CH101 Introducing Church History I: Obscurity to Christendom
CH102 Introducing Church History II: Reformation to Postmodernism
CH111 Understanding the Protestant Reformation: Precursors and Legacy
CH151 Introducing Historical Theology: Apostles to the Reformation
CH152 Introducing Historical Theology: Luther to the Twenty-First Century
In this course, you’ll learn about the first 1,500 years of Christian history, focusing especially on the development of Christian doctrine. Instructor Roger Olson expands on doctrines such as the Trinity and Christ’s hypostatic union—doctrines that most Christians are aware of, but may never have studied at length. The Middle Ages are covered, particularly highlighting the way that medieval theologians understood the knowledge of God and the relationship between faith and reason. The course ends with the Renaissance—a period during which there were initial calls for reform within the church—and early church reformers who came before the theology of Martin Luther.
Introducing the Speaker and the Course
What Is Theology?
The Definition and Purpose of Historical Theology
Theology in the New Testament and Early Church
Heresies in Early Christianity
Challenges for Theology in Early Christianity
The Beginnings of Theology in the Apostolic Fathers
The Role of Christian Apologists in Early Christianity
Irenaeus: The First Christian Systematic Theologian
Irenaeus: Defending the Incarnation within the Doctrine of Salvation
Clement of Alexandria: Theologian and Philosopher
Origen of Alexandria: A Speculative Christian Theologian
Tertullian: The Father of Latin Christian Theology
Tertullian: Influence on Christian Doctrine
The Changing Landscape of Theology in the Early Church
Cyprian of Carthage: Catholic Theologian and Bishop
The Development of the Christian Canon of Scripture
Constantine and the Rise of Christendom
The Arian Controversy
The Trinitarian Controversy and the Council of Nicaea
The Christological Controversy: Jesus as Both Human and Divine
Heresies Addressed by the Third and Fourth Ecumenical Councils
Christian Orthodoxy: The Trinity and the Hypostatic Union
Augustine: The Father of Western Christianity
Augustine’s Core Beliefs
The Impact of Augustine’s View of Predestination on Church History
Gregory the Great: Foundation of Roman Catholic Theology
The Gradual Separation of the Greek Orthodox from the Roman Catholics
Controversies in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Filioqueand the Great Schism
The Eastern Orthodox View of Filioque
Scholasticism and Anselm of Canterbury
Scholasticism and Thomas Aquinas
Atonement Theology and Anselm’s Response
Moral Influence Theory: The Atonement Theology of Peter Abelard
Philosophy and Theology in Medieval Christian Universities
The Impact of Saint Francis of Assisi
The Power Struggles Which Laid the Groundwork for the Reformation
Scholastic Theologians: Duns Scotus and William of Ockham
Medieval Catholic Dogmas and Councils
Christian and Secular Humanism
The Life of Erasmus: Christian Humanist
Peter Waldo and the First Protestants
Catherine of Siena and Catholic Mysticism
John Wycliffe: The Morning Star of the Reformation
Jan Hus: Forerunner to Martin Luther
The Catholic Church on the Eve of the Reformation
Concluding the Course
Roger E. Olson is the Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Previously he served as professor of theology at Bethel University in Minnesota. He is the author of eighteen books including The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction (Intervarsity Press). Dr. Olson was born and raised in the Upper Midwest of the United States and considers himself a "Bapticostal." He grew up Pentecostal but became Baptist while attending North American Baptist Seminary. His PhD in Religious Studies is from Rice University (Houston, Texas) and he studied at the University of Munich with theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. He served as editor of Christian Scholar's Review in the 1990s and has served as consulting and contributing editor for Christianity Today. He is married and has two adult daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys Southern gospel music, Victorian gothic mystery books, and traveling.