Course Syllabus

Course title: HT 511 Early Church

Course description: A survey of church history from the post-apostolic period to Augustine. Special
emphasis given to the churchs growth, the New Testament canons development,
and the Trinitarian controversies.
Course instructor: Sam Waldron began serving as a pastor in 1977. He is a graduate and former
professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy. Sam holds a Master of Theology degree
(Th.M.) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
in Systematic Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has
authored such books as A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Confession of Faith
(Evangelical Press), Baptist Roots in America (Simpson Publishing), The End
Times Made Simple (Calvary Press), and A Reformed Baptist Manifesto (Reformed
Baptist Academic Press). He is currently a professor at Midwest Center for
Theological Studies and an associate editor of the Reformed Baptist Theological
Review. Sam and his wife, Charlene, have five children.
Course credit: 3 credits
Course requirements: Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures The student must listen to all 18 lectures by Dr. Waldron on Early Church either
live or via audio/video format.
(2) Reading The student must complete the assigned reading from the following textbooks:
Kelly, J. N. D. Early Christian Doctrines, revised ed. Harper, 1978. Read
chapters 1-5, 8-10, 17.
Needham, Nicholas R. 2,000 Years of Christs Power, Part 1: The Age of the
Early Church Fathers. Evangelical Press, 1998.
Stander, H. F., and J. P. Louw, Baptism in the Early Church. Carey Publications,
2004. Read entire book.
Note: the student may substitute F. F. Bruces The Spreading Flame (Eerdmans,
1956) for Needhams work. Other substitutions must be approved by the instructor.
(3) Book review The student should write a 5 to 8 page (double-spaced) book review of Stander and
Louws Baptism in the Early Church. The review should provide (1) a summary of
the books contents and (2) an evaluation of the books thesis.
(4) Exams There will be three exams. Each will be equal in value. Details as to material
subject to examination are highlighted in the HT 511 Exam Study Guide. The
student should take and submit one exam at a time. If necessary, the instructor or
dean will contact the student after the exam and discuss the results. If you have any
questions about the exams, please contact Dr. Waldron ([270] 926-6848;
Waldronsc@gmail.com) or the seminary dean (dean@rbseminary.org).
Course grading: Lectures and reading = 10% / Book review = 15% / Three exams = 75%