RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Study Topics and Assignments
Module 1 - Chapters 1-3, Christian Beginnings (part 1)
AD 1 - 325
Module Learning Objectives and their relationships to Course Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this Module, you will be able to :
- Describe and discuss how Christianity spread from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. (CLOs A, B, C)
- Describe and discuss the lives and teachings of some key people in the first centuries of Christianity. (CLO A)
- Describe and discuss the main movements in the first centuries of Christianity. (CLO B)
- Identify and discuss the major issues during the first centuries of Christianity. (CLO C)
- Describe and discuss some of the problems faced by the Christian community during the first centuries of Christianity. (CLOs A, C, D)
- Evaluate and discuss the conditions facing the Christian community in the first centuries of Christianity. (CLO F)
Textbook Readings and Course Notes
- Preface, page xvii
- Time Chart - The Christian centuries, pages xx-xxi
- Part 1 - Beginnings - Summary, page 1. The Summaries of the various Parts in this book are concise summaries of the main points covered in the chapters of the following Part. They will give you an easy overview of the most important topics to be covered.
- Chapter 1, Jesus, pages 3-14
- Notes on Chapter 1
- Chapter 2, Jerusalem to Rome, pages 15-26
- Notes on Chapter 2
- Time Chart - Beginnings, AD 1-325, page 27
- Chapter 3, Challenges, pages 29-42
- Notes on Chapter 3
- Evidence from non-Christian writers
- Roman Emperors
- Timeline, 63 BC-AD 200
- Timeline, AD 200-450
- Map of the Growth of Rome, to AD 116
- Maps of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
- Map of the Roman Empire in AD 324
- Maps of the Early Church
InterNet Resources for this Module (optional)
- InterNet Links for Module 1
- Useful articles can be found by using GoodSearch
- You may use Wikipedia to give a lead to other sources and material, but you should not use it as a main source - Do not quote from it
Study Questions
Prepare an answer sheet for yourself, in which you make notes on these topics. Then you may use it, along with the textbook and the course notes, to answer the questions on Test 1, and to formulate a thread for the Discussion Board.
- Highlights from the Time Chart on Christian History
- Evidence for the Life of Jesus
- Jesus' Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection
- The Jerusalem Christians
- Peter
- Paul
- Stephen
- Barnabas
- The Council of Jerusalem
- The Romans
- Persecution
- Challenges and Rivals
- Leading Thinkers
- The Expansion of Christianity
- The spread of Christianity beyond the Roman Empire
- Marcion
- Tertullian
- Origen
- Novation
- The first Monks
Remember to cite your sources
Use MSWord or a text editor such as Notepad to prepare and save your work, then use it to help you answer the Test and post your thread to the Discussion Board.
Discussion Board 1
Thread : Whom would you most like to have been :
Caesar Augustus, the Emperor Trajan, the Emperor Vespasian, Paul of Tarsus, Saint Peter, Stephen, Barnabas, Tertullian, Marcion, Origen, or Polycarp?
Choose whom you would most like to have been, write an account of his life, and say why you chose him rather than any of the others.
Replies to 2 of your classmates' Threads :
If possible, choose Threads which deal with different people.
What are your thoughts about the people chosen, and their influence on the growth of Christianity?
Test on this Module
Go to the Test Section of the course on Canvas, and take the test at least once before 12 noon of the Monday following the Module period. See the
Assignments Page for dates and times.
You will have 1 hour to complete the test.
You may take the test three times before the cut-off time.
Questions will vary each time you take the test.
Your highest score will count towards your course grade.
Remember to cite your sources if you use any other than the textbook
Copyright © 2005 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
