Module 9: Later Early Leaders

Hi everyone, and welcome to the ninth module of the History of Christianity 1 Course. In this section, we'll be looking at a series of church leaders from the fourth and fifth centuries. We'll look at their stories and what they contributed to the church at their time.

This module will help you to understand the life and work of a few influential leaders and what they accomplished. You will be exposed to a series of individuals, what they did and the impact of their life and work. And you will learn their successes and failures, as well as seeing some examples of the various ways in which the church interacted with the state. And the student will be given opportunity to process how these lessons can be applied to current social situations, by learning from history's successes, as well as the failures.

Introductory Scenario

Imagine that you are dreaming of being famous and/or influential. If you wanted to go down in history as having lived a significant life, with a positive influence, what kind of things would you do? What kind of activities would make a positive, long-term difference? How could you contribute to the world around you in a substantial way? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Describe the history, importance, and contribution of each of the leaders covered in this module.
  • Articulate the categories of activities done by these leaders and the long-term contributions they made.
  • Describe the character and virtues which were demonstrated by these leaders and how current leaders can imitate these characteristics.
  • Evaluate why these leaders were significant and successful, and how the lessons learned from them can be applied to current life and ministry.
  • Place each of these leaders in a general chronology.

Instruction Guides

In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.

Textbook Content

In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 9. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.

This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the thumbnail below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.

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Textbook Review Quiz for Gonzalez chs. 20-23
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Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


The Vulgate immediately became the most popular Bible in the west when it was published

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez pp. 237-238

False

Correct
Ambrose was not theologically trained when he became bishop, and this hindered the rest of his ministry

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 220

False

Good Job
John Chrysostom gave in to the emperor and his manipulative wife in order to keep peace in the city

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 229
What are "spiritual sisters"?

Women living with priests who claimed to be celibate

Well Done

Unwed orphans of martyrs

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 227

A Convent started by John

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 227

Widows baptized in the church

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 227

Ambrose demanded that the Emperor Theodosius demonstrate repentance, and the Emperor complied

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez pp. 223-224
What is Jerome's greatest accomplishment?

Visiting Jerusalem and Bethlehem

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 237

Founding monasteries in the Holy Land

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 237

Learning the difficult language of Hebrew

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 237

Standing firm against the Bishop of Rome

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 237

Translating the Bible into Latin

Well Done
Jerome clashed with Augustine, but later showed his admiration toward him

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 238
Drag each term or name to its best description
Macrina
Gregory of Nyssa
Basil the Great
Macarena
hypostasis
ousia
Gregory of Nazianzus

A really, really annoying song and dance

Translated "essence" and used in the formula "one essence"

Author of "On Virginity" who contributed to the council of Constantinople and became the theological advisor of the emperor

Bishop who stood for the Nicene cause, stood against poverty, and greatly influenced monasticism in the eastern churches

Translated "person" and used in the formula "three persons"

Only one of the three Cappadocians not related to the others, started the only non-Arian church in Constantinople and later was made bishop of that city

She led a monastic life, comforted her family in times of crisis, and confronted her brother about his arrogance, leading him toward being an influential leader

Ambrose was not yet baptized when he was elected bishop

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 220
John Chrysostom was trained both as a lawyer and as a monk

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 225

Lecture Content

In this section, you will find the video lecture for the Early Later Leaders module. Click the thumbnail to open access to the video. There are also links with the video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

9: Later Early Leaders

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9: Later Early Leaders
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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 9. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 9. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the Thumbnail below to view the questions in a simplified format.

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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What did you learn from the lives of these people? How can we apply this insight?
  2. What else did you learn? How does it apply?

(Optional) Timeline - Part 9

This section contains instructions for continuing an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Step Nine of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • The lives and contributions of the leaders covered in this module.
  • Any events that influenced the church's relationship with the state.
  • Any other significant events, ideas, and people from this general time period.

Annotate any significant approaches, ideas, principles, and doctrines from these leaders and their writings, including their impact on the larger church, Christian life in general, and their surrounding society, and how these are applicable to the current church and Christian life.

(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 9

This section contains instruction for continuing an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.

Step Nine of the Principles Chart will add any important principles noted from the lives and ministries of these historical leaders, the influence they had, and the reasons behind that influence, and how those principles can be applied. It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the "Guiding Principles" portion fo the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.

(Optional) Term Project Research & Organization

The student will continue researching about their chosen topic for their term project. The student should seek to follow where their research leads, and fill any gaps in their knowledge. The student should also continue organizing all that they are learning into a logical and coherent structure, based on the information they have researches, which will serve as the organization for their term project presentation. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.

Primary Source Reading

This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module.

See Primary Sources

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The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. This links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:

Review Quiz

This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 9. By clicking the link, you will access a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

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Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Drag each leader to their best description
Gregory of Nazianzus
Basil the Great
Ambrose of Milan
Jerome
Gregory of Nyssa
Eusebius of Caesarea
John Chrysostom

Known as a great preacher, recruited to preach at Constantinople, where he upset people by preaching against their vices.

Was made bishop before he was fully trained, but diligently studied theology and was a faithful and influential bishop, including contributing to Augustine's salvation.

Scholar whose greatest contribution is the Vulgate.

Cappadocian father who was influential in promoting the monastic lifestyle and charity toward the poor and sick.

Admirer of the emperor Constantine, who wrote "Ecclesiastical History" partly to demonstrate how God was working history toward a Christian emperor.

Brother of Basil the Great who wrote against Arianism and put Greek philosophy under the authority of God's revelation

Cappadocian father who argued for the orthodox understanding of the Trinity in his "Theological Orations."

Which of these is NOT a "Cappadocian Father"?

Gregory of Nazianzus

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Ambrose of Milan

Good Job

Basil the Great

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Gregory of Nyssa

Sorry, see Lecture 09

The Cappadocian Fathers knew Greek philosophy, but placed it under the authority of (and as subservient to) the judgment of Biblical Revelation

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
Which kind of relationship between church and state was demonstrated in the life of these leaders?

The state used its power to force the church to do what was right

True, but incomplete

The church used its authority to force the state to do what was right

True, but incomplete

The state abused its authority over the church, and did injustice to it

True, but incomplete

All of the Above are true, this relationship was complicated, and often changed

Well Done.
Basil the Great helped train the other two Cappadocian Fathers.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
John Chrysostom rejected and criticized the allegorical method of interpretation.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
What is the "Vulgate"?

A two door coupe produced by Audi

Not even close!

The Bible translation from Hebrew into Greek

Sorry, see Lecture 09

The Bible translation from Greek and Hebrew into Latin

Well Done

The Bible translation from Latin into Greek

Sorry, see Lecture 09

The Bible translation from Latin into Hebrew

Sorry, see Lecture 09

What is the meaning of the nickname "Chrysostom"?

Light of Christ

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Christ-follower

Sorry, see Lecture 09

One who speaks for Christ

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Golden Treasure

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Leader from Christ

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Golden mouth

Well Done

The Lecture argues that one reason for the success of all these leaders is that they purposely kept the Bible central to their ministry.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
Which was highlighted as the greatest contribution of Eusebius of Caesarea?

Writing apologetic works against paganism

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

Becoming bishop of Caesarea

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

Contributing to the council of Nicaea

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Enduring persecution for his faith

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

Writing the "Ecclesiastical History" preserving the history of the early church

Well Done


Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the ninth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 10.