The Origins of Christianity

• For all the changes and adaptations Christianity has brought into its history, it all must begin with Jesus: Who was he? What do we know?

• The word in the Bible translated as ‘repentance” is the Greek word “Metanoia” which means to “turn around.”

• Jesus was against the “holiness code.” The parables of Jesus teach that our usual way of perceiving things is not God’s way of perceiving things.

• It seems that Jesus was one of those rare teachers who lived what he taught.

The Early Jesus Movement

• His followers taught that three days after the death of Jesus he appeared before them alive and well.

Pentecost

• After Pentecost the disciples of Jesus, formerly confused and afraid, became full of faith and courage, to the point of willingness to become martyrs.

Paul

• Paul made the message of Jesus universal. You did not have to become a Jewish convert first in order to be a Christian.

Paul’s Journey’s

• Paul came preaching a message of love and hope that included all people, slaves and free, men and women, Jew and Gentile.

The New Testament

• The Gospels are proclamations of the “Good News” about Jesus. They are built on the memories and oral traditions of those who knew Jesus.

Christianity in the Roman World

• Some time shortly after the year 70, Gentile Christians were asked to leave the synagogue and Christianity became a separate religion.

Greek Philosophy: Plato

• Plato’s vision of two worlds gave philosophical expression to an important Christian teaching about how the Holy Spirit could influence people.

• Mithraism was one of the early challenges to Christianity as were other groups such as the Gnostic Christians.

Constantine

• Constantine believed that he would come to rule the Roman Empire through the sign of Jesus.

• Most Christians still believe the essentials of the Nicene Creed.