An adult class in 21 weeks
Church History through the centuries
One week for each century, from the apostles to today. Each week covers church life, controversy, councils, people, and the wider world, and ties them to Christ, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. From 1500 onward, each week also follows Lutheranism.
Early
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Week 1
1st century: AD 1–100
- People
- Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, James, John, Stephen, Clement of Rome
- Topics
- Resurrection, Pentecost, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, justification, Gentile circumcision, denial of Christ’s flesh
- Councils and events
- Jerusalem assembly, Stephen’s martyrdom, Nero’s persecution, fall of Jerusalem (70)
- World
- Augustus, Tiberius, and Pilate, fire of Rome (64), Pompeii and Vesuvius (79), the Colosseum (80)
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Week 2
2nd century: AD 101–200
- People
- Ignatius, Justin, Irenaeus, Polycarp, Marcion, Montanus
- Topics
- Docetism, Gnosticism, Marcion, Montanism, four Gospels, Easter dates
- Councils and events
- Easter synods, Victor and Polycrates, Lyons martyrs (177)
- World
- Hadrian’s Wall, Bar Kokhba revolt, Marcus Aurelius, Antonine Plague
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Week 3
3rd century: AD 201–300
- People
- Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Hippolytus, Cyprian, Dionysius, Novatian, Perpetua, Felicity
- Topics
- Trinity and modalism, apostasy and restoration, disputed Baptism, Novatian schism, Manichaeism, Dura-Europos baptistery
- Councils and events
- Rome and Carthage synods (251), Carthage on Baptism (256), Antioch (264–268), Decian and Valerian persecutions
- World
- Caracalla’s citizenship edict (212), Sasanian Empire (about 224), Valerian’s capture (260), Diocletian’s accession (284)
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Week 4
4th century: AD 301–400
- People
- Athanasius, Eusebius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, Ambrose, Anthony, Chrysostom, Jerome, Augustine, Constantine
- Topics
- Arianism, Donatism, Apollinarianism, Baptism and Communion teaching, Latin Gospel revision (about 383), list of NT books (367)
- Councils and events
- Great Persecution (303), Milvian Bridge (312), Edict of Milan (313), Arles, Nicaea I, Tyre, Serdica, Rimini, Constantinople I
- World
- Constantinople (330), Goths cross the Danube (376), Adrianople (378), Theodosius dies (395)
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Week 5
5th century: AD 401–500
- People
- Augustine, Jerome, Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Leo, Patrick, Cassian
- Topics
- Grace and Pelagianism, Donatists and Baptism, Christ’s two natures, Latin Bible translation
- Councils and events
- Carthage 418, Ephesus, Ephesus II, Chalcedon, Henotikon
- World
- Rome’s sack (410), Vandals at Hippo, Attila, Western Empire’s conventional fall (476)
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Week 6
6th century: AD 501–600
- People
- Benedict, Gregory the Great, Augustine of Canterbury, Columba, Justinian, Boethius
- Topics
- Grace and Baptism, Three Chapters, monastic life, pastoral care
- Councils and events
- Orange II, Constantinople II, Toledo III, Hagia Sophia
- World
- Justinianic plague, Justinian’s law code, King Arthur’s legendary setting
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Week 7
7th century: AD 601–700
- People
- Gregory the Great, Hild, Caedmon, Theodore of Tarsus, Martin I, Maximus, Honorius I
- Topics
- Christ’s two wills (Monothelitism), Easter date, Scripture in English verse
- Councils and events
- Lateran 649, Whitby, Hatfield, Constantinople III, Trullo
- World
- Islam’s origins, Hijra, Yarmuk, Dome of the Rock
Medieval
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Week 8
