REVIEW (5-3)

• Why were the Romans able to construct massive buildings “undreamed of by the Greeks”?• Who were the most famous Roman writers? What

are they known for?• How is Roman family life different from Greek

family life?• Who was Spartacus and why is he important?• What was life like in Rome for the poor?• What did the wealthy in Rome think of the poor?

5 - 4

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY

BACKGROUND: ROMAN RELIGION

• Official state religion: polytheism (similar to Greek mythology)• Romans were tolerant of other religions• Allowed worship of native gods and goddesses • As the empire grew, more religions (especially eastern

religions) were brought into the Roman culture

THE JEWISH BACKGROUND

• By 6 AD Judaea was a Roman province under the control of a Roman official called a procurator• Widespread unrest after a long period of semi-

independence• Jews differed on how to handle Roman rule• Sadducees favored cooperation with Rome• Pharisees focused on religion to preserve Jewish identity• Essenes lived apart from society in communes• Zealots called for the violent overthrow of Roman Rule

THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

• His mission was to complete the salvation that God had promised to Israel throughout its history

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

• Preached love, humility, and charity toward others – not strict adherence to rituals and rules

• Jesus as a revolutionary?

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

• Began as a movement within Judaism but eventually became a separate religion after reports that Jesus had overcome death (Resurrection three days after death)

• Apostles (or leaders) traveled throughout Judaea and Galilee spreading Jesus’s message• Peter – leader of the apostles• Crucified upside-down• Recognized as the first Pope posthumously (after death)

• Paul – educated Roman citizen – brought the message to the Gentiles (non-Jews) throughout Asia Minor• Most of the New Testament attributed to him• Beheaded under Nero

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY (CONT.)

• Teachings passed down orally at first• Apostles began writing down the teachings to

help educate communities they had founded through the eastern Mediterranean• 40-100 AD – the collection of the accounts of

Jesus and his personal sayings became the Gospels• The Gospels form the core of the New

Testament (the second part of the Christian Bible)• By 100 AD Christian churches were established in

most major cities in the eastern Roman Empire

“YOU HAVE HEARD THE LAW THAT SAYS, ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR’ AND HATE YOUR ENEMY. BUT I SAY, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU! IN THAT WAY, YOU WILL BE ACTING AS TRUE

CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. FOR HE GIVES HIS SUNLIGHT TO BOTH THE EVIL

AND THE GOOD, AND HE SENDS RAIN ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST ALIKE. IF YOU LOVE

ONLY THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD IS THERE FOR THAT? EVEN CORRUPT TAX COLLECTORS DO THAT MUCH. IF YOU ARE

KIND ONLY TO YOUR FRIENDS, HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE?

(MATTHEW 5:43-47 )

“TEACHER, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW OF MOSES?”JESUS REPLIED, “‘YOU MUST LOVE THE

LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL, AND ALL YOUR MIND.’

THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT. A SECOND IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ THE ENTIRE LAW AND ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE PROPHETS ARE

BASED ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS.” (MATTHEW 22:36-40)

“YOU KNOW THAT THE RULERS IN THIS WORLD LORD IT OVER THEIR PEOPLE, AND

OFFICIALS FLAUNT THEIR AUTHORITY OVER THOSE UNDER THEM. BUT AMONG YOU IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. WHOEVER WANTS TO BE A LEADER AMONG YOU

MUST BE YOUR SERVANT, AND WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST AMONG YOU MUST BE THE SLAVE OF EVERYONE ELSE. FOR EVEN

THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO

GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.” (MARK 10:42-45)

“MY KINGDOM IS NOT AN EARTHLY KINGDOM. IF IT WERE, MY FOLLOWERS WOULD FIGHT TO KEEP ME FROM BEING HANDED OVER TO THE JEWISH LEADERS.

BUT MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.”

( JOHN 18:36)

“AND SO I TELL YOU, KEEP ON ASKING, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT YOU ASK FOR. KEEP ON SEEKING, AND YOU WILL

FIND. KEEP ON KNOCKING, AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. FOR

EVERYONE WHO ASKS, RECEIVES. EVERYONE WHO SEEKS, FINDS. AND TO

EVERYONE WHO KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED.

(LUKE 11:9-10)

ROMAN PERSECUTION

• At first, Romans paid little attention to Christians (another sect of Judaism)• Christianity began to “threaten

public order” because Christians refused to worship the state gods and emperors = treason• Reign of Nero (54-68 AD) – height

of persecution of Christians• Persecution only strengthened

Christian faith by forcing it to become more unified

WHY WAS CHRISTIANITY ABLE TO ATTRACT SO MANY FOLLOWERS?

1. Roman state-based religion was impersonal (all “for the good of Rome”) – Christianity was personal and offered salvation and a purpose to life

2. Christianity seemed familiar (sacrificial death of a savior-god)

3. Fulfilled the human need to belong – Christian communities developed and provided assistance and charity – more personal than the huge Roman Empire

4. Christianity was especially attractive to the poor and powerless

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY

• Last great persecution was under Diocletian (beginning of 4th c.)

• Emperor Constantine • 312 – Battle of Milvian Bridge• 313 he issued the Edict of Milan which proclaimed official

tolerance and neutrality toward all religion• 324-330 – built Constantinople as new Roman capital• Donated land and money to build St. Peter’s Basilica –

house of the Catholic papacy

• Emperor Theodosius the Great• 380 – Edict of Thessalonica – Romans adopt Christianity

as their official religion