T8171 – Church Fathers: An Introduction

Unit Code

T8171

Unit Name

Church Fathers: An Introduction (postgraduate)

Unit Weighting

9  Credit Points

Type of Unit

Foundational

Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions

Nil

Academic Staff

Michael Ibrahim BE (Hons) University of Sydney, BSc (Hons) University of Sydney, MA (Theology) SAGOTC, PhD cand. (MQ)

Mode

Students may enrol to attend all on-campus lectures (as per Schedule) or to study online.

Curriculum Objectives

This course unit engages the thought and methods of the early Church Fathers, investigating the major trends in Christian tradition to early fifth century. It assists students to understand the connection between historical circumstances, the spiritual life and the formulation of Christian theology.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Appreciate the historical and ecclesial contexts of various trends in early patristic tradition
2. Display an awareness of the main themes pertaining to early patristic tradition
3. Utilise primary and secondary sources in the analysis of patristic themes
4. Analyse themes pertaining to the early patristic tradition within their immediate and distant literary and historical contexts
5. Assess the relevance of patristic tradition to contemporary scholarship and the Christian experience

Content

1. Introduction
2. Approach to Patristics
3. Apostolic Fathers
4. Apologists
5. Alexandrians
6. Early Syriac
7. Early Latin Fathers
8. St Athanasius
9. Monasticism
10. Cappadocians
11. John Chrysostom
12. Synopsis of Patristic Themes