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Patristics is the study of the ‘Fathers’ of early Christian theology. The title of ‘Father’ (Pater) has been assigned to Christian writers, whose teachings in theology were held by later medieval and modern authors to hold a paternal authority in the earliest stages of the nascent development of Christian theology. Patristic studies extend to the literature from AD 100 at the end of the ‘Apostolic Era’ of the first Apostles of Jesus to AD 787 at the last of the first seven ecumenical Councils, the Second Council of Nicaea.
In this five-week course, we will survey the organic and progressive development of Christian theology in the Patristic era that continues to shape Christian belief and practice to the present day. Rather than pursuing an exhaustive study of seminal authors, it will focus on the controversies surrounding the key ideas of God, the Trinity, and Christ. The course will accordingly proceed chronologically and geographically: from the early Christian apologists; to the Alexandrian origins of systematic theology; to the establishment of Nicene-Cappadocian trinitarian orthodoxy; to key authors whose influence would shape Latin and Greek theology unto the present day. Students who participate in this course will learn about the authors, ideas, and formative stages in the development of Christian theology.
Week 1 - The Early Apologists
In the first week, we will explore how the post-Apostolic Christian apologists of the2nd-Century sought to defend and distinguish the new Christian ideas of God, Christ, scripture, tradition, and the Church from the prevailing beliefs and practices of Gnostics, Hebrew, and Greco-Roman pagans. In particular, we will investigate the development of the idea of the divinity and incarnation of Christ, and the challenges it would raise for Christian theology.
Week 2 - Philosophical Theology
This week we continue to explore how writers in Alexandria created ‘theology’ by assimilating the leading currents of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy like the ‘spoils of the Egyptians’ into a philosophical system for interpreting scripture and tradition. In particular, we will investigate the earliest stage in the development of the signature Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, in which three divine persons are united in one divine essence.
Week 3 - Nicaea and Cappadocia
Here we explore the first great controversy and the first ecumenical council. The Arian Controversy was answered by Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea, which defined the Son as ‘consubstantial’ with the Father. Following this controversy, the Cappadocian Fathers developed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. In particular, we will investigate the relation of the Trinity to Christology and subsequent controversies.
Week 4 - Latin Theology
In the fourth week, we will continue to explore Latin Post-Nicene theology. Greek philosophy and rhetoric was introduced into Latin theology by Victorinus and Ambrose. The distinctive character of Latin theology was defended by Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, and Augustine, who is widely regarded as the most influential of the Church Fathers. In particular, we will explore the Pelagian controversy of grace and salvation.
Week 5 - Greek Theology
In the fifth week, we will conclude by exploring Greek Post-Nicene theology. The Council of Chalcedon, which defined the hypostatic union of Christ as two natures in one person, was followed by renewed investigations of John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria on the divine liturgy and Mariology, Pseudo-Dionysius on the Divine Names, Maximus on the synthesis of all in Christ, and John Damascene on the coinherence of three divine persons in one divine essence. Finally, we will survey the contributions of the Church Fathers to Christian theology.
In the first week, we will explore how the post-Apostolic Christian apologists of the 2nd-Centurysought to defend and distinguish the new Christian ideas of God, Christ, scripture, tradition, and the Church from the prevailing beliefs and practices of Gnostics, Hebrew, and Greco-Roman pagans. In particular, we will investigate the development of the idea of the divinity and incarnation of Christ, and the challenges it would raise for Christian theology.
Questions
1. What distinguished early Christians from non-Christian Jews? From Gentiles?
2. How did Christian theologians distinguish and defend their belief in divinity of Christ?
3. What implications did the divinity of Christ have for early Christian theology?
Key Authors: Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Irenaeus
In the second week, we will continue to explore how writers in Alexandria created ‘theology’ by assimilating the leading currents of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy like the ‘spoils of the Egyptians’ into a philosophical system for interpreting scripture and tradition. In particular, we will investigate the earliest stage in the development of the signature Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, in which three divine persons are united in one divine essence.
Introduction
Questions
1. What is the difference between Greek philosophy and Christian theology?
2. How should we interpret holy scripture with the techniques of philosophy?
3. Why did Christian theologians conceive of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity?
Key Authors: Philo, Clement, Origen, and Didymus
In the third week, we will explore the first great controversy and the first ecumenical council. The Arian Controversy was answered by Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea, which defined the Son as ‘consubstantial’ with the Father. Following this controversy, the Cappadocian Fathers developed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. In particular, we will investigate the relation of the Trinity to Christology and subsequent controversies.
Questions
1. What does it mean to say that the Son is‘ consubstantial’ with the Father?
2. How did Athanasius answer Arius’ belief in the primordial ‘making’ of the Son?
3. How can three divine persons be equal in divinity yet distinct in operations?
Key Authors: Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzus, and Basil the Great
In the fourth week, we will continue to explore Latin Post-Nicene theology. Greek philosophy and rhetoric was introduced into Latin theology by Victorinus and Ambrose. The distinctive character of Latin theology was defended by Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, and Augustine, who is widely regarded as the most influential of the Church Fathers. In particular, we will explore the Pelagian controversy of grace and salvation.
Questions
1. How was Greek philosophy and theology transformed by its translation into Latin?
2. Where can we discover anticipations of medieval and modern thought in Augustine?
3. What are some of the implications of Augustine’s answer to Pelagius for today?
Key Authors: Victorinus, Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome
In the fifth week, we will conclude by exploring Greek Post-Nicene theology. The Council of Chalcedon, which defined the hypostatic union of Christ as two natures in one person, was followed by renewed investigations of John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria on the divine liturgy and Mariology, Pseudo-Dionysius on the Divine Names, Maximus on the synthesis of all in Christ, and John Damascene on the coherence of three divine persons in one divine essence. Finally, we will survey the contributions of the Church Fathers to Christian theology.
Audio recording
Coming soon
Questions
1. How can Christ be a hypostatic union of a divine and a human nature in one person?
2. What are the radical implications of saying that Mary is the ‘Mother of God’?
3. How can three divine persons coinhere in one another, as in one divine essence?
Key Authors: Cyril of Alexandria, Pseudo-Dionysius, Maximus, and John Damascene
Dr. Ryan Haecker is a theologian and philosopher affiliated with the William Temple Foundation. His research explores the intersections of ancient Platonism, medieval scholasticism, and modern idealism for modern theology. He received a PhD in Theology and Religious Studies from Peterhouse, University of Cambridge, Faculty of Divinity. He has previously studied history, philosophy, and theology at the University of Texas, the University of Würzburg, and the University of Nottingham. His research interests extend to Trinitarian Ontology, Philosophy of Logic, Platonism, Patristics, German Idealism, Systematic and Historical Theology. He is currently editing a two-volume collection, ‘New Trinitarian Ontologies’.
