early-church
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Explore the world between Malachi and Matthew: Persian, Greek, Hasmonean, and Roman rule, and the Jewish setting behind the New Testament.
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How does Marcion’s legacy surface in modern Bible reading? Examine the separation of Jesus from Israel’s Scriptures and the apostolic gospel.
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Examine the appeal of secret spiritual knowledge and the return of Gnostic patterns in modern Christianity, with an emphasis on public apostolic teaching.
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Why did Paul write so many letters? Explore mission, distance, pastoral care, and the particular churches and problems behind his correspondence.
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Compare Luke’s account in Acts with Paul’s letters, considering genre, purpose, and the challenges of reconstructing history from different witnesses.
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Explore the distinction between authority and ontology in early Christian claims about Jesus, and why narrative context matters before later definitions.
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How should we read Luke as a historical writer? Consider ancient historiography, narrative purpose, and the evidence behind judgments about Luke and Acts.
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What is the Didache? Explore this early Christian teaching text, including the Two Ways, baptism, prayer, Eucharist, and community discernment.
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Meet the Shepherd of Hermas, an early Christian work of visions, commands, and parables concerned with repentance, moral formation, and life in the church.
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Contrast a thin account of Christianity with a faith shaped by community, practice, and responsibility, drawing on the life of the earliest churches.
