Christianity

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Christianity

• Basic Beliefs and Early History in Middle East
  and Beyond

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Opening Questions

• What do you think about Christianity? What are
  some of the first things that come to mind?
• Why is Christianity viewed negatively by some
  people?

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Christianity

• Worlds largest religion
• Central Belief
• Jesus Christ was the son of God, died for the
  sins of all humanity, was resurrected and
  returned to heaven
• Must believe this in order to go to heaven
• Different branches and denominations
• Catholicism
• Protestantism
• Orthodox Christianity

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Essential Bible Verse

• The Bible is the most important holy scripture
  for Christians.
• A key verse for Christians in the Bible is the
  following
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only
  begotten Son so that whosoever would believe in
  Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
  John 316

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The Holy Trinity

• One God with three parts
• Father Creator, Master Planner, Holy
• Son (aka Jesus) Needed as a sacrifice for
  humanitys sin
• Holy Spirit Active, sent to fulfill God the
  Fathers plans

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Fall of Man

• The Book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible)
  tells how God created Adam and Eve and put them
  in the Garden of Eden with a command not to eat
  from one tree. They did, which was the Original
  Sin.
• From that point on, humanity continued to get
  worse in terms of sinfulness.
• God hates sin. Ancient Israelites sacrificed
  animals to obtain forgiveness. Christians believe
  Jesus was sent as the final sacrifice.

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Foundations in Judaism

• Jesus and the Apostles were Jews
• The first Christians began as Jews
• The story of Creation, the first people, the Ten
  Commandments, stories of judges and kings of
  Israel, and books of prophets are important and
  read by Christians.

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References to the Messiah in the Old Testament

• Gen 315, Gen 2218, Gen 264, Gen 4910, Num
  216-9, Num 2417, Duet 1815, Psm 169-10, Psm
  22all, specifically Psm 2214-16-18, Psm
  13211, Isa 714, Isa 96-7, Isa 4010-11, Isa
  506, Isa 5213-15, Isa 53all, Isa 6021, Jer
  235, Jer 3314-15, Ezek 3423, Ezek 3725, Dan
  925, Mic 52, Mic 720, Zech 612, Zech 99,
  Zech 910, Zech 128-10, Zech 137, Mal 31-4,
  Mal 42-6.

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Difference from Judaism

• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah
  foretold by the Old Testament prophets.
• Jews believe that the Messiah has not come.
• Some ethnic Jews do believe that Jesus was the
  Messiah (they are a minority though) and call
  themselves Messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus.

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The Bible

• 66 Books in the Bible
• Old Testament 39 Books, before Jesus came to
  Earth
• New Testament 27 Books, after Jesus came to
  Earth and went back to heaven, letters of advice
  on how to live for early Christians (no Bible was
  organized yet)

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Old Testament

• Creation and first people (Adam, Eve, Noah,
  etc.), Original Sin
• How God set apart the nation of Israel
• Exodus and giving of the Law of Moses
• Conquest of Canaan with Joshua Creating Nation
  of Israel
• Nation of Israel (Judges then Kings) Jewish
  history
• Cycle of sinfulness, punishment, repentance
• Conquest by enemies (Assyrians, Babylonians) and
  captivity
• Return to homeland, rebuilding of Jerusalem

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New Testament

• Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John 4
  versions of Jesus life there are other gospels
  that were not approved to go into the Bible
  (Gospel of Thomas, who was one of the 12
  Apostles)
• The Book of Acts (Acts of the Apostles)
• Epistles of Paul and other epistles (Romans,
  Corinthians, Galatians, etc.)
• Revelation Apocalypse, Second Coming of Christ,
  Armageddon, Judgment, the New Jerusalem

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Parts of Jesus Christs Life

• Annunciation, Incarnation and childhood (birth
  through 12 years old)
• Public Ministry (30 33)
• Passion (events surrounding his crucifixion)
• Resurrection and Ascension
• ACTIVITY Look through the art history books
  find a work of art for each of the following
  Annunciation, Public Ministry when he was
  traveling, teaching, and healing people,
  Crucifixion, Resurrection, and his return as
  Judge during the end of the world

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Incarnation and Childhood

• Annunciation to Virgin Mary
• Angel visited Joseph in dream (dont divorce
  Mary)
• Nativity Went to Bethlehem for a Roman census
  no vacancies Jesus born in manger (stable)
  lowly, humble visited by shepherds and angels
  appeared to the shepherds
• Visited by Magi (Wise Men probably Zoroastrian
  priests) who bring gifts (gold, frankincense,
  myrrh)
• Flight to Egypt (Herod wanted to kill the
  Messiah ordered the deaths of all boys two and
  under Angel warns Joseph in a dream to take
  family to Egypt and not return until visited
  again)

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Public Ministry

• Age 30 Baptism and fasting for 40 days
  temptations from the Devil
• Miracle at Cana turning water into wine
• Miracles Healing the blind, lepers, paralyzed,
  and demon possessed, walking on water, and even
  raising people from the dead!
• Teachings Sermon on the Mount, parables
• Challenging the Jewish religious leaders Are
  you really following Gods laws? Are you loving
  your neighbors as you love yourselves?

