THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY

Mr. ErmerWorld HistoryMiami Beach Senior High

THE ROMAN RELIGION Caesar Augustus restores Roman religion

Religion had declined during the late Republic Greek gods worshiped with Roman names Emperors worshiped as gods Observation of rituals brought humans into

better relationship with gods Success comes from pleasing the gods

Romans tolerant of others’ faiths; worship of native gods allowed in provinces

Religions of the East were considered trendy, became popular among Romans looking for a more emotional religion/faith

JEWISH BACKGROUND In Hellenistic times, Jews given much

more independence than other cultures A.D. 6: Roman province of Judaea covers

land of the Israelites, ruled by a procurator

Unrest, difference of opinion about Rome Sadducees: cooperate with Rome Pharisees: observe religious law to keep

Jewish identity Essenes: lived as hermits waiting for God to

save them from Roman oppression Zelots: called for open revolt against Rome

RISE OF CHRISTIANITY A.D. 30: Jewish prophet named Jesus

begins preaching in Judaea and Galilee

Jesus’ Mission: complete salvation God promised to the people of Israel “Messiah”

Taught people to look for inner peace by practicing humility, charity and love toward others

Put to death for “revolutionary” ideas Followers said he rose from the dead

three days later

WORDS OF JESUS: “Do not think that I have come to

abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill them”

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

Began as a movement with Judaism Prominent leaders include:

Simon Peter: Jesus’ friend, Jewish fisherman

First leader of the Christian religion Paul: educated Jewish citizen of Rome,

who took the message of Jesus to Gentiles

Paul believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and humanity can be saved from sin by accepting the teachings of Jesus

Paul wrote letters outlining his beliefs

SPREADING THE WORD OF JESUS

Followers wrote down Jesus’ sayings, and stories from his life

A.D. 40-100: Christians use these stories, sayings to create Gospels (good news)

Together with the letters of Paul and others, they form New Testament

By 100, churches found in most cities in Eastern empire, and some in West

THE CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

Christian values vs. Greco-Roman values

Christians refuse to worship emperors Romans think of this as treason Christians believe in only one God, and

worshiping another endangers soul Nero begins persecution (harassing

to cause suffering), blaming them for fire

By the end of the rule of the five “Good Emperors”, persecution mostly stopped

CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH

Even with persecution, Christianity grows Persecution seen as strengthening faith Persecution forces organization

Bishops lead whole communities in prayer System of organization gives specific jobs

to clergy (church leaders) and laity (followers)

Christianity grew quickly in the 1st Century A.D., took root in the 2nd, and spread widely in the 3rd Century

REASONS FOR GROWTH Christian message appealed to

Romans Christianity gives purpose to life Roman religion was impersonal and

existed for the benefit of the Roman Republic/Empire

Christianity=personal, eternal life, salvation

Christianity seemed familiar, shared qualities with other trendy faiths from East

Christianity offered sense of belonging Churches=close community with

common goals, help one another; inclusive (rich/poor)

CHRISTIANITY: RELIGION OF THE PEOPLE “You have put on the new self…Here

there is no Greek nor Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”~ Paul’s Letter to the Colossians

Christianity preached of spiritual equality Rich, poor, free, slave all could be saved

Last persecution was in 4th Century, under Emperor Diocletian, who admitted the strength of Christianity was too much

CHRISTIANITY: OFFICIAL RELIGION OF ROME

A.D. 313: Emperor Constantine issues Edict of Milan, giving freedom of religion Constantine becomes first Christian

emperor of Rome, baptized at the end of his life

Theodosius the Great establishes Christianity as the official state religion of Rome

CHAPTER 2, LESSON 1 REVIEW:

On page 26, write and answer questions 1-5