Transcript The Rise of Christianity - World History Slideshows

The Rise of
Christianity
Ronald Wiltse 2007
A. Introduction: What is the Bible?
1. The Old Testament
A. Introduction: What is the Bible?
1. The Old Testament
2. The New Testament
Jewish Bible (Old Testament)
+ New Testament
Christian Bible
 Jewish Bible called the Old Testament by
Christians
 Jewish Bible was the Bible for Jesus and early
Christians
B. Judaism was a thorn in the
Roman Empire.
1. The core Jews lived in Palestine.
B. Judaism was a thorn in the
Roman Empire.
1. The core Jews lived in Palestine.
2. Other Jews were dispersed throughout
the Roman Empire (the Diaspora).
Those pesky Jews . . .
Israel in the eastern
Roman Empire
The Jews lived not only in Palestine, but elsewhere:
Where the Jews lived
In the Empire
Ejecting the Jews from Palestine: the diaspora
The record on the Arch of Titus
Ejecting the Jews from Palestine: the diaspora
The record on
the Arch of Titus
…Jesus is born in Bethleham.
Adoration of the Magi, by Giorgione (National Gallery, Washington)
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ/the Messiah
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ/the Messiah
2. His mission:
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ/the Messiah
2. His mission: to bring humans back to God
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ/the Messiah
2. His mission: to bring humans back to God
3. His method:
C. Who was Jesus?
1. Who did Jesus say he was?
a. the Son of God
b. the Christ/the Messiah
2. His mission: to bring humans back to God
3. His method: listening to the Father
Jesus learning carpentry from his father
painting by Holman Hunt
Jesus found, about his Father’s business
painting by Edward Millais
Jesus told parables
The Prodigal Son,
by Rembrandt
D. Jesus was executed by the
Romans.
Jesus Rising from His grave
Painting by
Mattias Gruenewald
E. The early church was founded
by Jesus’ followers.
E. The early church was founded
by Jesus’ followers.
1. At first all Christians were Jews.
Paul on his way to Damascus is blinded and hears a
voice
Michelangelo,
Conversion of
St. Paul
Paul on his way to Damascus is blinded and hears a
voice
Carravaggio,
The Conversion
Of Paul
E. The early church was founded
by Jesus’ followers.
1. At first all Christians were Jews.
2. Then, Christian leaders included all
people (Paul and the separation from
Judaism).
The Church leaders decide the message of Jesus is for
all people, not just Jews.
For 250 years, Christian
missionaries could travel
peacefully throughout the
Empire. Why?
“In the fullness of time God sent His Son . . .” Paul, in his letter to the Galatians
Paul helps spread the Good News across the Roman
Empire.
Paul’s 1st & 2nd
Paul’s first and Second
Missionary Journeys
Missionary Journeys
F. In the second century the Church went
through two fundamental changes, rejecting
salvation by grace in favor of salvation by
F. In the second century the Church went
through two fundamental changes, rejecting
salvation by grace in favor of salvation by
1. good behavior, and
F. In the second century the Church went
through two fundamental changes, rejecting
salvation by grace in favor of salvation by
1. good behavior, and
2. correct knowledge
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
1.The Roman government sometimes
persecuted Christians.
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
1.The Roman government sometimes
persecuted Christians.
a. the fish symbol
Christian symbols develop . . .
Christian symbols develop . . .
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior
[O1KG
Christian symbols develop . . .
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior
[O1KG
Christian symbols develop . . .
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior
[O1KG
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
1.The Roman government sometimes
persecuted Christians.
a. the fish symbol
b. the cross symbol
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
1.The Roman government sometimes
persecuted Christians.
a. the fish symbol
b. the cross symbol
c. the Chi-Rho symbol
Christian symbols develop . . .
Christian symbols develop . . .
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
2. the Church Fathers overcame Hellenistic
philosophy.
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
2. the Church Fathers overcame Hellenistic
philosophy.
3. Emperor Constantine made Christianity
the favored religion of the state.
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
2. the Church Fathers overcame Hellenistic
philosophy.
3. Emperor Constantine made Christianity
the favored religion of the state.
a. Now the church became wealthy and
powerful.
Constantine: By this you shall conquer
From the papal apartments,
Vatican City
Constantine: legality, the challenge of wealth, and the
challenge to the Pope
Medieval people believed
that this was
Constantine (the only
Roman equestrian
statue to survive from
ancient times).
Actually, it is Marcus Aurelius.
…A Converted British Family Sheltering a Christian
Priest from the Druids
painting by
Holman Hunt
The double-edged sword: accepting Constantine’s offer
of wealth
The Road
Leading
Downhill
Into Rome,
over which St. Peter’s
Basilica was built so that
the spot believed to be
where Peter was buried
would be under the altar.
Geopolitics:
the influence of
geography on political
events
Where is the best geopolitical location for
Constantine’s new capital?
Where is the best geopolitical location for
Constantine’s new capital?
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
The Black Sea
The Aegean
Sea
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
The Black Sea
The Aegean
Sea
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
The Black
Sea
The Bosphorus Today
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
Where along the
Bosphorus is the
best location?
The geopolitical location of choice: the entrance to the
Bosphorus
Here. Why?
The exact place: south of the Golden Horn
Why is this such a
good place
geopolitically?
Rome versus Constantinople:
the universal church versus the correct church
(catholic)
(orthodox)
Church division after 325
G. The Christian church overcame
its opponents.
2. the Church Fathers overcame Hellenistic
philosophy.
3. Emperor Constantine made Christianity
the favored religion of the state.
a. Now the church became wealthy and
powerful.
b. The church eventually became a
persecutor of others.
H. The church turned against Jews.