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Passion of Christ

• Passion of Christ refers to events leading up to
  the Crucifixion
• Entering Jerusalem with Apostles on back of
  donkey (Palm Sunday) to celebrate Passover
• Turning over tables of businesses at the temple
• Last Supper Passover Meal communion ritual
  established Jesus announces that one of them
  will betray him
• Betrayal (by Judas) in the Garden and beaten
• Trials, whipping, beating, mocking, and
  crucifixion
• RESURRECTION on the third day

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The Twelve Apostles (Disciples)

• Jesus chose 12 close confidants but had many
  other followers
• Here are the Twelve
• Peter (orig. Simon) Andrew (brothers)
• James John (brothers)
• Philip Bartholomew
• Matthew Thomas
• James, son of Alphaeus Thaddeus
• Simon the Zealot Judas Iscariot

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Apostles Confusion Was Jesus the Messiah?

• He was a great leader, teacher, healer, miracle
  worker but the Messiah?
• Could he be Moses, Elijah, or someone else
  reincarnated?
• Peter the first to recognize him as Messiah
  privilege of being the rock on which Christ
  will build his church (the body of Christian
  believers), holds keys to heaven

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Peruginos Christ Delivering the Keys of the
Kingdom to Saint Peter
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Passion of Christ

• Christ entered Jerusalem for the Passover. This
  is celebrated as PALM SUNDAY. He taught and
  healed people in the few days before his arrest.
• Celebrated Passover meal (the Last Supper this
  is when Christ established the idea of Communion
  Judas leaves to get the authorities
• Jesus is arrested in Garden of Gethsemane.
• He is put on trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin (a
  group of 60 religious specialists) for claiming
  to be the Messiah.
• They bring him to Pontius Pilate Pilate tries to
  hand him off to Herod, a Jewish ruler in the
  region Herod passes him back to Pilate.

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Betrayal of Jesus/The Kiss of Judas

• Part of the Passion
• Jewish religious leaders did not want to arrest
  Jesus in public
• Judas goes to them and offers to help them
• Pharisees give him 30 pieces of silver
• Judas leads them to the Garden of Gethsemane
  where Jesus liked to bring the Apostles to get
  away from crowds
• Judas leads a group to arrest him, identifies
  Jesus by greeting him with a kiss
• Guilt Judas commits suicide

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Kiss of Judas
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Passion of Christ continued

• Pilate orders Jesus whipped and crucified.
• Jesus is crucified, taken down from the cross,
  and put in a stone tomb.
• On the third day, He is resurrected from the
  dead. Mary Magdalene and other women went to the
  tomb and found it empty. Angels talked to them.
  In one Gospel, Jesus appears to Mary.
• Mary tells the Apostles. Then, Jesus appears to
  the Apostles more than once.

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Ascension of Christ and Mission to the Apostles

• Christ takes the Apostles to a mountain and gives
  them the instruction to teach people about Him.
  He tells them that people must believe in Him in
  order to obtain salvation. He also instructs them
  to baptize believers in the name of the Father,
  Son, and Holy Spirit.
• He ascends to heaven and is seated at the right
  hand of God-The Father waiting for the day when
  the Father sends him back to judge humanity.

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The Role of the Apostles

• The Apostles spread Christianity.
• Peter traveled around the Middle East (ex.
  Babylon) and established major church in Rome.
• Philip went to Ethiopia.
• Thomas went to India.
• All the Apostles except John (the youngest) died
  violent deaths. John died of old age.
• A new man came into the picture Paul. Paul was
  not an original Apostle but is one of the most
  important. Paul wrote letters to the early
  Christian churches (ex. Romans, Corinthians)

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Last Judgment

• Christ will return to judge humanity.
• Did a person believe in Him as the Son of God?
• Did a person love God as shown by his actions
  (obedience, asking for forgiveness)?
• Did a person love his neighbors as demonstrated
  by his actions?
• People will either go to hell or heaven for
  eternity.
• God loves people so much that He gives them many
  chances in life to come to a knowledge of Him. If
  people reject Him, then

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The Last Judgment
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John the Baptist, Saint Andrew Saint Lawrence
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Saint Bartholomew
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Faith
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Faith rising
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Hope
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Love
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Christian Practices

• Celebration of Christmas and Easter
• Prayer
• Going to church/communal worship
• Tithing giving 10 of income to church
• Bible reading the Word of God
• Communion
• Evangelism teaching people about Jesus
• Baptism in Water
• Baptism in the Holy Spirit
• Live like Christ (forgiving others, helping the
  sick and poor)

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Sin

• Anything displeasing to God based on Ten
  Commandments and other commandments given by
  Jesus
• Sin separates people from God, who is holy
• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
  of God. Romans 323
• The need for a sacrifice to atone for sins
• Ancient Israelites sacrificed sheep and other
  animals
• Christians believe Jesus was the final sacrifice

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Ten Commandments
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Forgiveness

• Seek forgiveness from God through the blood of
  Jesus Christ
• FORGIVE OTHERS Bible says if you that if you
  dont forgive others, God wont forgive you
• Do not judge others, judge yourself

