6.3 6.3 The Rise The Rise

of of ChristianChristian

ityity

6.3 OBJECTIVES6.3 OBJECTIVES

1.1. Summarize the life of Jesus.Summarize the life of Jesus.

2.2. Trace the spread of Trace the spread of Christianity in the Roman Christianity in the Roman Empire.Empire.

3.3. Analyze Christianity’s Analyze Christianity’s appeal. appeal.

The Life and Teaching of The Life and Teaching of JesusJesus

Romans take control of Judea in 63 Romans take control of Judea in 63 B.C.B.C.

Judea becomes part of the Roman Judea becomes part of the Roman Empire in 6 A.D. Empire in 6 A.D.

A Savior will come to restore the A Savior will come to restore the

land of the Jews. land of the Jews.

Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth

Born 6 to 4 B.C.Born 6 to 4 B.C. Born in BethlehemBorn in Bethlehem Raised in NazarethRaised in Nazareth Baptized by John the BaptistBaptized by John the Baptist Occupation: CarpenterOccupation: Carpenter Began preaching at the age of 30Began preaching at the age of 30 Stressed love, (God, neighbors, Stressed love, (God, neighbors,

enemies)enemies) Eternal kingdom for those who repentEternal kingdom for those who repent

A GROWING A GROWING MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

Main source about his life came Main source about his life came from Gospelsfrom Gospels First 4 books of the New TestamentFirst 4 books of the New Testament Some are written by Jesus’ disciplesSome are written by Jesus’ disciples

12 men later called apostles12 men later called apostles

Became popularBecame popular Ignored wealth and statues; appealed to Ignored wealth and statues; appealed to

the poorthe poor

Jesus’ DeathJesus’ Death

Rulers where concerned, both Rulers where concerned, both Jewish and Roman leadersJewish and Roman leaders

In Jerusalem, people greeted him as In Jerusalem, people greeted him as a savior and messiah, or king. a savior and messiah, or king. Jewish priests disagreedJewish priests disagreed

Pontius Pilot, Roman leader, accused Pontius Pilot, Roman leader, accused Jesus of breaking Roman lawJesus of breaking Roman law Sentenced to crucifixionSentenced to crucifixion

Nailed to a wooden crossNailed to a wooden cross

Jesus’ death cont…Jesus’ death cont…

Jesus’ Death cont…Jesus’ Death cont…

Jesus died on the crossJesus died on the cross Placed in a tombPlaced in a tomb Body was gone three days laterBody was gone three days later Gospels say, he ascended to heavenGospels say, he ascended to heaven Because he was believed to be the Because he was believed to be the

messiah or “savior”, he was called messiah or “savior”, he was called Jesus ChristJesus Christ

Christianity Spreads Christianity Spreads Through the EmpireThrough the Empire

Disciples carried on his teachingsDisciples carried on his teachings Did not contradict Jewish lawDid not contradict Jewish law First followers were JewsFirst followers were Jews New religion beganNew religion began Christianity spread throughout the Christianity spread throughout the

empireempire

What did Jesus Teach?What did Jesus Teach?

ForgivenessForgiveness RepentanceRepentance Turn the other cheekTurn the other cheek Do you know anymore of the Do you know anymore of the

teachings of Jesus?teachings of Jesus? Name them…..Name them…..

Paul’s MissionPaul’s Mission

PaulPaul Never met JesusNever met Jesus Enemy of Enemy of

ChristianityChristianity Had a vision of Had a vision of

JesusJesus Spent the rest of Spent the rest of

his life spreading his life spreading Jesus’ messageJesus’ message

Paul’s Mission Cont.Paul’s Mission Cont. Christianity spreadChristianity spread

Pax Romana made the Pax Romana made the spread ideas easyspread ideas easy

Common language- Common language- LatinLatin

Paul wrote letters, Paul wrote letters, EpistlesEpistles Stressed that Jesus Stressed that Jesus

was the son of God was the son of God who died for people’s who died for people’s sinssins

