THEO 206 - Introduction to Christian Origins
complete course notes 2025 Concordia University
THEO 206
Lesson 1
The Earliest Christian Writings
Figure of Jesus
● Historical figure who lived 2000 years ago
● Dealing with issues like volatility and genuinity writings (earliest scriptures
known to become the bible)
● 2 parts of the bible old and new testament
● Importance of methods of biblical interpretation
● Interpretation methods (literal method, allegorical method, mystical method,
moral method, todaysTex
tbook
● Cove method: Historical critical method)
Intro to the rs first 6 centuries
● Starting from the bible, going into the sixth century
READINGS
Late Antique World Map
●
, ●
Roman Emperors
●
Leading Figures
,●
●
, INTRO
● The Patristic Period
● This period is the first centuries of christian tradition
● Period of the founders of the church
● ‘Fathers’ who did pioneering work in turning the Christian movement into a
self-assured religious, social, and intellectual force
● In the course of various feats of self-presentation and self-defense the church
leaders—not all were men—gave shape to the essential contours of what
became a well-circumscribed entity, Christian life and thought
● Time span of the Period
● the beginning follows on the life and work of Jesus’ immediate followers
● starts with the so-called postapostolic times, roughly 100 of the common era
(C.E.)
● Less agreement on end of period
● Various dates are proposed:
● 1. Protestant tendency is to have the Patristic Period end, and the Middle
Ages begin, with Constantine (306–337)
● 2. Catholic pick later date, 11th century
● 3. Those who wish to count Augustine among the medieval writers have the
Patristic Period end around 400
● 4. Others 476, death of last emporer of the west
● 5. 604 in the west, year of death of gregory the great
● 6. 749 in the East, the year of the death of John of Damascus
● 7. 787, the year of the seventh general council
● 8. 632, the year of Muhammad’s death, because of the radical change
brought about by the Muslim irruption around the Mediterranean
complete course notes 2025 Concordia University
THEO 206
Lesson 1
The Earliest Christian Writings
Figure of Jesus
● Historical figure who lived 2000 years ago
● Dealing with issues like volatility and genuinity writings (earliest scriptures
known to become the bible)
● 2 parts of the bible old and new testament
● Importance of methods of biblical interpretation
● Interpretation methods (literal method, allegorical method, mystical method,
moral method, todaysTex
tbook
● Cove method: Historical critical method)
Intro to the rs first 6 centuries
● Starting from the bible, going into the sixth century
READINGS
Late Antique World Map
●
, ●
Roman Emperors
●
Leading Figures
,●
●
, INTRO
● The Patristic Period
● This period is the first centuries of christian tradition
● Period of the founders of the church
● ‘Fathers’ who did pioneering work in turning the Christian movement into a
self-assured religious, social, and intellectual force
● In the course of various feats of self-presentation and self-defense the church
leaders—not all were men—gave shape to the essential contours of what
became a well-circumscribed entity, Christian life and thought
● Time span of the Period
● the beginning follows on the life and work of Jesus’ immediate followers
● starts with the so-called postapostolic times, roughly 100 of the common era
(C.E.)
● Less agreement on end of period
● Various dates are proposed:
● 1. Protestant tendency is to have the Patristic Period end, and the Middle
Ages begin, with Constantine (306–337)
● 2. Catholic pick later date, 11th century
● 3. Those who wish to count Augustine among the medieval writers have the
Patristic Period end around 400
● 4. Others 476, death of last emporer of the west
● 5. 604 in the west, year of death of gregory the great
● 6. 749 in the East, the year of the death of John of Damascus
● 7. 787, the year of the seventh general council
● 8. 632, the year of Muhammad’s death, because of the radical change
brought about by the Muslim irruption around the Mediterranean
