Church History: Foundational Study Bundle

by Frank A. James III; Roger E. Olson; Logos Mobile Education; Bryan M. Litfin

Publisher:

Lexham Press

, 2014–2021

Overview

In the Church History: Foundational Study Bundle you’ll study the dynamic growth of the Church from the crucifixion of Jesus to the twenty-first century. You’ll learn the Jewish, Greek, and Roman background of the early church, the enduring legacies of leaders and Church movements, and trace the historical development of Christian doctrine. These courses will help you understand and articulate Christianity’s rich history of the past 2,000 years.

Product Details

• Title: Church History: Foundational Study Bundle
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education
• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources
• Courses: 5
• Video Hours: 33

CH101 Introducing Church History I: Obscurity to Christendom

• Instructor: Frank A. James III
• Publication Date: 2016
• Video Hours: 6

Beginning with the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, CH101 covers the story of Christianity up to the 15th century. Dr. James unravels the distinct thought and persecution of the early Christians, as well as the key historical turning points that would result in the formation of doctrines such as the doctrine of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity.

This course introduces you to the important work of Augustine, who responded to the Donatists and Pelagius in a way that would have lasting marks on the church. Dr. James traces the historical context of the rise of the papacy; the violence of the first Crusades and their lingering effects; and the rise of medieval scholasticism, particularly in the work of Thomas Aquinas. This course concludes with an explanation of the Great Schism of the 14th century and the early reform attempts by John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, which paved the way for the Protestant Reformation.

Contents:

• Contours of the Early Church
• Persecution of the Early Church
• Theological Divisions in the Early Church
• Theological Turning Points: NT Canon, Marcion, the Trinity and Chalcedon
• Augustine’s Life and Work (against Donatism and Pelagianism)
• Rise of the Papacy
• Crusades
• Medieval Scholasticism
• Thomas Aquinas
• Late Medieval Maelstrom: The Great Schism and Early Reform Attempts

Dr. Frank A. James III brings his passion for understanding Christian faith throughout history, combined with 30 years of research and teaching experience, to bear on this two-course Church History bundle. With doctoral degrees in both theology and history, Dr. James is uniquely poised to help you better understand and trace the arc of Christian thought from its earliest days to its 21st century global presence.

Dr. James is president of Biblical Theological Seminary in the Philadelphia suburb of Hatfield, PA. Prior to taking his current post, he taught and served as president at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, and served as provost and taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. Additionally, he has been on the teaching faculties of Villanova University and Westmont College, and was a visiting professor at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University.

A Texas native, Dr. James holds a DPhil in history from Oxford University and a PhD in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is married to author Carolyn Custis James.

CH102 Introducing Church History II: Reformation to Postmodernism

• Instructor: Frank A. James III
• Publication Date: 2016
• Video Hours: 7

If you’ve ever wished you knew more about the events of the Protestant Reformation and how the Reformation produced the contemporary Protestant church, CH102 is for you. This course dispels popular misconceptions of Martin Luther’s intentions, and it provides a close look at Luther’s call from God which led him out of the monastery, his teaching on sola fide, and his eventual excommunication. Dr. James teaches you how to distinguish between Luther, the Swiss Reformers (including John Calvin, the “accidental reformer”), and the so-called Radical Reformers. He also provides a helpful explanation of the Council of Trent, the formation of the Jesuits, and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

Dr. James then helps you navigate the historical and theological developments that led to Arminianism, English Puritanism, and Puritanism in New England. Learn how the spiritual decline in England led to John Wesley’s Methodism, the English Revival, and the Great Awakening in America, and get an in-depth look at Christianity in the modern era. After this course, you will be able to articulate how even through all of the twists and turns of the past 2,000 years, God is still working in the modern church.

Contents:

• Luther’s Reformation
• The Swiss Reformation
• Radical Reformation
• Catholic Counter-Reformation
• Arminianism
• English Puritanism: Context and Cause
• New England Puritanism
• Methodism: John Wesley, English Spiritual Decline, and Moravian Influence
• The Great Awakening
• The Modern Church
• Protestant Liberalism
• Liberation Theologies
• Black and Feminist Theologies
• American Evangelicalism and Neo-Evangelicalism
• The Rise of Global Pentecostalism

Dr. Frank A. James III brings his passion for understanding Christian faith throughout history, combined with 30 years of research and teaching experience, to bear on this two-course Church History bundle. With doctoral degrees in both theology and history, Dr. James is uniquely poised to help you better understand and trace the arc of Christian thought from its earliest days to its 21st century global presence.

