Step into the first 1,000 years of Christian history and discover how a small, marginalized Jesus movement transformed into a global faith. This course takes you on an immersive journey through early Christian communities as they formed their identity within diverse cultural, social, and political landscapes—both inside and beyond the Roman Empire.

You’ll explore the post-Nicene era’s theological breakthroughs, where debates on the Trinity and Christology shaped what would become orthodox Christian belief. Discover how the creeds came to life, and how monasticism reshaped spirituality, scholarship, and daily life across continents.

From Armenia to Ethiopia to India, you’ll encounter vibrant expressions of Christianity that reveal its truly global character. You’ll also examine the faith’s complex relationships with Islam, including lived experiences of Eastern Christians under Islamic rule and historical episodes like the Crusades and Reconquista.

As the course concludes, you’ll trace the stirrings of renewal within the medieval Church—monastic reformers, mystics, and movements that paved the way for the Reformation. This resource equips learners with a rich and expansive understanding of Christianity’s theological evolution, global reach, and enduring impact.

This resource offers a dynamic exploration of Christian history, equipping learners to understand the faith’s development across time, cultures, and continents. You’ll encounter influential figures, turning points, and pivotal theological debates that have shaped the church from its earliest days to the present.

By engaging diverse voices and global contexts, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for Christianity as a world religion—polycentric, pluriform, and richly multi-traditional—not merely a Euro-American story. You'll learn to critically evaluate historical narratives and consider how scholars’ cultural contexts shape their interpretations of the past.

In addition to learning historical content, this course helps you connect the wisdom of the Christian past to your personal and communal spiritual life today. You’ll be invited to craft spiritual practices that draw from historical insights and support faithful living in your unique context.

Ideal for those seeking to lead with understanding and humility, this course strengthens your capacity for theological reflection, cultural awareness, and spiritually grounded leadership.

Dr. Peter Vethanayagamony is Professor of Modern Church History at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where he brings decades of global teaching and pastoral experience to the classroom. Before joining LSTC in 2006, he served as Academic Dean and Church History professor at Hindustan Bible Institute in Chennai, India, and has ministered in both India and Chicago.

Known for his passion for historical inquiry and faith formation, Dr. Vethanayagamony’s research explores early Indian Lutheranism, Bible Women, the Global Tamil Diaspora, and immigrant churches in the West.

His Project Starling resource, Church’s Witness: A Survey of Church History, traces Christianity’s evolution over 2,000 years—offering learners the chance to engage the church’s legacy with fresh insight and global perspective.

Dr. Vethanayagamony holds multiple advanced degrees from institutions in India and the U.S., including a PhD (with distinction) from LSTC. He is rostered in the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA.

M1: Pre-Nicene Era of Christianity

The Pre-Nicene era was a time of profound transformation, where the foundations of Christianity were forged amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and cultural shifts. Before the renowned Nicene Council, early Christian communities navigated a world shaped by imperial politics and cultural diversity. What was it like to practice a fledgling faith under the rule of the mighty Roman Empire? How did the cultural melting pot of the time influence early Christian beliefs and rituals?

In this module, we’ll explore these questions as we delve into the political and cultural forces that shaped early Christianity, revealing how this formative era set the stage for one of history’s most significant religious movements.

• MO1: Analyze how the political realities in the Roman Empire influenced the shaping of Ante-Nicene Christianity.
• MO2: Evaluate how Judaism facilitated Christianity’s spread, and the shaping of its theology and worship.
• MO3: Examine how alternative expressions of Christianity paved the way for the early church to define itself with identity markers like the creed, church polity, and scriptures.
• MO4: Summarize the factors or forces at work in the formation of the New Testament Canon.
• MO5: Identify the diverse expressions of Christianity conditioned by the local cultures and religious context

M2: Post-Nicene Patristic and Imperial Christianity

This module delves into the journey of Christianity within the Roman Empire, from its legalization under the Edict of Milan in 313 CE to its establishment as the empire’s official religion with the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 CE. This transformation initiated a lasting union between church and state, placing Christian doctrine under the influence of Roman emperors and entangling it with political interests. With the emperors’ involvement, Christianity’s doctrinal development became intertwined with imperial power, leading to significant theological shifts. Four major councils, known as the Ecumenical Councils, were convened to clarify key Christian beliefs, resulting in the Nicene Creed - a defining statement of faith that focused on the nature of God and the divinity of Jesus Christ.

