History
Ancient Christianity
11 lessons
9.5h total length
Learn the inspiring stories of the ancient Christians!
Lessons in this course
13:32
lesson 1
Introduction
Religion in the ancient world was local and particular. The monotheism of the Jewish faith and the standards of Greek philosophy prepared the way for the growth of Christianity—the universal faith.
24:40
lesson 2
The Message of Christianity
Jesus of Nazareth was born to poor Jewish parents under the legal authority of Caesar Augustus—who was declared in his lifetime to be the son of a god and the savior of his people. The great challenge of the early Christians was to explain the audacious message of the Incarnation—that the true God of the Universe entered the world as a baby in Bethlehem.
42:56
lesson 3
The World before Christ
Jesus was born into the long history of Judaism, which through the centuries before his birth, included being conquered, exiled, and ruled by foreigners. But this meant that Judaism and its messianic promise were familiar to many cultures, including the Greeks and the Romans.
30:19
lesson 4
The Life of Jesus
Jesus performed miraculous healing, encouraged friendliness, and preached peace. Yet the Romans crucified Him because they, and the Jewish leaders, feared His claim to be God would disrupt the order and peace.
37:48
lesson 5
Apostles, Creeds, and Scripture
The apostles spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire after Christ’s death and trained others to preach the good news. As Christianity spread, many of the leading Christian apologists clarified their faith by forming credal statements of belief.
23:17
lesson 6
The Rise of Roman Persecution
Most Romans were suspicious of this new religion because Christians refused to partake in pagan rituals and services that the Romans believed were necessary for good order. And unlike the Jews, the Christians did not have a long history or tradition.
32:32
lesson 7
North African Defenders of the Faith
Persecutions eventually spread throughout the Empire and were mandated by the emperors even as the Empire went through a century of chaos and instability. Many leading Christians began to defend their faith more vigorously, which also led to disputes and schisms between believers.
20:59
lesson 8
Diocletian and the Great Persecution
The emperor Diocletian managed to bring some momentary peace and stability to Rome by splitting the Empire under four emperors in what is known as the tetrarchy. But he blamed the Christians for the unrest Rome had faced and increased the persecutions.
33:39
lesson 9
Constantine and the Council of Nicaea
After the collapse of the tetrarchy, Constantine reunited the Roman Empire. He converted to Christianity after a miraculous vision on the eve of battle. As a serious dispute arose within the faith over the nature of Jesus, Constantine called for the Council of Nicaea to unify the faith.
35:20
lesson 10
The Sons of Constantine and the Crisis of Faith
Constantine’s sons divided the Empire but fought amongst one another until the middle brother, Constantius II, controlled the entire Empire. After his death, their cousin Julian assumed the throne but abandoned the Christian faith and tried to revive Roman paganism.
23:24
lesson 11
The Collapse of Rome and the Age of Augustine
Augustine of Hippo explained Christian theology throughout his many writings, including Confessions and City of God. He defended the faith during the time when Rome itself was sacked. As the Empire collapsed, Christianity provided the hope and promise of a renaissance of civilization.
Watch the course trailer
Enroll in "Ancient Christianity" by clicking the button below.
What Current Students Are Saying
The lecture is wonderfully delivered. The material is both comprehensive and informative and actually brings clarity to many events occurring both before the coming of Christ, during his life on Earth, and during the developmental years of Christianity.
Create your FREE account today!
All you need to access our courses and start learning today is your email address.