Dr. James is president of Biblical Theological Seminary in the Philadelphia suburb of Hatfield, PA. Prior to taking his current post, he taught and served as president at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, and served as provost and taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. Additionally, he has been on the teaching faculties of Villanova University and Westmont College, and was a visiting professor at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University.

A Texas native, Dr. James holds a DPhil in history from Oxford University and a PhD in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is married to author Carolyn Custis James.

CH151 Introducing Historical Theology I: Apostles to the Reformation

• Instructor: Roger Olson
• Publication Date: 2016
• Video Hours: 6

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.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Establishing the Roots of Theology

• 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

Unit 2: Theology in the Post-Apostolic Church

• 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

Unit 3: Theology in the Christian Roman Empire

• 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

Unit 4: The Deepening Divide between the East and the West

• 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

Unit 5: Theology in the High Middle Ages

• 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

Unit 6: Renaissance Theology

• 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

Conclusion

• 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.

CH152 Introducing Historical Theology II: Luther to the Twenty-First Century

• Instructor: Roger Olson
• Publication Date: 2016
• Video Hours: 6

In this course, you’ll begin by studying the Catholic church and its theology on the cusp of the Protestant Reformation, setting the stage for the work of Luther, Calvin, and other Protestant Reformers. You’ll continue on to study the post-Reformation period and various Christian movements such as Pietism, Puritanism, and Methodism. A study of modernity, beginning with the Enlightenment and the scientific revolutions, introduces the advent of liberal theology and the response of conservative theologians to the challenges of modernity. The course ends with a study of the postmodernity—its meaning, and the variety of ways that Christian theologians have responded to postmodern thought.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Sixteenth-Century Reformation

• Roman Catholic Theology on the Eve of the Reformation
• Luther and the Beginnings of Protestant Theology
• The Doctrinal Views of Luther
• Zwingli, Calvin, and Reformed Theology
• Key Views of Reformed Theology
• The Radical Reformers
• The English Reformation and Anglican Theology
• Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent
• The Scottish Reformation and Puritanism

Unit 2: Aftermath of the Reformation

• Protestant Scholasticism and Confessionalism
• Arminius and the Remonstrant Controversy
• Puritan Theology and Jonathan Edwards
• Pietism
• Wesley and Methodism
• Deism and Natural Religion
• Beginnings of Baptist Theology

Unit 3: Theology in Relation to Modernity

• The Enlightenment: Science and Theology
• The Enlightenment: Philosophy and Theology
• Friedrich Schleiermacher and Liberal Theology
• Charles Hodge and Conservative Theology
• Roman Catholic Modernism
• Mediating Theology

Unit 4: Early Twentieth-Century Movements

• Fundamentalism
• The Social Gospel
• Karl Barth and Dialectical Theology
• Reinhold Niebuhr and Christian Realism
• Existentialist Theology
• Process Theology
• Religionless Christianity and the Death of God Theology
• Theology of Hope

Unit 5: Late Twentieth-Century Movements

• New Approaches to Roman Catholicism
• Theologies of Liberation
• Evangelical Theologies
• Renaissance of the Doctrine of the Trinity

Unit 6: Postmodern Movements

• Development of Postmodernity
• Deconstructionism
• Postliberal Theology
• Stanley Hauerwas and Postmodernity
• The Global South

Conclusion

• 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.

CS201 Western Civilization: Greeks to Aquinas

• Instructor: Bryan Litfin
• Publication Date: 2014
• Video Hours: 8

Survey over 1,200 years of western civilization with Dr. Bryan Litfin—theologian, historian, and acclaimed author. Hear about the trials and triumphs of the church throughout the most pivotal stages of western civilization, from the spread of Hellenism, to the fall of Rome and the rise of Europe. Find out how the church established the canon of scripture and developed the early creeds. Gain insight into why the church met in councils and how they defined doctrines like the nature of Jesus Christ and the Trinity. Discover how Christianity influenced western culture, as well as how western culture influenced Christianity—in politics, art and architecture, and education. Finally, learn about the role of the papacy in religious reform and how the crusades related to the emergence of Islam.

Dr. Litfin combines his research in the early church, cultural studies, and historical doctrine into this unique eight-hour course, designed for Mobile Ed.

Contents:

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Introduction: A Christian View of History

• The Concept of “Catholicity”
• The Methods of Historical Inquiry: How Do We Do History?