At the heart of these councils was a profound question: Could Jesus Christ, as understood and worshipped, truly provide salvation? Through debates on the nature(s) of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity, early Christian leaders sought to address this core soteriological issue, solidifying the foundations of Christian theology. In examining this relationship between church and state, we ask: How did the influence of Roman emperors shape the direction of Christian doctrine? And how did the union of political and religious authority affect Christianity’s core beliefs? This module encourages learners to explore these questions, uncovering the powerful role of politics in the formation of religious identity and belief.

• MO1: Define important theological terminologies that emerged in the 4th and 5th centuries related to the theology of Christology.
• MO2: Examine the key phrases of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, contrasting them with the theology they seek to refute.
• MO3: Analyze the role of rivalry in ecclesial leadership as it relates to enforcing a particular theological perspective.
• MO4: Explain the theology of the Trinity advocated by the Cappadocian Fathers.
• MO5: Assess the pastoral, personal and theological concerns and questions behind each theological position represented in the controversies around the councils of Nicene and Constantinople.

M3: Spiritual Athletes: Origins and Diverse Expressions of Christian Monasticism

 In this module, we explore the origins and evolution of Christian monasticism, a movement that took root primarily in the post-Constantine era but with traces extending back to the 3rd century. Monasticism began as a response to a desire for deeper spirituality, with early Christians embracing lives of asceticism and self-denial, earning them the title of "spiritual athletes." While Egypt is traditionally recognized as the birthplace of monasticism, recent scholars suggests that Syria may have been an early center as well. Unlike their Egyptian counterparts who withdrew from society, Syrian monks spread their beliefs through extensive travel, reflecting a unique approach to monastic life.

This module also examines the distinct forms of monastic life that emerged, from the solitary hermits to structured communal orders that lived by formal rules under a head monk’s leadership. Each form brought a unique contribution to the spread of Christianity and the structure of Christian communities. How did these types of monastic life shape Christian mission and influence religious practices worldwide? And what role did women’s orders play, offering one of the few avenues for religious expression available to women, especially during the Middle Ages?

• MO1: Recognize the major monastic figures in the East and the West.
• MO2: Assess the importance of St. Anthony in the rise and spread of monasticism in Egypt.
• MO3: Summarize the distinctive elements of the monastic rules of Basil the Great, Pachomius, and Benedict.
• MO4: Extrapolate the significant women monastics and highlight their contributions.
• MO5: Recognize the importance of nurturing one’s own relationship with God through spiritual practices.
• MO6: Create spiritual practices that help you and the people you will lead

M4: World Christianity of the First Millenium

Did you know that Christianity’s roots extend far beyond the Roman Empire, reaching regions as diverse as India, China, Ethiopia, and Egypt centuries before European colonial influence? What can we learn from the vibrant histories of these early Christian communities that thrived in vastly different cultural and political landscapes? This module challenges the narrow, Eurocentric narrative that has often defined Western Christian history, offering a broader and richer understanding of the faith’s spread and evolution. By shifting the focus from a single geographical and confessional tradition, we uncover a more inclusive story of Christianity’s global journey.

From the Roman and Persian Empires to smaller kingdoms and distant lands, Christianity moved swiftly along trade routes and through the efforts of traveling evangelists, merchants, migrants, and wandering Syrian monks. Locally rooted in diverse societies, the faith took on distinct forms, as seen in regions like East Syria, Parthia, Ethiopia, and India. Together, we will explore how these communities embraced and adapted Christianity, creating a multicentric tradition that predated European colonialism and showcased the faith’s profound ability to integrate into and transform cultures across the world.

• MO1: Examine Christianity and Christian communities in Asia and Africa as being well established before Europe was Christianized, rather than as a Western colonial leftover.
• MO2: Compare and contrast the distinctive elements and diverse expressions of ancient Christianity in Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia.
• MO3: Analyze the beginnings of Christianity in India and the cultural accommodation that occurred in the early centuries (CE).
• MO4: Recall the major events and people related to ancient Christianity in Syria, Arabia and Armenia.
• MO5: Summarize the introduction and appropriation of Christianity in China from the Black Stone stele monument discovered in Xian.

