STUDY MATERIALS: Patristics

Very Rev. Douglas Mosey

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Lesson 1

Review Topics for Lecture 1

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe the four criteria necessary to be considered a Father of the Church.

Describe the theological methods of the Church Fathers.

Define Patrology, Patristics, dogma, doctrine, theology and heresy.

Reading Assignment

Read articles in The New Catholic Encyclopedia on Patristics and Patrology.

Read John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Written on the Sixteenth Centenary of St. Basil the Great, January 2, 1980.

 

Lesson 2

Review Topics for Lecture 2

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe the categorization of the Fathers into Apostolic, Apologists, Third Century, Golden Age, and Later Fathers.

Describe the major aspects of the Trinitarian thought of the Church Fathers.

Describe the problem of the Hypostatic Union.

Reading Assignment

Read articles in The New Catholic Encyclopedia on Modalism, Adoptionism, Monarchianism, Subordinationism, and the Arian Heresy.

Read Jurgens, William.

  1. The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume I, St Ignatius of Antioch, pp. 17-27.

  2. The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume I, St. Polycarp, pp. 30-32.

  3. The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume I, St. Justin Martyr, pp. 50-64.

  4. The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume I, St. Irenaeus, pp. 84-105.

 

Lesson 3

Review Topics for Lecture 3

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe in detail Patristic themes concerning Christ's saving work.

Describe the main points concerning Christ and his saving work in the Council of Chalcedon.

Reading Assignment

Jurgens, William.

  1. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume I, St. Athanasius, pp. 320-345.

  2. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume I, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, pp. 347-371.

 

Lesson 4

Review Topics for Lecture 4

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe what is meant by the theological anthropology of the Fathers.

Describe the themes of the Church Fathers concerning grace.

Describe the themes of the Church Fathers concerning the sacraments.

Reading Assignment

Jurgens, William.

  1. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. Basil, pp. 15-26.

  2. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, pp. 28-38.

  3. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. Gregory of Nyssa, pp. 43-58.

  4. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. John Chrysostom, pp. 84-99.

 

Lesson 5

Review Topics for Lecture 5

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe the main themes in Augustine's theology of grace.

Describe Augustine's use of analogies as a contribution to Trinitarian theology.

Describe the three main steps in Augustine's approach to the mystery of the Trinity.

Describe how Pelagius and Augustine differ as to their understanding of grace.

Reading Assignment

Jurgens, William.

  1. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. Ambrose, pp. 145-176.

  2. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume III, St. Augustine, pp. 52-58; 65-81; 97-108.

 

Lesson 6

Review Topics for Lecture 6

These review topics are to help you understand the lecture and prepare for the final exam; they are not a written assignment.

Describe the move from martyrdom to the life of the hermit as the path to holiness.

Describe the contributions of Ignatius of Antioch, Origen, Clement and Jerome.

Reading Assignment

Jurgens, William.

  1. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume II, St. Jerome, pp. 182-214.

  2. The Faith of the Early Fathers, Volume III, Pope St. Leo the Great, pp. 268-280.

 

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