Transcript Document

Setting the Stage: Religion in Rome
• The worship of Roman gods was impersonal, practiced without a
great deal of emotion. Priests used sacred rituals
to intercede on behalf of worshippers.
• The religion Christianity, was born in Roman times as a movement
(or sect) within Judaism, emphasized the personal relationship
between God and people.
• It would attract many Romans seeking “hope”
during difficult times in the Roman Empire’s
latter 3 centuries.
During those difficult times,
this new “faith” would spread like wildfire!
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Setting the Stage: Jews Come Under Roman Rule
• Roman power spread to Judea, the homeland of the Jews,
around 63 B.C. when Judea became a province of Rome.
• There were many Jewish resistors fighting
against Roman occupation – particularly
violent and militant were the “zealots.”
• Jewish kings were allowed to rule as
representatives of Rome. Some Jews
allied with the Romans and accepted their
plans to “Romanize” Jerusalem
- the Jewish holy city.
• The ruler Herod, in Jesus’ day, for example,
was a “Romanized” Jew.
His loyalites were divided between Rome
and the Jewish people, but he ruled with
an iron hand and angered many Jews.
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Setting the Stage: Jews Come Under Roman Rule
• Jewish resistance against Roman occupation was strong and
a constant nuisance to the Romans.
The zealots were a militant group of Jews
who wished to rid their homeland
of Roman occupation.
•
Many devout Jews believed that
the Messiah, or Savior sent by God,
would be coming soon to save them
from this Western Empire
that was defiling their holy places.
According to their Biblical tradition,
God had promised such a Messiah would
come to restore the kingdom of the Jews.
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“Therefore the Lord Himself shall
give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin
shall conceive, and bear a Son, and
shall call his name Immanuel,”
which means: God is with us.”
(Isaiah 7:14)
CH 6: Rome – Section 3, “The Rise of Christianity” Textbook, p. 153; Packet p. 11
How did each of the following influence the development of Christianity?
1. Jesus of Nazareth
He was a Jew. Became a rabbi, or Jewish teacher, at 30.
During his 3 – year ministry, he:
Preached a message,
emphasizing a personal relationship to God;
did good works;
purportedly performed miracles;
Ca. 6 B.C. – 30 A.D.
“Blessed are
the poor,
for they shall
inherit the
earth…”
gained a large following because his message appealed
to the poor and outcasts in Roman society;
Gathered around him 12 special disciples, or students.
Many began to suspect he was the
long-awaited “Messiah” (saviour).
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CH 6: Rome – Section 3, “The Rise of Christianity” Textbook, p. 153; Packet p. 11
How did each of the following influence the development of Christianity?
2. The Jews
He was a Jew. Became a rabbi, or Jewish teacher, at 30.
His ideas contained Jewish teachings – monotheistic,
emphasized the 10 Commandments and other ethical
guidelines to living one’s life.
Jesus sought to reform the Judaism of his day which he believed to be too legalistic he never indicated a desire to start a “new” religion.
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Jesus’ growing popularity concerned both Roman and Jewish leaders.
They said his teachings were blasphemy, or contempt for God.
In a day when Roman Caesars were demanding “emperor-worship,”
Jesus’ message appealed to large crowds in the cities to which he
traveled and spoke. There was widespread resentment among many
Jews toward the seemingly increasing secularism in society and
apathetic acceptance of the Roman presence.
Those in power were afraid the type of “discontented” crowds Jesus
attracted might be easily incited to mob behavior or rebellion…leading
to a brutal response from Rome.
For this reason, it was believed he needed to be silenced.
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CH 6: Rome – Section 3, “The Rise of Christianity” Textbook, p. 154; Packet p. 11
How did each of the following influence the development of Christianity?
3. Pontius Pilate
He was the Roman governor to whom Jesus was brought
and accused of blasphemy.
Pontius Pilate, after questioning Jesus, decided that,
indeed, Jesus was challenging the authority of Rome.
Pilate sentenced Jesus to crucifixion – a form of capital
punishment in Roman times where an individual was
nailed to a cross.
After Jesus’ death,
his body was removed
from the cross
and placed in a tomb.
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• According to the Gospels, three days later his body was gone,
and rumors spread that a living Jesus was was appearing
to his followers. Today, Christians believe he was
“resurrected” – or, rose from the dead.
• The apostles were more than ever convinced that Jesus
was the Messiah.
• Out of this belief, Jesus came to be called by them –
Jesus “Christ”
• “Christos” is the Greek word meaning “Messiah”
or “savior.”
• The name “Christianity” was derived from this Greek title given to Jesus.
The cross on which Jesus had been crucified
became a symbol of this new religious sect as
well as the sign of the fish…
“I will make you fishers of men…”
Matthew 4:19
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REASONS FOR CHRISTIANITY’S WIDE APPEAL
Textbook, p. 156
• embraced all people (universal) –
men, women, and slaves, the poor, and nobles.
• gave hope to the powerless.
• appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of imperial Rome.
• offered a personal relationship with a loving God.
• promised a life after death – a promise that gave much hope to those living
under harsh circumstances in Rome at the time
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CH 6: Rome – Section 3, “The Rise of Christianity” Textbook, p. 156; Packet p. 11
How did each of the following help to promote the spread of Christianity?
4. Pax Romana
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Period of peace provided ideal conditions for travel and
exchange of ideas.
Jewish Rebellion
• In 66 A.D., a band of Zealots rebelled
against Rome.
• In 70 A.D., the Romans stormed Jerusalem
and destroyed the Temple complex.
• All that remained was a western portion of
the wall, which today is the holiest Jewish
shrine.
• The Jewish fortress near Masada held out
until 73 A.D.
• About a half million Jews were killed in
the course of this rebellion.
• Most Jews were driven from their
homeland into exile.
• This dispersal of the Jews is called the
Diaspora.
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Persecution of the Christians
• Christians also posed a problem
for Roman rulers because
Christians refused to worship
Roman gods.
• This refusal was seen as
opposition to Roman rule.
• In A.D. 64, for example, when the
emperor Nero was blamed for a
disastrous fire in Rome, he said
Christians were responsible and
ordered them to be persecuted.
• Both the apostles Peter and Paul
were put to death in Rome some
time after A.D. 60.
Emperor Nero
Persecution of the Christians
• Thousands were crucified, burned,
or killed by wild animals in the
circus arenas.
• Other Christians and even some
non-Christians regarded
persecuted Christians as martyrs.
• Martyrs were people willing to
sacrifice their lives for the sake of
a belief or a cause.
• Despite persecution, Christianity
became a powerful religious force.
• By the late third century A.D.,
there were millions of Christians
in the Roman Empire.
CHURCH HIERARCHY
Pope
Archbishop
Bishops
Priests
Lay people (Laity)
Constantine Accepts Christianity
• The Roman emperor Constantine was fighting three rivals
for his title.
• On the day before a major battle
Constantine prayed for divine help.
• He reported that he then saw
a cross of light in the heavens
bearing the inscription,
“In this sign, conquer
• Constantine and his troops were victorious in battle.
In the next year, A.D. 313, Constantine announced
an end to the persecution of Christians.
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