M5: Christianity in the Middle Ages: East-West Church Relations and Christian-Muslim Relations

What happens when a new faith emerges and reshapes entire civilizations? How did Islam, born in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, grow to influence lands from India to Spain within just a century?

This module explores the transformative rise of Islam during the early Middle Ages, examining its profound impact on Christianity in the Middle East and North Africa. You'll delve into the socio-political dynamics that led millions to embrace Islam, the legal status of non-Muslims under Islamic rule, and the decisive moments when military confrontations reinforced the perception of divine support for Islam’s expansion. The rise of Islam not only altered religious demographics but also introduced new cultural, economic and political structures to the regions it touched. These changes sparked both collaboration and conflict, leaving a legacy that would shape interfaith relations for centuries to come.

By the end of this module, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how Islam became a defining force in shaping medieval societies, the strategies that fueled its rapid spread, and its enduring influence on the world.

• MO1: Identify the impact of the early spread of Islam on the landscape of Christianity.
• MO2: Assess the theological justification provided for the use of icons during the Iconoclastic Controversy.
• MO3: Differentiate "Eastern Christianity with Western Christianity in terms of theology, liturgy, ecclesial practices, church-state relationship and church polity.”
• MO4: Recall the major events and persons related to the Great Schism of 1054 CE.
• MO5: Assess the impact of the Crusades on Christian-Muslim relations, recalling unintended outcomes of the Crusades.
• MO6: Examine ways to promote cordial interfaith relationships.

M6: Medieval Church

This module examines three interconnected themes that shaped religious life during the Middle Ages. Monasticism was a central institution, deeply influencing the spiritual and social lives of the people. For women, convents offered a partial escape from the constraints of their male-dominated society, providing a space for spiritual growth and relative autonomy. Beginning in the 10th century, reform movements such as the Cluniac Movement and the Cistercian order sought to enforce stricter monastic practices, emphasizing discipline and piety. By the 13th century, new mendicant orders—comprising Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites and Augustinians—emerged to address heresy, serve the needy, and model the life of Christ.

These mendicant orders introduced a radical shift by emphasizing apostolic poverty, itinerancy and reliance on alms, challenging the growing wealth and institutional power of the church. Their direct engagement with scripture as a source of inspiration bypassed traditional church hierarchies, presenting a significant threat to the established order. How did these movements reshape the role of monastic and mendicant communities within medieval society? In what ways did their emphasis on poverty and scripture challenge the institutional church’s authority? This module invites you to explore these questions, uncovering how reform movements transformed religious practices and church structures during the Middle Ages.

• MO1: Compare and contrast the major mendicant orders; the Franciscan Order and the Dominican Order.
• MO2: Summarize the diverse spiritual and religious experiences of the Christian mystics, with special reference to women mystics.
• MO3: Develop ways of nurturing one’s relationship with God, gleaning insights from the Christian mystics and monastic spirituality.
• MO4: Analyze the reforms and changes initiated by the papacy during the Middle Ages.
• MO5: Describe major reform measures undertaken by John Wycliffe and John Huss.

M7: Martin Luther and the Emergence of Lutheranism

This module examines the origins of the transformative religious movement known as the Reformations, traditionally marked by Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, at the Wittenberg Castle Church. However, the Reformations were not an abrupt event but the culmination of mounting frustration with the corruption within the church and a growing desire for individuals to act according to their conscience. The medieval church hierarchy’s resistance to reform, despite the calls of late medieval movements and mystics, made this revolution inevitable.

We begin by exploring the sociopolitical and religious changes in Europe on the eve of the Reformations that created fertile ground for their emergence. From there, we focus on Martin Luther's role in leading the German Reformation, the development of the Lutheran Church, and the defining theological principles of Luther's thought. How did Luther's teachings challenge the established church? What broader forces made the Reformations possible at this moment in history? This module invites you to explore these questions, providing a foundation for understanding one of the most significant upheavals in religious and cultural history.

• MO1: Identify the political, cultural and social changes that aided the outbreak and persistence of 16th-century reform efforts.
• MO2: Examine the theology, practices and abuses around the Sacrament of Penance at the eve of the Reformations.
• MO3: Compare and contrast the theology of the Eucharist as outlined by the Roman Church, Luther and Zwingli.
• MO4: Examine Luther’s theology of the “priesthood of all believers” (theology of the laity) and its relation to ordained ministry.
• MO5: Compare and contrast Luther’s theological understanding of a theology of grace with that of the medieval church’s.
• MO6: Assess Luther’s emphasis on sola scriptura.

