THEO46830: After the Apostles: From Jerusalem to Nicaea

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• To provide students with an understanding of early Christian history from the mid-first century to the fourth century (with a terminus at Nicaea in 325 CE).
• To enable students to explore the varied writings and teachings of early Christian authors.
• To explore with students both the experiences and identities of early Christians in the Greco-Roman world.

• This module will consider one of the most consequential if understudied periods in Christian history. Beginning with the immediate legacies of the Apostles, this module will chart a history of early Christianity through the second and third centuries until the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. This module will explore how this nascent faith grew from a handful of Jewish believers into something that could count even the emperor himself as a convert.
• As we chart a path through this turbulent and fascinating history, we will give over much of our time to key theological developments that shaped early Christian thought in this period, including the doctrines of Christ and the church, as well as intra-Christian competition and debates.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• An advanced comprehension of church history from the first to mid-fourth centuries, as well as a grasp of the key theological debates that shaped this period.

Subject-specific Skills:

• To be able to read and interpret intelligently both early Christian texts and key historical sources (in translation, though with reference to the original where possible and appropriate).

Key Skills:

• To understand and engage with the key themes and ideas of the period.

• The seminars will enable students to develop advanced subject-specific knowledge and skills in the communication of ideas and critical interpretation of sources. This will be facilitated peer-group discussion of ideas and critical interpretation of key sources for events and doctrines, moderated by the module leader.
• The purpose of the formative essay is to encourage students to explore the subject specific themes and events covered by the module. The summative essay is designed to assess both the students comprehension of theoretical material, and capacity to apply this material to the discussion of events and doctrine. Feedback on essay performance will be delivered via tutorials.
• Please note that tutorials will not be centrally timetabled and should be organised directly between students and tutors as schedules permit.

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