Unit information: Early Christianity: Roman Empire AD 90-451 (Trinity and Baptist College) in 2013/14

Unit name	Early Christianity: Roman Empire AD 90-451 (Trinity and Baptist College)
Unit code	THRS11021
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Scotland
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	none
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Jesus of Nazareth changed the world and world history. The gospels are of momentous importance as our earliest accounts of his life and ministry, and the other writings of the New Testament give us fascinating insight into how the first Christians responded to Jesus - corporately and individually, theologically and ethically. Often Christians only study the New Testament piecemeal and devotionally.

This unit will provide an orientation to the New Testament by: 1. exploring the world of the NT; 2. introducing its literary forms; 3. addressing the historical and other issues raised by scholarly study; 4. considering the impact of Jesus and his teaching in his first-century context.

Although the focus of the unit is not on application to today, it will have an eye to its relevance for Christian mission and discipleship.

Intended Learning Outcomes

The Unit aims to enable students to:

1. become familiar with key primary early church sources and documents and be able to contextualise them;
2. understand how early Christian doctrine and practice emerged during the persecutions and subsequent tolerance of the Roman empire;
3. know the key Christian doctrines which were hammered out and formulated in debate and controversy between 90 and 451 A.D.;
4. appreciate the contemporary relevance of topics such as Gnosticism, Monarchianism, and Eutychianism.

On completion of the unit students should:

1. understand the significant developments in early Catholic Christianity and the ways in which they impact contemporary theology and praxis;
2. have a clear understanding of what the early church came to believe about the divinity and two natures of Christ, the Trinity and the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist;
3. appreciate the ways in which social and political contexts shaped early church life, worship and practice;
4. be able to link and relate key aspects of early Christianity to other units of study.

Teaching Information

The unit will consist mostly of lectures in which there will be some visual input through film.

Seminars will include an appropriate role play for one session.

The unit will consist of 20 contact hours, equating to 2 contact hours per week for 10 weeks. This is the standard number of contact hours for lecture-based Level 1 10-credit units.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be through reading for and participating in seminars and a role play. Summative assessment will be through an essay of 2,000 words.

Reading and References

1. Ayers, L., Nicaea and its Legacy (Oxford University Press, 2004)
2. Brown, P., The Rise of Western Christendom (Blackwell, 2003)
3. Bruce, F.F., The Spreading Flame (Paternoster Press, 1992)
4. Chadwick, H., The Early Church (Pelican, 1993)
5. Frend, W., The Early Church (SCM, 1991)
6. Miller, P., ed., Women in Early Christianity (Catholic University Press of America, 2005)