The Rise of Christianity

Christianity And the

Roman Empire

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The Rise of Christianity

• A world of many gods • Hundreds of gods worshiped across the empire– Local deities and

religions

• Foreign gods accepted into Roman traditions

• All beliefs were tolerated, in general

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The Rise of Christianity

• Unrest in Judaea • Roman Empire allowed conquered to practice their own religion– Still had to show loyalty

to the gods and the emperor

• Judaea conquered 63BC– Jews resent foreign rule– Believe a messiah

(savior) will come and free them

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The Rise of Christianity

• Unrest in Judaea • 37 BC Roman senate appoints Herod as ruler– Feared loss of power– Brutal and violent– Massacre of the

Innocents • Biblical account of the

three wise men searching for the messiah

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The Rise of Christianity

• Christian Beliefs • Jesus of Nazareth– Began life as a carpenter– Started teaching around

age 30– Traveled around region

preaching to Jews for 3 years

– Taught that he was the messiah the Jews were waiting for

– Reinforced the Torah

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The Rise of Christianity

• Fundamental Christian Beliefs

• The Gospel– God created people to have a

relationship with him– God demands perfection and

people disobeyed him• Separation from God (Adam and Eve)

– People cannot be good enough to regain God’s favor

– Jesus is the Son of God (messiah) and can solve the problem through a sacrifice • Crucifixion and resurrection

– Only Jesus is the way back to Godhttp://us.123rf.com

The Rise of Christianity• Roman Fears • Jesus teaches that people

must love God and love others– No problem with Rome

• Jesus teaches that God is greater than Caesar and that he, Jesus, is one with God– Problem for Rome

• Romans fear Jesus and followers may revolt

• Romans crucify (execute) Jesus

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Christianity Spreads• Christianity Spreads • Saul of Tarsus

– Member of Jewish elite– Persecutes followers of

Jesus– Converts to Christianity

after he is visited by Jesus– Changes name to Paul

• Paul writes many letters to the newly forming churches teaching them Jesus’ message

• Travels throughout Mediterranean region

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Christianity Spreads

• Christianity Spreads

• Ways of Worship

• The Gospels– 4 Books written by apostles of

Jesus about his life and ministry

• Christianity moves into cities– Popular with the poor of Rome

• Prayed and sang• Read scripture (old testament)

or from Paul’s letters• Two rites

– Baptism and the Lord’s Super

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Christianity Spreads

• Roman Reactions • Christianity grows quickly• Many Roman officials view

Christians as enemy’s of the empire– Don’t worship Roman gods or

emperor• Emperor Nero– Blames fire on Christians– Arrested and killed– Paul imprisoned for 2 years then

killed

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Christianity Spreads

• Roman Reactions

• Appeal of Christianity

• Rome blames its decline on the Christians– Persecuted for another 250 years

• Christian communities gave to poor

• Message of love, forgiveness and a better life attractive

• Jesus was a real person, not mythological

• Gospel easy to understand

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Christianity Spreads

• Appeal of Christianity

• Many emperors try to stop the spread

• Outlaw services, imprison priests, put many to death– Martyr – someone who dies for a

cause

• By the 300s, one in ten Romans had accepted the Christian faith

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