COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers a rigorous, source-driven exploration of the formative centuries of the Christian Church, culminating in the epochal Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and its immediate aftermath. Students will engage directly with the foundational historical narratives of the early Church, beginning with Eusebius of Caesarea—often called the “Father of Church History”—who chronicled the Church’s journey from the apostolic age through the triumph of Constantine.
The course proceeds chronologically and thematically through five study periods. It begins with Eusebius’s monumental Ecclesiastical History, covering the first three centuries of Christianity, its persecutions, theological developments, and institutional growth. Students then examine the primary source documents of the early Church through A New Eusebius, a collection of extracts from both Christian and pagan writers that provides a continuous commentary on the Church’s history up to the death of Constantine in 337. The course concludes with the continuation of Eusebius’s narrative by Socrates Scholasticus, whose Ecclesiastical History covers the period from 305 to 439, documenting the Arian controversy, the Council of Nicaea, and the subsequent theological and political struggles that shaped the Church in the fourth and early fifth centuries.
Throughout the course, students will analyze the development of Christian doctrine, the relationship between Church and state, the emergence of ecclesiastical structures, and the theological controversies that defined early Christianity. The course emphasizes critical reading of primary sources, historical contextualization, and the evaluation of competing historical interpretations.
COURSE TEACHING OBJECTIVES
To provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical development of the Christian Church from the apostolic age to the mid-fifth century
To develop skills in the critical reading and analysis of primary historical sources
To examine the political, social, and theological contexts that shaped early Christianity
To evaluate Eusebius’s methodology, biases, and contributions as the first church historian
To analyze the causes, course, and consequences of the major theological controversies of the early Church, particularly Arianism
To assess the significance of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and its impact on Christian doctrine and Church-state relations
To trace the development of ecclesiastical institutions, liturgy, and doctrinal formulation in the early Church
COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Articulate the major events, figures, and theological developments in the history of the early Church from the first to the fifth century
Critically evaluate Eusebius’s Ecclesiastical History as a historical source, recognizing its strengths, limitations, and biases
Analyze the relationship between the Church and the Roman Empire, from persecution to imperial patronage
Explain the theological issues at stake in the Arian controversy and the significance of the Nicene Creed
Interpret primary source documents from the early Church and assess their historical value
Compare and contrast the historical methodologies and perspectives of Eusebius and Socrates Scholasticus
Construct evidence-based historical arguments using primary sources and scholarly secondary literature
Assess the development of Christian orthodoxy and the role of ecumenical councils in shaping Christian doctrine
Organization of Course Studies
The course is organized into five study periods (typically 2–3 weeks each, though self-paced). Each period includes intensive reading of the assigned textbook, viewing of the supplementary video, and a short response paper or reflective assignment (500–1,000 words) reflecting on the material and its application.