M8: Other Protestant Traditions and Reforms Within the Catholic Church

This module explores the rapid spread of the 16th-century Reformation from Germany to other parts of Western Europe, examining its diverse expressions and impacts. In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich and John Calvin in Geneva played pivotal roles in establishing and consolidating the Reformed Tradition. Meanwhile, the English Reformation, driven by monarchs and supported by theologians, led to the creation of the Anglican Church. In both Germany and Switzerland, more radical reformers known as Anabaptists emerged, advocating for profound changes in theology and church practices, with their influence extending into neighboring regions.

In response to the growing Protestant movements, the Catholic Church launched its own internal reforms, seeking to address criticisms while also curbing the spread of Protestantism. These efforts reshaped the religious and cultural landscape of Europe, creating enduring divisions and sparking new theological developments. How did these various reformations shape the identity of different Christian traditions? In what ways did the Catholic Church adapt to meet the challenges posed by Protestantism? This module invites you to examine these questions and consider the profound religious, social and political transformations of this pivotal era.

• MO1: Examine "the significance of Zwingli’s efforts to reform the church in Switzerland, with special reference to Zwingli’s attitude toward Church tradition.”
• MO2: Summarize the tenets of the radical reformers.
• MO3: Summarize Calvin’s theology of the church and scripture.
• MO4: Extrapolate the relevance of the Radical Reformation for today.
• MO5: Compare and contrast the Reformation in England with the Reformations on the Continent.
• MO6: Assess the significance of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to the Counter Reformation and the expansion of Roman Catholicism outside of Europe.

M9: Consolidation of European Lutheranism: Lutheran Orthodoxy and Pietism

This module explores the trend of scholasticizing Christian theology that characterized the 17th century, particularly within the Lutheran and Reformed traditions. The Roman Catholic Church codified its theology during the Council of Trent (1545-1563), resulting in the dogmatization of key doctrines, known as Tridentine Theology, which remained the standard for Roman Catholic belief for the next four centuries. Similarly, the Church of England established its theological framework through the Thirty-Nine Articles and the Book of Common Prayer in the 16th century. Meanwhile, the Reformed Tradition systematized its theology in the Synod of Dort (1618-1619) and the Westminster Assembly (1646), which produced the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Lutheran theologians also sought to scholasticize their beliefs in the 17th century, but the most significant challenge to Lutheran Orthodoxy came with the rise of Pietism in Germany. This movement deeply impacted Lutheranism, influencing not only Lutheran theology but also other Protestant traditions around the world. In this module, we will first examine the Lutheran Orthodoxy that dominated the 17th and early 18th centuries and then explore the emergence of Pietism and its transformative effects on both Lutheran theology and practice. How did Pietism challenge and reshape the doctrinal landscape of Lutheranism? What lasting effects did Pietism have on Protestant theology in the centuries that followed? This module encourages you to reflect on these questions, examining how theological movements adapt and evolve over time.

• MO1: Outline the basic themes of Lutheran Orthodoxy.
• MO2: Explain the environment that gave birth to and fashioned Pietism.
• MO3: Identify and delineate the six reform proposals of Spener.
• MO4: Compare and contrast the way the bible is studied and preached by the Pietists, those ascribed to Lutheran Orthodoxy, and contemporary Lutherans.
• MO5: Evaluate Franke’s contribution to foreign missionary work and German society.
• MO6: Construct a few spiritual practices relevant to your own life.

M10: Emergence of Evangelicalism: Renewal and Blooming of Diverse Protestant Expressions

This module examines the religious upheavals and revivals that transformed Western Christianity in the 18th and early 19th centuries. In the 13 Colonies (USA), the First Great Awakening sparked a wave of religious revival, while in England, the Evangelical Revival marked a similar shift. This revival led to the formation of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in England and the Welsh Methodist Church in Scotland, as well as the rise of the Evangelical Movement and the Clapham Sect, known for its social activism and reforms. The early 19th century also witnessed the Second Great Awakening in the USA, further energizing religious fervor.

