Maelezo ya Kozi
This course offers a comprehensive survey of Presbyterian Church History, tracing its development from the Protestant Reformation to its global expressions today. Rooted in the theology of the Reformation—particularly the thought of John Calvin—the Presbyterian tradition is marked by a commitment to biblical authority, Reformed doctrine, and presbyterial church government.
The course begins with the 16th-century Reformation in Geneva, moves through the rise of Presbyterianism in Scotland under John Knox, and follows its expansion into England, Ireland, North America, and eventually Africa. Students will explore the doctrinal and ecclesiastical foundations laid by the Westminster Assembly (1643–1649).
A significant portion of the course will focus on how Presbyterianism came to Africa, primarily through European and American missionary efforts in the 19th century. Scottish, American, and Swiss Presbyterian missionaries played a major role in establishing churches, schools, and theological institutions across the continent. The course will explore the indigenization process, challenges of contextualization, and the role of African Presbyterian churches in national and continental development.
Vitabu Vinavyopendekezwa
- 1Walker, Williston. 1985. A History of the Christian Church. New York: Scribner.
- 2Reid, W. Stanford. 1980. Trumpeter of God: A Biography of John Knox. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- 3Bouwsma, William J. 1988. John Calvin: A Sixteenth-Century Portrait. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- 4Hart, D. G. and Muether, John. 2005. Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism. Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing.
- 5Bediako, Kwame. 1995. Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- 6Sanneh, Lamin. 1989. Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. Maryknoll: Orbis Books.