RELG 330 - History of Christianity
Study Topics and Assignments
Module 2 - Chapters 4-7, Christian Beginnings (part 2)
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 the lives and teachings of key people in the first 2 centuries of Christianity. (CLO A)
- Describe and discuss the main movements during the first 2 centuries of Christianity. (CLO B)
- Identify and discuss the major issues during the first 2 centuries of Christianity. (CLO C)
- Describe and discuss various problems which occurred during the first 2 centuries of the Christian community. (CLO D)
- Explain and Discuss how the Christian community developed during the first 2 centuries of its life. (CLO E)
- Evaluate and discuss the conditions facing the Christian community during the first 2 centuries of its life. (CLO F)
Textbook Readings and Course Notes
- Chapter 4, Expansion, pages 43-48
- Chapter 5, Archaeology, pages 49-54
- Notes on Chapter 5
- Chapter 6, What the First Christians Believed, pages 55-82
- Notes on Chapter 6
- Chapter 7, How the First Christians Worshipped, pages 83-99
- Notes on Chapter 7
- 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 Module 2
- InterNet Links for Module 2
- 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- You may use Wikipedia to give a lead to other sources and material, but you should not use it as a main source - Do not quote from it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 the Test, and to formulate a thread for the Discussion Board.
- The Ebionites
- Justin Martyr
- Gnostics
- The "closing" (final decisions) on the canon of the New Testament
- Montanus and the Montanists
- The Didache
- Eusebius
- Clement of Rome
- Incarnation and the theology of the Logos
- Irenaeus of Lyons
- Ignatius of Antioch
- The Monarchians (aka Sabellians or Modalists)
- Baptismal Creeds and the catechumenate (pre-baptismal instruction)
- Hippolytus
- Leadership in the Church
- Cyprian of Carthage
- The Church in Rome
- The Manichaeans
- The Lord's Supper, and the conduct of Worship services during the second and third centuries
- The Codex Sinaiticus, the Codex Vaticanus and Copying and translating the New Testament
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 Tests and post your thread to the Discussion Board.
Discussion Board
Thread : Whom would you most like to have been :
Justin Martyr, Montanus, Clement of Rome, Irenaus of Lyons, Ignatius of Antioch, or Cyprian of Carthage?
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 development 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
