RISE OF CHRISTIANITY4 - 6 BC Jesus born - Mary and Joseph

•Bethlehem•Herod the Great

age 30 began preaching/teaching

•”Lord, Liar, Lunatic”•used parables•short stories with simple moral lessons

Life and teachings of Jesus Christ becomes the New Testament

Teachings found in the GospelsMatthew, Mark, Luke, JohnTeaching based on Jewish Law, but taught followers to live

“Ethically” not just to observe the laws MonotheismJesus was God’s sonJesus taught of God’s Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness

“Golden Rule”Jesus taught of eternal life in Heaven for those that repent of their

sins

TEACHINGS OF JESUS

TEACHINGS OF JESUS“Sermon on the

Mount”Moral and ethical teachings

of Christianity“Beatitudes”Lord’s Prayer

Became the value system for western civilization

ROMANS DISLIKE OF JESUS1) Did not worship Roman Emperor

as a god2) Did not worship Roman gods3) Secret meetings

Roman gods were punishing the empire for Christian impiety

CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS Judas IscariotGarden of Gethsemane

Pontius Pilate Roman Governor allowed Jesus to be crucified

1)BLASPHEMY2)PLOTTING TO

BECOME KING3)FEAR OF INCITING REVOLT

RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Jesus arose 3 days laterEasterChristians believe in

Jesus’ resurrectionJesus = Messiah

THE 12 APOSTLES

MARTYRDOM OF PETERPeter traveled to Rome and was

crucified upside down by NeroBelieved to be the first “Bishop”

or Pope of the Christian ChurchToday all Popes are believed to be

descendants of St. PeterApostolic SuccessionPetrine Doctrine

Today this church is called the “Catholic” ChurchCatholic = “Universal”

ST. PETER’S BASILICA in VATICAN CITY

THE VATICAN

PAUL -- “HATER” to “LOVER”Paul was originally

known as Saul•Used to persecute followers of Jesus•Blinded by God on road to Damascus – Jesus asked why are you persecuting me•Becomes known as Paul and follows teachings of Jesus•Paul was a Roman citizen which meant he could travel freely throughout the empire•Spread to Gentiles

REASONS FOR GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE ROMAN

EMPIRE1. Security of the Roman Empire allowed citizens (and ideas) to freely move around

2. Common Language of Greek throughout Empire (Alexander the Great)

3. Road System throughout the empire4. Fatalism of Roman Religion

When you die there is nothing else5. Hope of Christianity

Belief in an afterlife6. Persecution of Christians

“blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity”

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITYREASONS FOR SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY:

1.Passion of spreading Christianity– The idea that man was a sinner and could gain eternal

life through faith was revolutionary2.Christianity’s Visible Love– Julian the Apostate• Pagan emperor – wanted to end Christianity• “Christianity has been specifically advanced thru the loving

treatment rendered to strangers…there is not a single Jew who is a beggar…they care not only for their poor, but ours as well.”

3.Universal offer of SalvationAnyone could believeTaught a simple message “God’s Son became a man and died on the cross

and rose and by faith you could trust him and be forgiven”4.Offered answers to a crumbling EmpireRome’s gods were too little – could not answer questions• Dignity of man• How to get rid of sin• Could not show you a moral base of righteousness – gave no

absolute sense of right and wrong – Christianity did

5.Persecution / Martyrs– 10 emperors – illegal to be Christian or own Bible

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY

5.Persecution/Martyrs cont.– Would not worship Roman gods• Considered atheists• Famine, pestilence, natural disaster

– Not worship Roman Emperor• During “Pax Romana” – to keep blessing on Rome you would provide

sacrifice to Goddess of Rome, Roma – a pinch of incense and proclaim “curia caesar” – “CAESAR IS LORD”

– Not attend gladiator games– Not go to hospitals – dedicated to Roman god of healing,

Aesculapius

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY

5.Persecution/Martyrs cont.• Conspiracy – early morning meetings• Cannibalism – Communion• Equality– paganism supported upper classes served by lower

• Economy – hurt sellers of idols, etc…

Christians were not persecuted because they worshipped Christ, they were

punished because they worshipped ONLY Christ

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION64 Nero

•Fire

•Peter / Paul

98 Trajan

•made it policy to not seek out Christians, but if someone was reported to be a Christian, they could recant, be punished, or on 3rd denial, killed

117 Hadrian // 139 Antoninus Pius•upheld policy towards Christians, but did not consent to persecution

161 Marcus Aurelius•spy system against Christians•accuser would receive Christian property•persecution spread

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

253-303 – General drop in persecutions

303 DIOCLETIAN•re-instituted persecutions•stabilize government by getting rid offaiths opposed to Roman state religion•attempted to end Christianity

311 GALERIUS•realized persecutions were only making Christianity stronger•issued Edict of Toleration

312 30k Christians in Rome

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

CHRISTIANITY BECOMES ONLY

RELIGION312 Constantine becomes 1st Christian EmperorBattle of Milvian Bridge

“in this sign conquer”Edict of Milan

380 Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion

476 Western Roman Empire fallsChristian Church will become the main

uniting and stabilizing force in W. Europe