Ideas en route to Orthodoxy: The Shaping of Doctrine in the Early Church

The settled theological statements of the fifth and sixth centuries all had histories, arising as they did from the ebb and flow of living Christian communities. Reflects on those histories, focusing on the period prior to 450 AD. The growth of the concept of orthodoxy will be examined, the shape of the orthodoxy which emerged will be discussed, and the stories of people and ideas never recognized as orthodox will be explored. Theological currents being considered will be held firmly in their social and political contexts. Wherever possible, various streams of thought will be approached through original documents (in translation). Prerequisites: HIST 561, HIST 562, THEO 531 and THEO 532. Same as THEO 782.