"After the New Testament: The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers" Prof. Bart D. Ehrman (24 Lectures / 30 Minutes Per Lecture / 4x DVD - The Great Courses)
This is a forensic investigation into the chaotic and formative decades that followed the deaths of the original apostles. Professor Bart D. Ehrman peels back the layers of institutional history to reveal a time when Christianity was a fragmented, experimental movement struggling to define its own identity. You will dive into the rare, non-canonical writings of the Apostolic Fathers—figures like Ignatius of Antioch and Clement of Rome—who fought to establish order, doctrine, and authority in the face of intense persecution and internal rivalry. It is a provocative look at the "lost" voices of early Christianity and the brutal intellectual battles that ultimately decided which books made it into the Bible and which were left on the cutting room floor.
 
The real power of this course lies in its "no-holds-barred" approach to the origins of church hierarchy and dogma. You’ll explore the gripping accounts of early martyrdom, the emergence of the first "heresies," and the fascinating transition from a Jewish sect to a global powerhouse. Professor Ehrman provides a sophisticated, scholarly framework to understand how the internal conflicts of the second century—over the nature of Christ, the role of women, and the structure of leadership—forged the foundation of the modern Western world. It is a sharp, immersive journey that gives you the essential tools to understand the raw, unfiltered reality of the early Church's survival.