Christianity welcomes Christianity welcomes converts Jew of converts Jew of GentileGentile

Jewish RebellionJewish Rebellion Jewish rebellion in 66 Jewish rebellion in 66

A.D. against RomeA.D. against Rome Temple destroyed by Temple destroyed by

Romans in 70 A.D. Romans in 70 A.D. Only western portion Only western portion

remainsremains Jewish fortress, Jewish fortress,

Masada, held until A.D. Masada, held until A.D. 73, half million dead73, half million dead

Tried again in A.D. 132, Tried again in A.D. 132, half million diedhalf million died

Diaspora- dispersal of Diaspora- dispersal of JewsJews

Persecution of ChristiansPersecution of Christians

Christians would not worship Roman Christians would not worship Roman godsgods Crucified, exiled, imprisoned, executedCrucified, exiled, imprisoned, executed Sent to the gladiator gamesSent to the gladiator games Looked at as martyrsLooked at as martyrs

Willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefWilling to sacrifice their lives for their belief

Used as scapegoats of economic and Used as scapegoats of economic and political troublepolitical trouble

A World ReligionA World Religion Christianity was growing rapidly throughout Christianity was growing rapidly throughout

the Roman Empire and beyondthe Roman Empire and beyond Why?Why?

1. Embrace all people1. Embrace all people2. Gives hope to the powerless2. Gives hope to the powerless3. Appealed to those who were repelled by 3. Appealed to those who were repelled by the the

extravagances of imperial Romeextravagances of imperial Rome 4. Offered personal relationship with a 4. Offered personal relationship with a

loving loving GodGod 5. Promised eternal life after death5. Promised eternal life after death

Constantine Accepts Constantine Accepts ChristianityChristianity

Constantine- Constantine- Emperor of Rome Emperor of Rome A.D. 312A.D. 312

Fighting 3 rivals of Fighting 3 rivals of the Romethe Rome Battle was at the Battle was at the

Tiber RiverTiber River Prayed for divine helpPrayed for divine help Saw the image of a Saw the image of a

crosscross Put the cross on the Put the cross on the

shields of his soldiersshields of his soldiers THEY WONTHEY WON

Constantine Accepts Constantine Accepts Christianity cont.Christianity cont.

Constantine made Constantine made Christianity an Christianity an accepted religion accepted religion of the empireof the empire

Emperor Emperor Theodosius made it Theodosius made it the official religion the official religion of the empire.of the empire.

Early Christian ChurchEarly Christian Church Priest led small Priest led small

groups of groups of ChristiansChristians

Bishop supervises Bishop supervises local churcheslocal churches

PeterPeter Became first bishop Became first bishop

of Romeof Rome ApostleApostle ““rock” on which the rock” on which the

Christian Church Christian Church will be builtwill be built

First “pope” (head) First “pope” (head) of the churchof the church

A Single VoiceA Single Voice Many disputed the beliefs that developed Many disputed the beliefs that developed

amongst believersamongst believers Became intenseBecame intense Church officials tried to set the standards of Church officials tried to set the standards of

beliefbelief Combine the Old Testament (Jewish Torah) + Combine the Old Testament (Jewish Torah) +

New Testament (Story of Jesus)= The Holy New Testament (Story of Jesus)= The Holy BibleBible

Met and created the Nicene Creed- define the Met and created the Nicene Creed- define the basic beliefs of all Christiansbasic beliefs of all Christians ““I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker

of Heaven and Earth……of Heaven and Earth……

The Fathers of the The Fathers of the ChurchChurch

Fathers of the ChurchFathers of the Church Early writers who also defined the Early writers who also defined the

teachingsteachings AugustineAugustine

Bishop from N. AfricaBishop from N. Africa Humans need the grace of GodHumans need the grace of God Can not get God’s grace without being a Can not get God’s grace without being a

member of the Churchmember of the Church Wrote “City of God”Wrote “City of God”