History of Christianity Primary Texts

RE 315 History of Christianity I

Primary texts for Fall Term 2009

Dr. Kleinhans

Readings for Unit I

Readings for Unit II

Readings for Unit III

Click here for links to other primary source documents.

For Friday 9/11

The Didache

Questions to consider as you read: Who do you think wrote this text? When? For what purpose?

Does it remind you of anything else you have read?

For Monday 9/14

Persecution

Pliny's correspondence with Trajan, ca. 111-113 A.D.

Perpetua: The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, 203 A.D.

The Legalization of Christianity

"Conversion" of Constantine, as reported by Eusebius

Edicts of Toleration 311/313 A.D.

The Theodosian Code: excerpt 1 and excerpt 2

For Wednesday 9/23 The Meaning of "Canon"

Various canon lists

The Vincentian Canon, 434 A.D

Canons of the Council of Nicea, 325 A.D.

Questions to consider as you read: What do these readings have in common? How do they differ?

Can you think of a way to define “canon” so that all three readings are included?

For Friday 9/25 The Arian Controversy

Arius' views: Letter to Alexander and Alexander's Deposition of Arius

Questions to consider as you read: What were the main points of disagreement between Arius and Alexander?

Why were Arius’ views condemned? What do you think about how the disagreement was handled?

For Monday 9/28

The Christological Definition of the Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D.

Try to “unpack” the language of this brief reading. What understandings are being promoted?

What understandings are being rejected?

For Wednesday 9/30

Augustine excerpts:

From "On Christian Doctrine"

Read chapters 3, 4, 5, 22 of Book I

From "On the Trinity"

Read enough to get an understanding of (1) how Augustine understands the Trinity and (2) how he understands humans as created in the image of the Trinity

From "City of God"

Readings for Unit II

For Monday 10/5

As you read each of the following texts, pay attention to the relationship between church and state and to the role of the Bishop of Rome.

Leo I and Attila

Leo I, Petrine Doctrine (also known as "papal primacy")

Conversion of Clovis

"The Donation of Constantine" (ca 750-800)

For Wednesday 10/7

These texts present different sides of the controversy concerning icons in the Eastern church. Try to gain a basic understanding of the reasons some Christians opposed icons and the reasons other Christians supported the use of icons.

In Defense of Icons, John of Damascus, ca. 730 A.D.

Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754 A.D.

Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787 A.D.

For Friday 10/16

Gregory VII, Dictatus Papae (1090)

For Monday 10/19

Pope Urban II's speech at the Council of Clermont, 1095 A.D.

For Wednesday 10/21

Anselm (1033-1109), Cur Deus Homo ("Why God Became Man")

Read Preface, chapters I, XX and XXIV in Book I, and chapters VI-VII in Book II

Arguments for the Existence of God: Anselm and Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

For Monday 10/26

St. Francis (1182-1226): Canticle of the Sun (skip over the Italian to get to the English translation)
Rule of Franciscan order Compare to Rule of Benedict, which you read earlier in the term.

John Wycliffe, condemnation and reply, 1382 and 1384

For Friday 11/6

Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctum (1302)

Introduction to Day 1 of Boccaccio's Decameron

Petrarch, Letter Criticizing the Avignon Papacy

Unit III

For Wednesday 11/18

Martin Luther's "Reformation breakthrough"

Martin Luther's 95 Theses

Martin Luther's definition of faith

For Monday 11/23

John Calvin on double predestination