These revivals rejected the Calvinist doctrines of predestination and election, instead promoting a vision of salvation based on personal choice, emotional engagement, and direct access to spiritual power. As a result, numerous new denominations within Protestantism emerged and a variety of voluntary societies were established to engage in social reforms, as well as foreign and domestic missionary work. How did these revivals reshape the religious landscape in the United States and Great Britain? In what ways did they influence the development of new denominations and the expansion of social activism? This module invites learners to explore these key questions, analyzing the lasting effects of these movements on Christian practice and society.

• MO1: Identify the hallmarks of the spiritual renewal movements in the United States and England.
• MO2: State the names of the prominent revival leaders and their unique contributions.
• MO3: Compare the First and Second Great Awakening.
• MO4: Recall the importance of hymnody in promoting the revivals.
• MO5: Assess the role played by women in the religious revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries.
• MO6: Identify some of the new Christian denominations in the United States in the 19th century.
• MO7: Summarize the central commitments and effects of the Second Great Awakening.

M11: North American Lutheranism

This module traces the history and development of Lutheranism in the United States, from its introduction by non-English speaking European immigrants to its current status as the third largest Protestant denomination in the country. Lutheranism first took root in the early Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (modern-day New York), where Lutheran families established two congregations. However, the formal organization of Lutheranism did not begin until the mid-18th century, when Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787) founded the first synod, the Pennsylvania Ministerium. During the colonial period, Lutheranism distinguished itself from the dominant evangelicalism in America through its foreign-language institutions, liturgical worship, commitment to the Augsburg Confession of 1530, and its ongoing doctrinal debates.

The Lutheran presence in America grew exponentially in the 19th century due to waves of European immigration, which brought various Lutheran traditions from northern and western Europe. As these traditions were integrated into a predominantly reformed and Anglican Protestant environment, Lutheranism adapted to the new cultural context, including the embrace of the English language. Despite challenges, Lutheranism flourished in the United States, resulting in the formation of three major Lutheran bodies: the General Synod (1820), the General Council (1867), and the Synodical Conference (1872), all of which sought to unify Lutherans in America. The unification efforts continued into the 20th century, culminating in the creation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988. How did Lutheranism navigate the challenges of being a minority tradition in a diverse religious environment? In what ways did the immigration waves and the rise of American pluralism shape the identity and practice of Lutheranism in the U.S.? This module invites learners to explore these questions, highlighting the evolution of Lutheranism as it adapted to American society.

• MO1: Identify the ways East Coast Lutheranism was influenced and shaped by Halle Pietism.
• MO2: Assess the contributions of Muhlenberg to the consolidation of Lutheranism on the East Coast.
• MO3: Analyze the contributions of Samuel Simon Schmucker to Lutheranism.
• MO4: Compare "the different ecclesiastical, theological, spiritual, cultural and sociological traditions and customs among the different ethnic groups making up American Lutheranism in the second half of the 19th century.”
• MO5: Explain the formation process of the General Synod, General Council, Synodical Conference, and the ELCA.
• MO6: Summarize the context, causes and consequences of the split in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Concordia Seminary, and the emergence of Seminex.
• MO7: Explain the reason for the celebration of African American leaders in the ELCA Church calendar.

M12: World Christianity Today

What happens when the heart of a global faith shifts across continents? How does Christianity evolve when its majority no longer resides in the Western world? This module explores the shifting landscape of global Christianity since the 1970s, highlighting the rise of Christian communities in the Global South and the demographic shift away from a predominantly white Christian population. We'll examine the theological and cultural implications of these changes, considering how they have reshaped Christian identity, mission and practice worldwide.

This module outlines key developments in 20th-century Catholicism and Protestantism, analyzing their impact on the global Christian movement in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

• MO1: Recognize the changing landscape of Christianity in the post-colonial world.
• MO2: Identify the implications of a changed landscape of World Christianity for church life and ministry today.
• MO3: Summarize the significant theological changes introduced during the tenure of Pope Pius IX and at Vatican I.
• MO4: State the significance of Vatican II in terms of Roman Catholic ecclesiology, Christian mission, liturgy, ecumenism, and attitude toward other faiths and cultures.
• MO5: Assess the beginnings of and early developments in the Ecumenical Movement.
• MO6: Summarize the rise and growth of global Pentecostalism as a fast-growing segment of Christianity.