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.

The student will have opportunity to evaluate the longer-term effects of these movements, approaches, and practices, and the lessons that can be learned from these leaders. This module will also aid the student to work through how the lessons learned are applicable in their own life and ministry.

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 banner 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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Gonzalez Textbook Quiz
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Textbook Review Quiz for Gonzalez chs. 20-23

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.


What is the meaning of "Chrysostom"?

Christ follower

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 225

Golden Tongue

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 225

Golden Mouthed

Correct

Strong in Christ

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 225

Ambrose made many of the writings of the eastern church known to the west

True

Well Done

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
Ambrose was not yet baptized when he was elected bishop

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 220
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 a typical bishop who cared about the pomp and riches of the church

True

Sorry, see Gonzalez pp. 221-222

False

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

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez pp. 223-224
Drag each term or name to its best description
Macarena
hypostasis
Gregory of Nyssa
Macrina
Basil the Great
Gregory of Nazianzus
ousia

A really, really annoying song and dance

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Chrysostom's exile had political consequences throughout the entire empire, east and west

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Gonzalez p. 229-231

Lecture Content

In this section, you will find the video lecture for the Early Later Leaders module. Click each banner 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.

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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 banner to open the slide show.

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Review Slideshow
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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 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 banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.

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Discussion/Application Questions
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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 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 instructions for 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 of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.

(Optional) Term Project - Research

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. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.

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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. These 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:

Links to Primary Sources

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 banner, you will be taken to 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 banner to begin the quiz.

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Quiz for Module 09
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Review Quiz for Module 09

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.


In writing the "Ecclesiastical History," Eusebius intended to demonstrate that God was orchestrating history toward a goal and climax.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
Ambrose introduced many eastern practices into the western church, some of which were good, and others not so much.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
Jerome was a brilliant scholar, but sometimes lacked people skills.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
Ambrose was made bishop of Milan against his wishes.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
All three of the Cappadocian Fathers opposed Arianism and contributed to the Chalcedonian settlement of the controversies.

True

Well Done

False

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

Contributing to the council of Nicaea

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Writing apologetic works against paganism

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

Enduring persecution for his faith

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

Becoming bishop of Caesarea

He did this, but it was not his greatest contribution

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

Well Done

Most (or all) of the leaders covered in this section lived the monastic lifestyle.

True

Correct

False

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

The Bible translation from Latin into Greek

Sorry, see Lecture 09

The Bible translation from Greek and Hebrew into Latin

Well Done

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 Latin into Hebrew

Sorry, see Lecture 09

Basil the Great was a monastic and promoted monasticism and the monastic lifestyle.

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

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.