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.
• Module 101: Didache (ca. 120). An early church manual instructs in Christian behavior.
• Module 102: Pliny’s Letter (ca. 111). A pagan official asks the emperor how Christians are to be handled.
• Module 103: Polycarp (ca. 69-ca. 155). How a faithful Christian bishop died in flame.
• Module 104: Tertullian (ca. 155-230). The first theologian of the western church speaks out.
• Module 105: Cyprian (d. 258). North African bishop writes on the unity of the church.
• Module 106: Antony (ca. 251-356). A biography of the first notable Christian monk.
• Module 107: Constantine (ca. 274-337). Constantine’s conversion had a mighty impact.
• Module 108: Athanasius (ca. 296-373). Implications of Christ becoming a man.
• Module 109: Nicea (325). The battle over Christ’s Divinity.
• Module 110: Augustine (354-430). A sermon on love–but will you agree with his definition?
• Module 111: Leo the Great (d. 461). Leo I claims that the bishop of Rome is above all other bishops.
• Module 112: Patrick (5th century). St. Patrick’s “confession,” a short autobiography.
• Module 113: Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604). How Gregory sent Augustine to convert the England.