8th century: AD 701–800
- People
- Boniface, John of Damascus, Bede, Alcuin, Charlemagne
- Topics
- Images and iconoclasm, Adoptionism, Frankish–papal alliance
- Councils and events
- Hieria (754), Nicaea II (787), Frankfurt (794), Charlemagne’s coronation (800)
- World
- Islamic conquest of Iberia (711), Tours (732), Viking raid (793)
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Week 9
9th century: AD 801–900
- People
- Cyril and Methodius, Photius, Nicholas I, Ansgar, Gottschalk, Hincmar, Paschasius, Ratramnus, Theodora
- Topics
- Slavonic worship, icons restored (843), Photian dispute, predestination, Lord’s Supper debate, Bulgaria’s Baptism
- Councils and events
- Constantinople 843, Quierzy 853, Valence 855, Constantinople 869–870 and 879–880
- World
- Treaty of Verdun (843), al-Khwarizmi’s Algebra (about 820), Edington (878), Diamond Sutra (868)
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Week 10
10th century: AD 901–1000
- People
- Odo of Cluny, Gerald of Aurillac, Vladimir of Kiev, Liutprand of Cremona, Otto I, Æthelwold, Dunstan
- Topics
- Cluniac reform, English monastic reform, scandals in the Roman papacy, Peace of God
- Councils and events
- Rome (963), Charroux (989), Otto crowned emperor (962), Vladimir’s Baptism (988)
- World
- Brunanburh (937), Lechfeld (955), Hugh Capet (987), Leif Erikson (about 1000)
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Week 11
11th century: AD 1001–1100
- People
- Gregory VII, Henry IV, Matilda, Anselm, Urban II, Berengar, Humbert
- Topics
- Papal power, investiture, real presence, Christ as God-man, Bogomils
- Councils and events
- Lateran 1059, Rome 1079, 1054 excommunications, Canossa (1077), Clermont (1095), Jerusalem (1099)
- World
- Norman conquest (1066), Bayeux embroidery, Domesday survey (1085–1086)
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Week 12
12th century: AD 1101–1200
- People
- Bernard, Abelard, Hildegard, Valdes, Becket
- Topics
- Investiture, clergy marriage, Cathars, Christ’s saving work
- Councils and events
- Lateran I, II, and III, Soissons (1121), Sens (1141), Second Crusade
- World
- Henry II (1154), Saladin captures Jerusalem (1187)
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Week 13
13th century: AD 1201–1300
- People
- Innocent III, Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Thomas Aquinas, Louis IX, William of Rubruck
- Topics
- Transubstantiation, Cathars, mendicant orders, yearly confession, Filioque
- Councils and events
- Fourth Crusade (1204), Lateran IV (1215), Lyons I (1245), Lyons II (1274), Albigensian Crusade
- World
- Genghis Khan (1206), Magna Carta (1215), the Mongol empire
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Week 14
14th century: AD 1301–1400
- People
- Catherine of Siena, Wyclif, Gregory Palamas, Dante, Boniface VIII
- Topics
- Avignon papacy, Western Schism, hesychasm, Eucharistic controversy, Unam Sanctam, Wycliffite English Bible
- Councils and events
- Vienne (1311–1312), Palamite councils, Earthquake Synod (1382)
- World
- Mansa Musa (1324), Hundred Years’ War (1337), Black Death (1348), Peasants’ Revolt (1381)
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Week 15
15th century: AD 1401–1500
- People
- Jan Hus, Joan of Arc, Thomas à Kempis, Savonarola, Valla
- Topics
- Council authority, Communion under one kind, Wyclif condemned
- Councils and events
- Pisa, Constance, Basel, Ferrara-Florence
- World
- Constantinople (1453), Gutenberg (about 1455), Columbus (1492), Leonardo’s Last Supper
- Lutheranism
- Transition into the Reformation, Luther born (1483)
Modern
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Week 16
16th century: AD 1501–1600
- People
- Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, Andreae, Katharina von Bora, Cranach, Eck, Charles V, Zwingli, Calvin, Erasmus, Ignatius, Cranmer, Tyndale
