What is CCEA AS 4 The Early Christian Church?

AS 4 is one of the Systematic Study of One Religion units of the CCEA AS-Level Religious Studies course, one of eight AS units across four areas of study. Its full title is The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325. It studies the birth of the Church at Pentecost, the spread of the gospel through the apostles and Paul, persecution and martyrdom, the admission of the Gentiles, and the development of the Church's ministry, scriptures and doctrine up to the Council of Nicaea.

What period does AS 4 cover?

AS 4 covers the first three centuries of the Church, from the day of Pentecost (around AD 30) to the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. This spans the events of the Acts of the Apostles, the mission of Paul, the centuries of persecution under the Roman Empire, the resolution of the question of Gentile converts at the Council of Jerusalem, and the growth of the Church's leadership, canon and creeds, culminating in the first ecumenical council at Nicaea.

Why was the Council of Jerusalem important?

The Council of Jerusalem, described in Acts 15, settled whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the Jewish law. The decision, that they need not keep the law but should abstain from a few things, freed the gospel from the law, established salvation by grace through faith, and opened the Church fully to the Gentiles. This ensured that Christianity became a universal faith rather than remaining a sect within Judaism.

How is AS 4 assessed?

AS 4 is assessed by a written examination on the unit. Questions test two assessment objectives: AO1, knowledge and understanding, which asks students to explain events, figures and developments accurately; and AO2, analysis and evaluation, which asks students to assess a claim, weigh both sides and reach a substantiated judgement. Precise knowledge of the events of Acts and early Church history is essential.

How should I revise CCEA AS 4 The Early Christian Church?

Build a clear chronology from Pentecost to Nicaea, and learn the key events, figures and terms (Pentecost, Stephen, Paul's conversion, the Council of Jerusalem, the persecutions, the Arian controversy, homoousios). Group the material by theme: mission, persecution, identity and doctrine. For AO2, rehearse balanced evaluations of claims about the early Church. Revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA past papers, because question style is board-specific.

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CCEA AS 4 The Early Christian Church: a complete overview from Pentecost to the Council of Nicaea

A complete overview of CCEA AS 4 The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325. Covers Pentecost and the birth of the Church, the spread of the gospel, persecution and martyrdom, the admission of the Gentiles and the Council of Jerusalem, and the development of the Church to the Council of Nicaea, with the AO1 and AO2 skills the unit tests.

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Jump to a section

The birth and spread of the Church
Persecution and martyrdom
The admission of the Gentiles
The development of the Church to Nicaea
How AS 4 is assessed
How to study AS 4 The Early Christian Church
The module, dot point by dot point
For the official specification

CCEA AS 4 The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325 is one of the Systematic Study of One Religion units of the AS-Level Religious Studies course, one of eight AS units spread across four areas of study. It studies how the Church was born, spread, suffered and defined itself in its first three centuries. This overview maps the unit and how to study it.

The birth and spread of the Church

The unit begins with Pentecost (Acts 2), the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter's sermon and the birth of the Church, and the shared life of the first community. It then traces the spread of the gospel along the pattern of Acts 1:8, from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth, through the apostles, the work of Stephen and Philip, the conversion of Paul, and Paul's missionary journeys to the Gentile world.

Persecution and martyrdom

A major theme is persecution.

The reasons for persecution: refusal to worship the emperor, loss of Judaism's legal protection, and popular suspicion.
Jewish and Roman opposition, and the major persecutions under Nero, Decius and Diocletian.
The place and example of the martyrs, and the effect of persecution to the Edict of Milan (AD 313).

The admission of the Gentiles

The unit examines how the Church became universal.

The conversion of Cornelius and Peter's vision.
The dispute over circumcision and the law.
The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and its decision.

The development of the Church to Nicaea

Finally the unit traces the Church's growing structures and doctrine: the ordered ministry (bishops, presbyters, deacons), the formation of the canon and creeds, the Arian controversy, and the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) with its creed.

How AS 4 is assessed

AS 4 is a written paper testing two assessment objectives.

AO1 (knowledge and understanding). Explain events, figures and developments accurately.
AO2 (analysis and evaluation). Assess a claim about the early Church, weigh both sides and reach a substantiated judgement.

How to study AS 4 The Early Christian Church

This unit rewards a clear chronology and precise knowledge.

Build the chronology. Map the period from Pentecost to Nicaea.
Learn the key events and figures. Pentecost, Stephen, Paul, the Council of Jerusalem, the persecutions, Arius and Nicaea.
Group the material by theme. Mission, persecution, identity and doctrine.
Rehearse balanced evaluation. For AO2, weigh claims about the early Church and reach a judgement.
Practise with CCEA past papers. The AO1 and AO2 split and the question style are board-specific.

The module, dot point by dot point

Each theme has a specification-level page with worked questions and cross-links, plus a quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/religious-studies/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA's own past papers.

Sources & how we know this

CCEA GCE Religious Studies (2016) specification — CCEA (2016)