Early Christian Persecution

Course Sections

Early Christian Persecution
Apostolic Fathers
Christian Apologists and Early Heresies
Gnosticism and the Early Church
Monasticism
Rome and the Third Century Crisis
Diocletian and the Tetrarchy
Constantine the Great
Athanasius
Early Church and Trinity: Father and Son
Arius and Nicea

Early Christian Persecution

Recommended Resources

Free Download
Church HistoryEusebius of Caesarea
Free Download
A key primary source.

A key primary source.

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The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of MartyrdomCandida Moss
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A critical assessment of the martyr stories. Click here for an interview with Bryan Litfin, where he critiques some of Moss' positions.

A critical assessment of the martyr stories. Click here for an interview with Bryan Litfin, where he critiques some of Moss' positions.

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Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early ChurchWilliam H. C. Frend
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A major scholarly work on the martyr stories.

A major scholarly work on the martyr stories.

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Early Christian Martyr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction with New TranslationsBryan M. Litfin
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Introductions to and applications of key martyr stories from a sympathetic perspective. Click here for a review from Themelios.

Introductions to and applications of key martyr stories from a sympathetic perspective. Click here for a review from Themelios.

Apostolic Fathers

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The Apostolic FathersJ. B. Lightfoot
Free Online

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Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic FathersAndrew Louth
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Translated by Maxwell Staniforth

Translated by Maxwell Staniforth

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The Christians as the Romans Saw ThemRobert Louis Wilken
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Christian Apologists and Early Heresies

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TertullianGeoffrey D. Dunn
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OrigenJoseph W. Trigg
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In Defence of Christianity: Early Christian ApologistsJakob Engberg, Anders-Christian Jacobsen, & Jörg Ulrich
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Gnosticism and the Early Church

Recommended Resources

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Gnosis: The Nature and History of GnosticismKurt Rudolph
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Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our FaithMatthew Lee Anderson
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Monasticism

Recommended Resources

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Medieval Monasticism: Forms of Religious Life in Western Europe in the Middle AgesC. H. Lawrence
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The Age of the Cloister: The Story of Monastic Life in the Middle AgesChristopher Brooke
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The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary SpiritualityGreg Peters
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Click here for a review from TGC.

Click here for a review from TGC.

Ian C. Hannah - Christian Monasticism and its Place in History
Bibliotheca Sacra, January–March 1919
Thabiti Anyabwile - Steps Toward an "Evangelical Monasticism"?

David Calhoun - Medieval MonasticismRuntime: 45 min

Rome and the Third Century Crisis

Recommended Resources

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The Later Roman EmpireAveril Cameron
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The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150–750Peter Brown
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Diocletian and the Tetrarchy

Recommended Resources

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Diocletian and the Roman RecoveryStephen Williams
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The Empire of the Tetrarchs: Imperial Pronouncements and Government AD 284–324Simon Corcoran
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Constantine the Great

Recommended Resources

Philip Schaff - Constantine the Great, and the Downfall of Paganism in the Roman Empire
Bibliotheca Sacra, October–December 1863
Eusebius of Caesarea - The Life of the Blessed Emperor Constantine
A key primary source.
John Starke - Constantine’s Birth: Cause for Celebration?

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Constantine and the Conversion of EuropeA. H. M. Jones
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Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of ChristendomPeter J. Leithart
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Click here for a review from Trevin Wax at TGC.

Click here for a review from Trevin Wax at TGC.

Athanasius

Recommended Resources

On the IncarnationAthanasius
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AthanasiusKhaled Anatolios
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AthanasiusPeter J. Leithart
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Nicaea and Its Legacy: An Approach to Fourth-Century Trinitarian TheologyLewis Ayres
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Early Church and Trinity: Father and Son

Recommended Resources

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Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian DoctrineKhaled Anatolios
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From Nicaea to Chalcedon: A Guide to the Literature and Its BackgroundFrances M. Young
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Click here for a review from TGC.

Click here for a review from TGC.

Arius and Nicea

Recommended Resources

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The Councils of NicaeaHenry Leclercq
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The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it MattersLuke Timothy Johnson
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DownloadJack Arnold - The Council of NiceaFiletype: .pdf
A church history lesson outline.