Church History Syllabus @ Trinity Christian School | Spring 2010

Course Description
When one identifies themselves with a cause or a group, their particular story
becomes their own in many ways. As Americans the history of the 50 United
States is an important part to our citizenry. The same is true for other
nationalities, ethnicities, and religions. For everyone who calls themselves a
Christian the history of the church becomes their own heritage. If you recall the
definition of the church is “those who God called to himself.” From the
resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to the 21st century, one understands
what it means to be a Christian. Just as important it is history that proves the
gospel to us. Upon examination of history it is seen that Christianity has a
profound impact on the world.

Our driving purpose for this class is: “by studying history we learn what it means
to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who glorifies the Father.”

Classroom Policy
• Be in the classroom before the late bell. Your teacher will assign tardies.
• Take notes. Do not do other homework for other classes, or read the latest
Twilight book.
• Be involved in class discussion. Your feedback is necessary. This class should
be enjoyable and lively.
• Any late assignment is automatically 50% off.

Assessment and Grading Policy

• quizzes - weekly quizzes (the last day we have school of every week)
• tests - objective (people and vocabulary) and essay oriented
 Church History Syllabus @ Trinity Christian School | Spring 2010

• projects - biography reports, FAQ sheets, interviews, etc.

• discussion and classroom participation - 25 pts assigned weekly.
• memorization work (Apostle’s Creed, catechesis, etc.)
• extra credit - a journal of a Christian classic. Suggestions are:
‣ Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
‣ Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
‣ Martin Luther, The Freedom of the Christian
‣ John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
‣ A Puritan Paperback (published by “The Banner of Truth Trust”)
‣ John Machen, Christianity and Liberalism

Textbook:
• B.K. Kuiper. The Church in History. William B Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
Grand Rapids, MI. 1964
• various readings from selected sources
• The Holy Bible. Your teacher uses the English Standard Version (Wheaton:
2007), but any translation is welcome (NIV, NLT, NASB, and NKJV).

Units with summaries

1. the Apostolic Era - after Christ’s ascension the church had to put into practice
what Christ lived and taught. God led the church at this time through his
apostles.
2. the Patristic Era - after the apostles died, the church developed an authority
structure to preserve the apostolic teaching (the gospel)
3. the Imperial Church - Christianity defeated the empire, which was realized
with the emperor Constantine. It was the church that held the empire (east
and west) together for the years to come.
4. Byzantium and Islam - eastern Roman Empire and the new bad guy
5. Christendom and the Crusades - Charlemange and the new Rome take on the
greatest threat to the gospel
6. Scholasticism, Humanism, and Monasticism - the rise of universities, learning,
monks, and science
7. the Reformation and Colonization - the new world and a renewed focus on the
gospel; the missionary movement (William Carey)
8. American Christianity - separation of church and state, Ivy League schools,
theological liberalism, pentecostalism, revivalism, pietism, & the African
American church.
9. Global Christianity - 9/10 Christians by 2020 will be from the Eastern and
Southern Hemispheres.

Lecture Sequence [subject to change]

- Unit 1: the Apostolic Era
The Jewish and Roman Context
The Apostle’s and their Mission (missionary methods)
Judaism and Christianity: their relationship (Hebrews)
Problems of the Early Church
- Unit 2: the Patristic Era
the Apostle’s disciples
the life of Polycarp
the Cruelty of Heresy: Ebionitism, Docetism, Gnosticism, Monatism
 Church History Syllabus @ Trinity Christian School | Spring 2010

Christian Authority: Creed, Canon, Council, and Episcopate

Persecution, Martyrdom, and the Donatists
- Unit 3: the Imperial Church
the Death of an Empire
the life of Constantine
Heresy: Arianism
the Council of Nicea
the lives of Athanasias, Ambrose, Augustine
Heresy: Pelagianism
- Unit 4: Byzantium and Islam
Eastern Christianity
the Great Cappadocians
Iconoclasm
the Rise of Islam: the Greatest Christian Heresy
the Islamic Conquests
- Unit 5: Christendom and the Crusades
the Merovingian Kings and “the Dark Age”
the life of Charlemagne
the Carolingian Renaissance: Classical Education
the Crusades: the first counter terrorist unit?
the advent of Eastern Orthodoxy
- Unit 6: Scholasticism, Humanism, and Monasticism
Profiles: the schoolman (Abelard, Aquinas, etc.)
University Theology
Monastic Orders: Augustinian, Benedictian, Dominican, Franciscan
the Inquisition
- Unit 7: the Reformation and Colonization
the Strategy of the Reformation: the Importance of Cities
Protestantism and the Problem of Heresy
Profiles: Martin Luther and Co.
Alternatives to Luther and Rome
the Dangerous Idea of the Reformation
the Catholic Counter-Reformation
Puritanism and the Westminster Assembly
- Unit 8: American Christianity
Excursus: Hudson Taylor, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Amy
Carmichael
Profiles: Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, David Brainard
Faith in the American Enterprise: the separation of church and state
New Trajectories: Liberalism, Pietism, Revivialism, and Pentecostalism
Excursus: Christianity behind “the Iron Curtain”
- Unit 9: Global Christianity
Unreached People Groups and the 10/40 Window
“Christian” America: the World’s Mission Field