Unit 2: Background of the Early Church: Judaism

• Monotheism
• Jewish History to the Time of Jesus
• Key Aspects of First-Century Judaism
• Using Ratings and Collections to Search for Key Terms

Unit 3: Background of the Early Church: The Greeks

• The Classical Era
• Alexander and His Conquests
• Features of Hellenism

Unit 4: Background of the Early Church: The Romans

• Rome and the Early Church: Friends or Foes?
• A Brief Survey of Roman History
• Aspects of Roman Culture Conducive to the Gospel
• Using Search Operators to Find Information about Roman Travel

Unit 5: The Birth of Christianity

• Key Ideas of the “Orthodox” Church
• The Myth of Early Universal Orthodoxy
• The Myth of Radical Diversity
• How Orthodoxy Was Formed

Unit 6: Judaism and the Early Church

• Hebrews, Hellenists, and Heretical Sects
• James and the Jerusalem Church
• Understanding and Using the Referent Database
• The Church versus the Synagogue

Unit 7: Strategies to Achieve Catholicity

• The Monepiscopacy
• Using Louw-Nida Numbers to Research Church Leadership
• The Canon of Scripture
• The Creeds of the Ancient Church

Unit 8: Persecution in the Early Church

• The Reasons behind Persecution
• The Roman Imperial Cult
• Historical Stages of Persecution
• Using the Timeline to Look Up Persecution in Church History

Unit 9: Imperial Christianity

• The Rise of Constantine
• Two Important Successors to Constantine
• The Imperial Theology of Eusebius

Unit 10: The Council of Nicaea

• The Theology of Arius
• Nicene Trinitarianism

Unit 11: Early Christian Art and Architecture

• The Catacombs
• Finding Images of the Catacombs and Storing Them in Favorites
• Types of Early Christian Art
• Triumphal Art after Constantine
• Early Christian Buildings

Unit 12: Augustine of Hippo

• Augustine’s Life
• Augustine’s View of History
• Using Notes to Track Augustine’s View of the Two Cities
• Augustine’s Legacy for Western Civilization

Unit 13: The Council of Chalcedon

• Heretical Christologies
• The Alexandrians and the Antiochians
• Chalcedon and Its Aftermath

Unit 14: Early Christian Monasticism

• Antecedents of Early Christian Monasticism
• The Historical Motive
• Finding Information on the Origins of Monasticism
• Key Figures in Early Christian Monasticism

Unit 15: Christian Mission

• Alternate Christian Expressions
• Early Missionary Efforts

Unit 16: The Byzantine World

• Constantine and His City
• The Splendor of Justinian
• Conversion of the Slavs
• Eastern Orthodox Distinctives

Unit 17: The Fall of Rome

• Historical Explanations
• The Barbarian Invasions
• New Alliances for the Church

Unit 18: The Rise of the Papacy

• Apostolic Succession
• The Prestige of Rome
• Theology of the Papacy
• Using the Clause Search to Explore the Relationship between Jesus and Peter
• Key Figures in the Development of the Papacy

Unit 19: British and Celtic Christianity

• Early History of the British Isles
• Christianity in Britain
• The Celtic Church
• The Anglo-Saxons

Unit 20: The Birth of Europe

• Political Structures
• Religious Beliefs and Practices
• Cultural Institutions
• Using the Sermon Starter Guide to Find a Biblical Perspective on War

Unit 21: Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance

• Rise of the Carolingians out of the Dark Ages
• Rebirth under Charlemagne
• The Holy Roman Empire
• The Viking Invasions

Unit 22: The High Middle Ages

• Reforms of Gregory VII
• Lay Investiture Controversy
• Romanesque and Gothic Architectural Styles
• The Great Schism

Unit 23: Life in Medieval Christendom

• William the Conqueror
• Norman Castles
• Thomas Becket and the “Murder in the Cathedral”
• Pope Innocent III

Unit 24: The Crusades

• Interpretation and Motivations
• Historical Context: The Rise of Islam
• The First Crusade
• Results of the Crusades

Unit 25: Medieval Intellectualism

• Two Important Intellectual Leaders: Alcuin and Anselm
• New Monastic Orders: Cistercians, Dominicans, and Franciscans
• Rise of the Universities
• Scholasticism and Thomas Aquinas

Conclusion

• Conclusion to the Course

Dr. Bryan M. Litfin professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, teaches courses in theology, church history, and Western civilization from ancient and medieval periods. He is the author of Early Christian Martyr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction with New Translations and Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction as well as several scholarly articles and essays.