Church history

The Church of the first centuries

From the apostles to Constantine

How did a small Jewish community become the religion of the Roman Empire? This course follows the apostles' successors, the great controversies of the second century, the first defenders of the faith and the turning point of the fourth century, between persecution and imperial favour.

4 lessons≈ 12 min readFree
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Course outline

  1. The Apostolic Fathers

    After the apostles died, their disciples took over. Who were Clement, Ignatius and Polycarp, and how did they keep the heritage they had received?

    3 min read

  2. Gnostics, Montanists and Marcion

    In the second century, several movements claimed Christ while departing from the apostles' teaching. Their challenge forced the Church to define itself.

    3 min read

  3. The first defenders of the faith

    Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and Origen defended the Gospel with arguments, writings and a method. They laid the foundations of Christian theology.

    3 min read

  4. From persecution to Christian Empire

    In ten years, Christians went from the Great Persecution to the emperor's protection. This reversal profoundly transformed the Church.

    3 min read

Adapted from Alexandre Hérault's master's thesis, “A Historical Study of the Concept of Canon” (Continental Theological Seminary, 2013).