Christian History: Our Story

Arts & Professional Studies, Bible & Theology

Get more information

He kōrero anō

Have a question about admissions, courses, fees, or campus life? We’re here to help. Fill in the form below and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Whether you’re a prospective student or a current enrolee, we welcome all enquiries and look forward to supporting your educational journey.

First name

Surname*

Email*

Contact number*

Select your Campus *

Are you a NZ Resident or Citizen? *

What area of study are you interested in?

Anything Else You’d Like Us to Know?

Your Future Starts Here

To begin your application process to study at Laidlaw simply create an account in our student portal and begin your application.

Course Description

Journey through the unfolding story of Christian theology, practice, culture, and institutions across history. You will gain insights into the key themes of Christian history, explore how Christian communities responded to their social and cultural environments, and reflect on how these historical insights can inform your own leadership and context today.

About this course

Introduction: the arc of Christian history

Part 1: How did we become orthodox and catholic?

‘The Way’: The early Church in its contexts

‘We believe’: Creeds and Councils

‘The City of God?’: Christianity and Empire Monasticism; Augustine

The expansion of Christianity in the West

Medieval Christendom; Monks and Scholars

Part 2: How did we become reformed?

Reforming Church: Luther

Reforming Church: Calvin, Anabaptism

Reforming Church: Denominations

‘By faith alone’: The Theology of Reform

Part 3: How did we become global?

Enlightenment and modern thought

The evangelical renewal in context

Global expansion of the church

Global Church: Christian expansion in Africa, Asia, Oceania and New Zealand

Global Church: turning points in the twentieth century

Students should choose between one of the required texts below for directed readings:
Englebrecht, Edward. A. ed. The Church from Age to Age: A History from Galilee to Global Christianity. St. Louis, MO: Concordia, 2011.
Gonzales, J.L. The Story of Christianity. Vol.1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation; Vol. 2 The Reformation to the Present Day, Rev Edition. New York: HarperCollins, 2010.
Students are also highly recommended to consult the following, on all topics up to and including Luther:
Lange, Stuart. “Between the Bible and Now”, a series of articles on Christian history topics published in Reality between 1999 and 2004

Frequently Asked Questions

Sed Leo erat, sodales sed mattis in, pulvinar vitae Leo. Sed sollicitudin sapien et aliquam varius. Vivamus mattis tincidunt sapien. Proin quis lectus ligula. Fusce euismod pretium metus. Pellentesque rutrum, dui ut rutrum ullamcorper, eros velit. consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras placerat dui in placerat iaculis. Praesent vitae convallis risus. Phasellus feugiat efficitur lacus sit amet convallis. Sed lorem dui, finibus id lacus quis, volutpat vehicula tellus.

Vestibulum nunc arcu, efficitur vel mollis nec, dignissim ac ipsum?

Sed Leo erat, sodales sed mattis in, pulvinar vitae Leo. Sed sollicitudin sapien et aliquam varius. Vivamus mattiscidunt sapien. Proin quis lectus ligula. Fusce euismod pretiumtus. Pellentesque rutrum, dui ut rutrum ullamcorper, eros velit.

Was this content helpful?