Early Church Modules
These thirteen modules, consisting of excerpts from documents in church history, were chosen and introduced by church historian Stephen Tomkins. They are intended for self study or as a quarterly introduction for a weekly Sunday school class or other study group. To receive email notification as new modules are released, sign up at the left.
• Module 1: Didache (ca. 120). An early church manual instructs in Christian behavior.
• Module 2: Pliny’s Letter (ca. 111). A pagan official asks the emperor how Christians are to be handled.
• Module 3: Polycarp (ca. 69-ca. 155). How a faithful Christian bishop died in flame.
• Module 4: Tertullian (ca. 155-230). The first theologian of the western church speaks out.
• Module 5: Cyprian (d. 258). North African bishop writes on the unity of the church.
• Module 6: Antony (ca. 251-356). A biography of the first notable Christian monk.
• Module 7: Constantine (ca. 274-337). Constantine’s conversion had a mighty impact.
• Module 8: Athanasius (ca. 296-373). Implications of Christ becoming a man.
• Module 9: Nicea (325). The battle over Christ’s Divinity.
• Module 10: Augustine (354-430). A sermon on love–but will you agree with his definition?
• Module 11: Leo the Great (d. 461). Leo I claims that the bishop of Rome is above all other bishops.
• Module 12: Patrick (5th century). St. Patrick’s “confession,” a short autobiography.
• Module 13: Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604). How Gregory sent Augustine to convert the England.