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Essential Belief

• Nicaea Creed
• Jesus Christ is the son of God, born of the
  Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified
  and buried and rose again on the third day and
  ascended to be at the right hand of the father
• He will come again to judge the living and the
  dead

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Focus on Heaven

• SALVATION BY FAITH in Jesus Christ
• Christians cannot earn their way to heaven. They
  will always fall short and sin.
• Not a blank check to sin Christians regard God
  as father and friend Would you keep
  hurting/insulting your father or friend?
• Obeying commandments
• Love God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength
  
• Love neighbor as you love yourself
• These sum up Ten Commandments

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Differences among Christians

• Different denominations have different views
• Salvation by faith alone (Protestant) vs.
  Salvation and Good Works (Catholic) faith
  without works is dead it does say this in the
  Bible
• Women as priests/ministers
• Biblical interpretation Literal (fundamentalist)
  vs. open/metaphorical
• Views towards the Sabbath, gays, abortion/birth
  control, drinking, enjoyment of pop culture

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Why is it significant to understand Christianity
in History of Middle East?

• Jerusalem is holy to Christians site of Jesus
  crucifixion and resurrection
• Christians believe that Armageddon, the final
  battle between good and evil, will occur in
  Israel in the Valley of Megiddo.
• Control of Holy Land influenced the Crusades
  (1096-1272), which greatly damagesd relations
  with Muslims

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Constantine the Great (272 337 CE)

• First Christian Roman Emperor
• Mother Helena was Christian
• Claimed to see a vision of cross of light in sky
  before a battle with inscription In this sign
  you will conquer.
• Legalizes Christianity Christians were being
  persecuted
• Promotes Christianity as major religion

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Map of Byzantine Trade Routes
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Was Constantine a true Christian?

• Textbook calls him a nominal Christian
• Had rivals killed so that he could consolidate
  power
• Colossal image of himself resembling the Roman
  god Jupiter in a basilica in Rome
• Baptized with water on his death bed (an
  important Christian ritual Why did he wait so
  long to do this?)
• If he really wanted to accept Christianity,
  wouldnt he have behaved following Christs
  example?

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Council of Nicaea

• Meeting called by Constantine (about 300 bishops
  present from all over the Roman Empire)
• Answers questions and builds consensus on who
  Christ was this becomes the Orthodox view
• Christians, who had different views, were labeled
  heretics and persecuted as if they were rebelling
  against the empire

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Icon of Constantine and the Church Fathers

• They are holding a slightly modified form of the
  Nicene Creed (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of
  381).

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Christian Dissident Groups

• Arians believed that Jesus was divinely sired
  and inspired, but was not on the level of God
  JUST A MAN (arose in Alexandria priest called
  Arius)
• Nestorians through that Christ was TWO
  DIFFERENT BEINGS one divine, one human (When
  the church of Ephesus condemned them, they fled
  to Persia) arose in Antioch
• Monophysites opposite view of Nestorians and
  Arians Jesus was only one being and was ONLY
  DIVINE/GOD (not human)

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Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire Persecutes
Heretics

• Heretics people who go against the official
  church doctrines
• Orthodox Christian view Jesus was both God and
  man in one body (power of God to perform miracles
  with the weaknesses of man)
• Arians, Nestorians, and Monophysites were
  persecuted and killed.

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Heretics, Christian Arabs, and Muslims

• Because the Orthodox view of Christianity
  persecuted Christians with different view points,
  how would that hurt the Byzantine (Eastern Roman)
  Empire?
• Christianized Arabs felt greater loyalty to their
  culture over the Byzantine Church.
• Heretics became enemies of the Byzantine Empire
  and fought alongside Muslim armies in the 7th and
  8th centuries.

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Official View of Church

• Council of Nicaea determined the proper view of
  Christ
• Created a common prayer (Nicene Creed)
• Decided what books/writings would make up the
  Bible (Why did they choose some books over
  others?)
• Jesus Christ was 100 man and 100 God contained
  in the body of one man

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America, Christianity, and Middle East

• America, while having freedom of religion, is
  heavily influenced by Christianity many
  lawmakers identify themselves as Christians.
• Christians, because of ignorance on Islam, side
  with Israel because of Judaisms connection to
  Christianity.
• America often favors Israel (sharing of
  technology, military and financial aid) an
  important ally in the Middle East

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Radical Christian Hope for End of World and
Christs Last Judgment

• Belief that conflict in Middle East will hasten
  the day of Christs return
• Finally, they will be able to see Jesus and live
  in heaven
• Better to side with Israel then Islamic nations
• Demonstrates misunderstanding of what Islam is
  really about

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• Trinity
• Sin, forgiveness, and salvation through belief in
  and following of Jesus
• The Bible the road map for Christians
• The Gospels (first four books of the New
  Testament tell who he was
• Water baptism
• Communion
• Evangelizing
• Loving God and loving neighbors

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Assessment

• What are the fundamental beliefs and teachings of
  Christianity?
• What is the most important holy book?
• What are important rituals and practices?
• Create a list of 10 essential understandings of
  Christianity what people must know about the
  religion to understand it. Briefly explain each
  essential understanding (3 points each)