- Topics
- Justification, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Anabaptists, free will, Bible translations (1522, 1534, 1535)
- Councils and events
- Fifth Lateran, Trent, Edict of Worms, Peasants’ War, Peace of Augsburg
- World
- Tenochtitlan (1521), Magellan–Elcano voyage (1522), Copernicus (1543), Gregorian calendar (1582)
- Lutheranism
- 95 Theses, Leipzig, Worms, Augsburg Confession, Smalcald Articles, Luther’s death, Interims, Formula and Book of Concord
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Week 17
17th century: AD 1601–1700
- People
- Arndt, Gerhard, Gerhardt, Spener, Francke, Bunyan, Eliot, Torkillus, Campanius, Gustavus Adolphus
- Topics
- Orthodoxy, devotion, Pietism, Syncretistic Controversy, KJV (1611), Massachusett Bible, Lenape catechism
- Councils and events
- Dort, Westminster Assembly, Synod of Jerusalem, Thirty Years’ War, Westphalia
- World
- Jamestown (1607), Mayflower (1620), Bay Psalm Book (1640), Pennsylvania (1681), Newton’s Principia (1687)
- Lutheranism
- New Sweden (1638), Lutherans of New Amsterdam, Halle, Falckner
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Week 18
18th century: AD 1701–1800
- People
- Muhlenberg, Francke, Ziegenbalg, Boltzius, Bach, Wesley, Whitefield, Edwards, Carey, Hume, Kant
- Topics
- Pietism and Halle, Salzburgers in Georgia, Great Awakening, Enlightenment and rationalism, religious freedom
- Councils and events
- Tranquebar mission (1706), Pennsylvania Ministerium (1748), Virginia Statute (1786)
- World
- Watt’s steam-engine patent (1769), American independence (1776), French Revolution (1789)
- Lutheranism
- Halle sends Muhlenberg and Salzburger pastors to America, common liturgy (1748)
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Week 19
19th century: AD 1801–1900
- People
- Walther, Stephan, Löhe, Grabau, Schmucker, Krauth, Koren, Spurgeon, Moody, Sankey
- Topics
- Prussian Union, Old Lutheran emigration, American Lutheranism, ministry, predestination, baptismal regeneration, revivals, slavery
- Councils and events
- Immaculate Conception (1854), General Council (1867), Vatican I (1870), Synodical Conference (1872)
- World
- Louisiana Purchase (1803), Origin of Species (1859), Emancipation (1863), Appomattox (1865), telephone patent (1876)
- Lutheranism
- Missouri (1847), Wisconsin (1850), Norwegian Synod (1853), Walther, Löhe, predestination controversy
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Week 20
20th century: AD 1901–2000
- People
- Harstad, Pieper, Maier, Seymour, Bonhoeffer, John XXIII, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Graham
- Topics
- Church fellowship, Synodical Conference breakup, Seminex, Scripture, Azusa, radio mission
- Councils and events
- LWF (1947), Vatican II, Leuenberg, JDDJ
- World
- Wright flight (1903), World War I armistice (1918), stock-market crash (1929), the Holocaust, Japan’s surrender (1945), human rights (1948), Moon landing (1969)
- Lutheranism
- Mergers (1918–1988), ELS (1918), Brief Statement (1932), Seminex, ELCA
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Week 21
21st century: AD 2001–October 5, 2026 (ongoing)
- People
- Matthew Harrison, Gerald Kieschnick, Mark Hanson, Elizabeth Eaton, Yehiel Curry, Mark Schroeder, Benedict XVI, Francis, Leo XIV, Bartholomew I
- Topics
- Four Lutheran bodies and the Book of Concord, online Communion, the Yankee Stadium prayer, ELCA ministry policy (2009), whether Christ is the only way
- Councils and events
- Called to Common Mission (2001), Crete (2016), Lund (2016), Nicaea 1700th anniversary (2025), LCMS conventions (2023, 2026)
- World
- September 11 (2001), Iraq (2003), Katrina (2005), iPhone (2007), financial crisis (2008), COVID-19 (2020), Ukraine (2022)
- Lutheranism
- NALC (2010), ELCA and Episcopal full communion, LCMS–WELS–ELS talks since 2012
