Transcript The First Christians

The First Christians
Chapter 10, Section 1, page 342
Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
• discuss how Jesus of Nazareth won followers by
preaching of God’s love and forgiveness, but was
eventually crucified.
• explain Christianity, based on Jesus’ teachings, and
how it became a separate religion from Judaism.
Roman Rule – page 343
• The Romans took over the territory of Judah in
63 B.C.
• Augustus made the area into a Roman province
named Judaea in A.D. 6.
• not an entirely happy place → rebellion A.D. 66
• Another rebellion in A.D. 132 led to Jews being
banned from Jerusalem (Jewish Diaspora).
The Life of Jesus – page 344
• Jewish hopes for a
messiah (deliverer)
• Jesus of Nazareth
– preacher/teacher who
travelled throughout Judaea
and Galilee
– disciples – twelve close
followers of Jesus
What Did Jesus Teach? – page 344
• urged people to turn away
from sins
• stressed relationship with
God
• Sermon on the Mount
– love and forgiveness
– love your neighbor
• parables – a story that
uses everyday life events
to express spiritual ideas
What is the Crucifixion? – page 347
• Jesus’ teachings made some
people uncomfortable.
• c. A.D. 33 – Jesus went to
Jerusalem for Passover
• arrested for treason
• crucifixion – Rome’s
punishment of political
rebels and lower class
criminals
• According to Christian
tradition, Jesus’ resurrection
(to rise from the dead)
followed his death.
The First Christians – page 348
• spread of the message following Jesus’ death
• Christ comes from Christos, Greek for “messiah”
• Early Christians met in homes to worship.
Who Were Peter and Paul? – page 348
• apostle – an early Christian leader who helped set
up churches
• early founders of Christian churches:
– Peter
• one of the twelve disciples
• went to Rome following Jesus’ death and helped to set up a church
there
– Paul of Tarsus
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•
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conversion on the road to Damascus
spread the message of Jesus
epistles
probably killed when Nero ordered the persecution of the Christians
What Do Christians Believe? – page 350
• Christians believe
– that Jesus is the Son of God.
– that if people accept Jesus and his teachings they
will gain salvation (to be saved from sin and allowed
to enter heaven).
– in the Holy Trinity (one God in three beings: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
The Christian Church
Chapter 10, Section 2, page 351
Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
• explain how Christianity won many followers and
eventually became the official religion of the Roman
Empire.
• discuss how early Christians set up a church
organization and explained their beliefs.
A Growing Faith – page 352
• spread of Christian faith
A Growing Faith – page 352
• spread of Christian faith
A Growing Faith – page 352
• Why was Christianity successful?
– positive message of hope, love and salvation
• old religions focused on the state
– ideas were familiar
– inclusive religion – all are welcome
– Roman persecutions
How did the Romans Treat Christians? page 353
• Roman officials saw the
Christians as a threat to the
security of the empire.
– refusal to worship Roman
gods (emperor’s cult)
– refusal to serve in the military
• persecution of Christians
results in martyrs – people
willing to die for their
beliefs
• backfired on the persecutors
Rome Adopts Christianity – page 354
• Diocletian – last great
persecution of the
Christians
• Constantine
– Battle of Milvian Bridge
– ended persecutions of
Christians
Rome Adopts Christianity – page 354
• Edict of Milan (A.D. 313) – issued by
Constantine, this order gave religious freedom
to all people and legalizing Christianity
• Theodosius, Constantine’s successor, made
Christianity Rome’s official religion.
The Early Church – page 355
• Early Christians organized
the church as a hierarchy (an
organization with different
levels of authority).
• clergy – leaders of the
church
• laity – regular church
members
• doctrine – official church
teaching
Patriarchs
Archbishops
Bishops
Priests
Laity
What is the New Testament? – page 355
• The Gospels (means “good news”), which record the life
and teachings of Jesus, together form part of the New
Testament of the Bible.
• Augustine – Church Father who wrote The City of God and
Confessions
Who is the Pope? – page 356
• By A.D. 600, the bishop
of Rome had gained a
special title – pope.
– claimed the authority of
Peter
– diocese was in Rome
– head of the Roman
Catholic Church
Chapter 10, Section 2 Questions
1. Why was Christianity so successful?
2. How was the Roman persecution of the Christians
counterproductive?
3. What is a martyr?
4. Explain the importance of the Edict of Milan.
5. How was the leadership of the early Christian church
organized?
6. The _____ include a record of the life and teachings of
Jesus, and are a part of the New Testament.
The Spread of Christianity
Chapter 10, Section 3, page 358
The Byzantine Church – page 359
• The church and government worked closely
together in the Byzantine Empire.
– In the Byzantine Empire, the Emperor controlled the
Church as well as the government. (caesaropapism)
• emperor chose the patriarch
• emperor crowned in a religious ceremony
Religious Arguments – page 359
• relationship between Jesus and God
• c. A.D. 700 – arguments over icons – images of Jesus, Mary,
or saints honored by some Christians
– idol worship?
– A.D. 726 – Emperor Leo III ordered removal → iconoclasts – image
breakers
Conflicts Between Churches – page 360
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pope’s claims of authority
failure to cooperate
differences in politics and culture
pope and the patriarch of Constantinople
excommunicated (excommunicate – to declare
that a person or group no longer belongs to the
church)
Conflicts Between Churches – page 360
• A.D. 1054 –church split
(schism) into the Roman
Catholic Church and the
Eastern Orthodox
Church (form of
Christianity based on
Greek heritage practiced
in the Byzantine Empire)
What Are Monasteries? – page 362
• monastery – a religious
community of monks
– men = monks
– women = nuns
– tried to live simple lives
centered on Christian ideals
– preservation of Greek and
Latin writings
– community services
– served as missionaries
What Are Monasteries? – page 362
• Basil – developed the Basilian
Rule, model for Eastern
Orthodox religious life
• Benedict – developed the
Benedictine Rule, became
religious model in the West
• Cyril and Methodius –
Byzantine missionary brothers
who carried the Christian
message to the Slavic people.
• Patrick – brought Christianity to
Ireland