Exploring Patristics: 20 Thought-Provoking Prompts for Study
Prompt 1: The Formation of the New Testament Canon
Investigate the complex process by which the early Christian Church discerned and affirmed the books comprising the New Testament canon. Analyze the criteria employed for inclusion, the significant figures like Marcion and Athanasius who influenced the debate, and the role of emerging orthodoxy in distinguishing authoritative texts from apocryphal writings. Consider how the historical context of persecution and theological controversy shaped this crucial development in early Christian thought. What implications does this process hold for understanding biblical authority in contemporary theology?
Prompt 2: The Apostolic Fathers and Early Christian Identity
Delve into the writings of the Apostolic Fathers (e.g., Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, the Didache, Shepherd of Hermas). How do these invaluable texts illuminate the practical spiritual life, nascent ecclesiastical structures, and ethical imperatives of the earliest post-apostolic Christian communities? Examine their understanding of discipleship, martyrdom, and the developing Christian identity distinct from Judaism and paganism. What unique insights do they offer into pre-Nicene Christian practice and belief?
Prompt 3: Apologetics in the Second Century
Analyze the strategies and challenges faced by second-century Christian ap