Beginning of Christianity

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Beginning of Christianity

• 1st 4th C. CE

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Jesus (0-33 CE 6/4 BCE 29 CE)

• Born in Bethlehem in Roman province of Judea
• Grew up in the town of Nazareth
• Lived during reign of Augustus
• Educated in Judaism, became preacher
• From 30-33 CE traveled through Judea and Galilee
  preaching
• Taught
• Single God father all men brothers
• Love God above all
• Life of each is sacred
• Practice charity, justice, golden rule Do unto
  others as you would have them do unto you
• All people can be cleansed of sin and are worthy
  of salvation

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Jesus Death

• Romans afraid because Jesus had aroused such
  strong feelings
• Believed he endangered Roman Rule
• 33 CE Roman governor Pontius Pilate arrested
  Jesus and ordered him crucified as a political
  rebel
• His 12 disciples (followers) believed
• He was the Son of God sent as the savior (Christ)
• Proclaimed Jesus has risen from the dead and
  appeared to them
• Teachings are written in the New Testament

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Early Church Leaders

• St. Paul (1st C. CE)
• Jewish, but born in Greece, so he could appeal to
  Greeks
• Saw Christianity as a universal religion
• Directed missionaries to focus on the gentiles
  (non-Jewish people)
• Wrote letters to many churches which became part
  of the New Testament
• St. Peter (1st C. CE)
• First Bishop of Rome
• Shaped Churchs internal structure
• Used bureaucracy of Roman Empire as his model

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Travels of St. Paul
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Spread of Christianity within Roman Empire 1st
4th Centuries CE

• Christianity gained converts because
• People dissatisfied with old pagan religions
• Ideas of one God, universal love, eternal
  salvation, and equality appealed to many
• Equality especially appealed to poor and
  oppressed
• Missionaries traveled throughout empire
• Impressive early church leaders courage,
  sincerity, ability
• People impressed by early martyrs who died and
  were persecuted rather than denouncing their faith

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More Christianity in Rome

• Oppression and Persecution
• Pagan priests feared doom of their religions
• Upper class considered it a slave religion
• Romans accused Christians of treason because
• Refused to worship emperor
• Refused to serve in army
• Disapproved of gladiator fights and pagan rituals
• 300 years Christians persecuted
• Loss of citizenship, confiscation of property,
  torture, death BUT still grew

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Triumph of Christianity

• 313 Constantine ordered religious toleration by
  the Edict of Milan
• 325 Church leaders called to Nicea to outline
  basic Christian beliefs Nicene Creed
• 392 Theodosius proclaimed it official state
  religion

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Nicene Creed (325 CE)

• I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
  Creator of heaven and earth, of all things
  visible and invisible.
• And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the
  only-begotten, born of the Father before all
  ages.
• Light of light, true God of true God, begotten,
  not made, of one substance with the Father,
  through whom all things were made.
• Who for us men and for our salvation, came down
  from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy
  Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man.
• He was also crucified for us under Pontius
  Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And He rose
  again on the third day, according to the
  scriptures.
• And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the
  right hand of the Father. And He will come again
  with glory, to judge the living and the dead, and
  of His kingdom there will be no end.
• And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of
  life, who proceeds from the Father, who together
  with the Father and the Son is worshipped and
  glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.
• In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I
  profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I
  expect the resurrection of the dead and the life
  of the world to come. Amen.

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Church Structure
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Dailies Christianity

• What is the importance of the Nicene Creed?
• What did St. Paul do?
• Who are Gentiles?
• Describe the Church hierarchy.
• What did Theodosius do?

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Dailies Day 2

• What are the Gospels?
• During what time period did Jesus live?
• In what ways is Christianity a universal
  religions?
• What is heresy?
• How does Christianity appeal to the poor?