The Roman Empire

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The Roman Empire Rise of Christianity
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Religion Ancient Rome

• Tolerant
• Important role in peoples lives
• Worship was impersonal-little emotion
• Rituals/public sacrifice
• Polytheistic
• Whole family worshipped household lares (gods)
  every day
• Cults

Emperor Marcus Aurelius offering a sacrifice
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Religion Ancient Rome

• Temples
• Family alters/shrines

The Pantheon
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Religious Diversity in Ancient Rome

• Diverse tolerant
• Required to honor Roman gods
• acknowledge divine spirit of emperor
• Most conquered people were polytheistic
• Jews were the exception
• Zoroastrianism influential

Temple Sacrifice of Animals
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Cults-Mystery Religions - secret rituals/promised
special rewards
Mithra- Persian god who championed good over evil
and offered life after death. Favored by Roman
soldiers
Cult of Isis-Very popular w/ women Originated in
Egypt
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Judea Birthplace of Christianity

• Remote east end of Mediterranean Sea
• Once been kingdom of Israel (King David Solomon)

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Judea, 4 BCE

• Rome appointed military governor
• Judea forced to pay tribute
• Left local affairs to the Jews
• Peaceful period, but Jews hated Romans

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Divisions in Judea

• During Hellenistic age, many Jews had absorbed
  Greek customs ideas
• Many Jewish conservatives rejected these
  influences - called for strict obedience to
  Jewish laws traditions

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Who were the Zealots?

• Jews who believed a Messiah, a savior, would be
  sent as king to lead Jewish people to freedom
• frequent revolts destruction of Temple of
  Solomon DIASPORA (dispersal) of Jews in 2nd
  century

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How did Rome deal with Jews?

• Jews were monotheistic
• Roman battle standards/shields were offensive to
  them
• displayed Caesar as emperor-god
• Jews protested
• Romans repressive
• Diaspora-dispersed Jews into exile after revolt

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What sources provide information about
Christianity?

• Jesus life reconstructed from events as seen
  through a lens of faith
• At his death, Jesus followers thought end of
  world was imminent
• when it didnt happen, they had to reconstruct
  his life
• Accounts vary
• Writings are New Testament of Christian Bible
• Four gospels (good news) written in Greek

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New Testament The Gospels (Good News)

• Oral written sources 30 -70 years after Jesus
  death
• Worked miracles
• Message of forgiveness
• love one another

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Jesus

• Born about 7 BCE in Judea
• Began teachings about age 33
• Disciples (followers) believed him to be Messiah
  foretold in Jewish traditions
• Challenged religious civil authorities
• Tried executed
• Teachings spread by his disciples, especially
  Paul
• Challenged authority of Roman Empire

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Jesus Birth

• Difficult to pinpoint exact time
• Middle of 6th century Christians began to use
  Christs birth as reference point
• Thought to be about 4 BCE, in Bethlehem

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Birth of Jesus

• And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the
  city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David,
  which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
  house of lineage of David, to be enrolled with
  Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And
  while they were there, the time came for her to
  be delivered. And she gave birth to her
  first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling
  cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there
  was not place for them in the inn. (Luke 24-7)

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Jesus Teachings

• Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountains,
  and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
  And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying
  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
  the kingdom of heaven.
• (Matthew 51-3)

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The Crucifixion Resurrection

• So they took Jesus, and he went our, bearing
  his own cross, to the place called the place of
  the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
  There they crucified him, and with him two
  others, one on either side, with Jesus between
  them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on
  the cross it read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King
  of the Jews.
• (John 1917-19)

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Missionary Work of Paul

• And he lived there two whole years in his own
  hired dwelling, and welcomed all who came to him,
  preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about
  the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and
  unhindered.
• (Acts 2830-31)

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Pauls Missionary Journeys
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Persecutions of Christians

• Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous
  for what is right? But even if you do suffer for
  righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have
  no fear of them, nor be troubles, but in your
  hearts reverence Christ as Lord.
• (1 Peter 313-15)

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Why was Christianity so appealing?

• Jesus welcomed all people esp. humble, poor,
  oppressed
• Message of love, forgiveness, equality, human
  dignity, promise of better life after death
• Paul included ideas from Plato, Stoics, etc.
• Educated Romans attracted by discipline
  moderation

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How did Christianity Spread?

• Missionaries traveled all over the empire
• Provided unity to the weakening empire
• Early writings were in Greek or Latin
• Persecution and martyrs brought new converts

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Emperor Constantine I(280-337 CE)

• Mother Helena was Christian
• had powerful religious experience- converted in
  312 CE
• gave primacy of church rule over west

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Edict of Milan313 CE

• Constantine
• Christianity legal
• Theodoscius - 395 CE- Christianity official state
  religion of Roman Empire

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How did Christianity become the official religion
of Imperial Rome?

• Despite persecutions, Christianity continued to
  spread
• By 300 CE, 5 million Christian followers
• Adopted by lower classes
• Offered community salvation
• Over time, all classes converted
• Many tired of continual warfare-sought peace
  security

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The Early Christian Church

• Common faith in teachings of Jesus
• Common way of worship
• Baptism offered forgiveness of sin
• Members were equals-brother sister
• Sunday-gathered for ceremony of thanksgiving to
  God
• Ate bread/drank wine in sacred supper

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Role of Women

• attracted by message of equality
• Teachers administrators
• Hosted gatherings in homes
• Worked to win converts

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Structure of the Church

• Each community had own priest/only men
• Bishop a Church official responsible for all
  Christians in area called diocese
• Bishops traced authority back to original
  apostles back to Jesus
• Bishops of important cities called patriarch
  most were in the east
• Developed into a hierarchy w/officials arranged
  according to rank

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Church Divisions

• Rivalry among the patriarchs
• Latin-speaking popes claimed greater authority
• Greek-speaking patriarchs believed that spiritual
  authority should be shared
• Heresies beliefs contrary to official Church
  teachings-emerged
• Councils were formed to resolve disputes
• Missionaries sent out to convert beyond Roman
  Empire

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Central Beliefs of Christianity

• Jesus is Son of God-came to earth to teach love
  fellowship to redeem sins of man
• Model for all Christians
• Bible is teachings expectations for Christians
• 39 books from Old Testament/27 books of New
  Testament