Dr. Oriens:
Is the proposed course about the fathers, or about the faith of those
fathers? If it is about the fathers themselves, then you'll have to be
very selective about which ten to include and which to ignore. That seems
to be the focal point of our discussion so far. On the other hand, if you
were to focus on the faith rather than on the fathers, then a more topical
approach might be used. You might pursue how the deposit of faith and the
confession of that faith was affected at various times and places by
various fathers and, for that matter, by various heretics.
For example, you might start with Alexandrian theology and discuss
Clement of Alexandria's use of allegorical exegesis (similar to Philo), his
use of Greek philosophy and his attempts to defend true Christianity as the
true gnosis and the true philosophy. Then move on to a discussion of
Origen (who was so influential in the development of Christian dogma that
he cannot be ignored). In the next class period you might discuss the
trinitarian/christological controversies up to Nicea (AD 325). The next
class you might move on to discussing the developments leading up to
Constantinople (AD 381) and the modification of the creed of Nicea. In
these two classes you would have covered Athanasius vs. Arius and his kin,
Marcellus and Eusabius, and the three Cappadocians.
It's just a thought. I offer this suggestion as a way to focus the
class on the faith of the fathers rather than on the fathers themselves,
and as a way to bring in many of the fathers and the great impact they had
on the faith of the church catholic.
Ev Xpistw,
David Peters
Marquette University
PS: Yes, such a course -- regardless of how you choose to structure it --
would attract me if I lived in your area. Your work sounds fascinating.
--
Rev. David G. Peters,
Pastor
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod
2908 S. Colony Ave.
Union Grove, WI 53182-9564
(262) 878-4156
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