irenaeus

5. Easter, the Monarchian Controversy, and Tertullian

Easter; the Monarchian Controversy; Tertullian

6. Clement of Alexandria and Origen

Clement of Alexandria; Origen

7. Church, State and Society in the Third Century

The pagan revival and the persecution of Decius; Cyprian; the Great Persecution and its consequences

8. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea

9. The Arian Controversy after the Council of Nicaea

From Nicaea to the death of Constantine; the Church under the sons of Constantine; from Julian to Theodosius I

10. The Conflict of Paganism and Christianity in the Fourth Century

11. Church, State and Society from Julian to Theodosius

12. The Ascetic Movement

13. The Controversy about Origen and the Tragedy of John Chrysostom

14. The Problem of the Person of Christ

Diodore, Theodore and Apollinaris; Cyril and Nestorius; the "Monophysite" Council of Ephesus and the reaction at Chalcedon; the search for reconciliation; the doctrine of one will

15. The Development of Latin Christian Thought

Jerome and the beginnings of maturity; the conversion of Augustine; the Donatist schism and the problem of coercion; "The City of God" and the Pelagian controversy; the Holy Trinity

16. The Papacy

17. The Church and the Barbarians

18. Worship and Art

Liturby; daily offices; early Church music; Christian art

Conclusion

Suggestions for Further Reading