Doctrine in Historical Perspective

This module gives a brief overview of church history and an exposure to selected primary sources from Christian theology across the centuries Each unit begins with an overview of ‘the story’ of the church using the set text This is followed by guided readings from key theological texts from that period

The course consists of these nine units:

1. The Church Fathers

2. The Medieval Period

3. The Reformation

4 Interim Assignment

5 Puritans and Baptists

6 Evangelicalism

7 The Twentieth Century

8/9 Final assignment

The interim and final assignments for this module are closely linked The interim assignment involves engaging with a primary source The final assignment involves evaluating the same source or its writer in their historical context, as well as exploring their contemporary relevance

Example interim: Summarise The Glory of Christ by John Owen

Example final: Explore the pastoral implications of John Owen’s christology

The module aims to:

● provide a brief overview of church history

● introduce students to selected key theologians through their writings

● develop skills in reading and evaluating historical texts in their context

● explore selected key themes in systematic theology from an historical perspective

The successful student will be able to:

● locate and understand an historical event or document in the wider context of church history

● deploy basic skills in understanding and evaluating the doctrinal heritage of the Christian church in the light of biblical teaching

● appreciate the value of applying lessons from church history to contemporary challenges

Example set text: Ian J Shaw, Christianity the Biography: Two Thousand Years of the Global Church (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2016)