Transcript Beginning of Christianity

Beginning of Christianity
1st – 4th C. CE
Jesus (0-33 CE)
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Born in Bethlehem in Roman province of
Judea
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Educated in Judaism, became preacher
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Grew up in the town of Nazareth
Lived during reign of Augustus
From 30-33 CE traveled through Judea
and Galilee preaching
Taught:
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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
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
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 Church’s internal
structure
• Used bureaucracy of Roman
Empire as his model
Travels of St. Paul
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
More Christianity in Rome
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Oppression and Persecution
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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
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300 years Christians
persecuted
• Loss of citizenship,
confiscation of property, torture,
death BUT still grew
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Triumph of Christianity
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313 Constantine ordered
religious toleration by the Edict
of Milan
392 Theodosius proclaimed it
official state religion