Join me as we explore a variety of subjects that help reveal the origins of Christianity!

In Spring 2013, we will survey the New Testament in its entirety (RELS 2105) with a heavy focus on Jesus and Paul. Then, we will move forward to examine the next three hundred years of the Christ-movement (RELS 3115) as it develops into a religion in its own right and gaining the support of the Roman Emperor! And if you want to know more about the historical Jesus, join us for a thorough exploration of this fascinating individual from an academic perspective (RELS 3113) taking into account his Jewish culture and historical context in the first-century Roman world.

Fall 2023 will again feature RELS 2105, Introduction to the New Testament, as well as a thorough exploration of the apostle Paul (RELS 3116). We will come to understand the “apostle to the Gentiles” as a faithful Jew and Christ-believer taking message of salvation to the non-Jewish world. And have you sometimes heard about other gospels or Christian literature that did not make it into the New Testament? We will explore those fascinating documents in RELS 2000 The Alternate New Testament.

Spring 2024 will feature the same courses as Spring 2023 in case you missed them due to scheduling conflicts. Come back and join us!

This fall 2019 I will be teaching three classes including a new (for me) 3000-level course! Join me for RELS 2105 (MWF 12:20-1:10 pm) “New Testament and Christian Origins” in which we survey the NT and explore the earliest evidence for belief in Messiah Jesus. Then we dig deeper into an important figure of the NT with RELS 3113, “Paul” (MWF 1:25-2:15 pm). We will study the letters of Paul from a whole new perspective: that of Paul the devout Jew reaching out to pagans to bring them the message of how they, too, can share with their Jewish brothers and sisters the promises made to Abraham. Finally, I am happy to be able to bring to you for the first time RELS 3115, “Early Christianity” (MW 2:30-3:45 pm), a survey of the Christian movement from Christ to Constantine! Look for our RELS brochure or write me at David.Clausen@uncc.edu for more information!

Join me this spring, 2019, as we explore the New Testament and Christian Origins (RELS 2105), each MWF at 12:20-1:10pm in the Friday building, room 132. Our earliest sources for the origins of the Christian faith are to be found in the 27 books of the New Testament. When were they written? Who wrote them? We will conduct historical and textual investigations of the gospels, Acts, and the letters of Paul and other writings in order to understand the multiple beliefs, practices, and literary creations of the early church.

Why not also consider the other side of the coin by registering for Lost Christianities of the Early Church (RELS 2000-002) each MWF at 1:25-2:15pm in the Denny building, room 120? Early Christianity embraced not one set of beliefs but many. Even the New Testament reflects a variety of different views. But what about the views of Christians who created texts that were ultimately not included in the New Testament? What did they believe and why were their beliefs rejected by the growing orthodox movement? Find out in this eye-opening survey.

I will be teaching both New Testament and Christians Origins (RELS-2105) and Paul (RELS 3116) in fall, 2018.

My courses for spring 2018 will be RELS 3113 “Jesus” on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am to 10:45 am and RELS 2105 New Testament and Christian Origins also on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm.

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