Christianity in History to 1550 (2026)
Section outline
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THE EARLY CHURCH
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The Background to the Early Church and its birth and rapid growth.
This week we will examine the setting into which the Christian Church emerged. We will look at the factors that both assisted and hindered its growth.
We will also examine two significant documents of the early church, the Letter of the Church of Rome to the Corinthian church (later claimed to have been written by Clement) and the Didache.
The link to the full letter of the Church of Rome (Clement) to the Corinthian Church
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/1clement-roberts.html
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THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURY: THE APOLOGISTS
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Significant Christians and important Christian writings of the 2nd and 3rd century
This week's study examines the influence and significance of significant Christian writers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Cyprian of Carthage.
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PERSECUTION TO RECOGNITION
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Emperors Decius, Diocletian and Constantine: The Turning Point
We will be examining the challenge persecution posed to the early Church. We will study this period through to the conversion of Emperor Constantine. This would legitimize the Christian Church in the Roman world, but it would prove to be a mixed blessing.
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THE CHALLENGE OF RECOGNITION
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The Challenge of Other Religious Ideas and Heresies
This week will be looking at other challenges that the early church faced. For example from other religions, ideologies and heresies: Specifically Gnosticism, Nestorianism and Arianism will be examined – Then we will examine how the Church responded to these challenges. Men such Athanasius and the Councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon will be looked at.
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ASCETICISM AND MONASTICISM
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This week will examine the introduction of ascetic practices in the life of the Church. Important contributors to the monastic "ideal" will be studied, men such as Antony, Pachomius, the Cappadocian Fathers, John Chrysostom and Martin of Tours.
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EARLY MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY
This week will we look at the growth of the Church in the 5th and 6th centuries. Influential leaders such as Jerome and Augustine will be examined, along with the rise of the Papacy and the role of Popes Leo and Gregory. We will also look at Patrick and the rise of Celtic Christianity.
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CHRISTIANITY IN THE 7TH-9TH CENTURIES
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This week we look at Christendom in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries. We will focus on the Christian faith in England and mission in Europe, looking at the work of missionaries such as Aidan, Cuthbert, Boniface, Anskar, Cyril and Methodius. We will also look at other important developments such as Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire and the rise and challenge of Islam.
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THE 10TH TO 12TH CENTURIES
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The Church in the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. The separation of Eastern and Western Christendom; the Crusades. The Papacy: power, corruption and calls for reform.
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CHRISTENDOM TRIUMPHANT AND STIRRINGS OF REFORM
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Christendom Triumphant; Scholasticism: Anselm & Aquinas, Mysticism: Bernard of Clairvaux (monks) The Conciliar Movement: Francis of Assisi (Friars). Thomas a Kempis
We will also examine the lives of those who started to speak out against the abuses made by the Catholic Church. Men such as Wycliffe, Hus and Savonarola. Some of these also began to question the Scriptural basis of some of the practices of the Church.
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MARTIN LUTHER
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SUBMIT ESSAY
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