The Theology of the Early Church

The patristic period is the most formative period of Christian theology. Studying it is to place oneself in a privileged position from which to understand the emergence of a whole tradition of thought, with its basic motives, problems, and solutions. This is the period in which the early church, with its Biblical legacy, takes root in the world of ancient Greece and Rome. Studying patristic theology, however, is more than a historical exercise, for contemporary theology is very often characterized by a retrieval of ancient sources, which is why a solid grounding in the theology of the early church remains indispensable for theological work at a higher level. This course focuses on the reading of patristic primary sources and provides a well-rounded understanding the theological situation of the early church.