Christianity and the Christianity and the Roman EmpireRoman Empire

OMSOMSCoach ParrishCoach Parrish

Chapter 9, Section 2Chapter 9, Section 2

FoundingFounding

JesusJesus – founder of Christianity. In the – founder of Christianity. In the beginning, followers of Christianity beginning, followers of Christianity were mainly the poor and slaves. were mainly the poor and slaves. Over time, it spread throughout the Over time, it spread throughout the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.

JesusJesus

Rise of ChristianityRise of Christianity

Christianity was one of many Christianity was one of many religions in the Roman Empire. It religions in the Roman Empire. It was tolerated as long as its followers was tolerated as long as its followers recognized Roman gods and the recognized Roman gods and the emperor.emperor.

Unrest in JudaeaUnrest in Judaea

Romans conquered the Jewish Romans conquered the Jewish homeland of Judaea in 63 BC. At first homeland of Judaea in 63 BC. At first the Romans allowed the Jews to the Romans allowed the Jews to worship their god but the Jews worship their god but the Jews resented foreign rule. resented foreign rule.

In 37 BC, the Roman Senate appointed In 37 BC, the Roman Senate appointed Herod the new leader of Judaea. It Herod the new leader of Judaea. It was during the reign of Herod, that was during the reign of Herod, that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Unrest in JudaeaUnrest in Judaea

Stories about what Jesus taught and Stories about what Jesus taught and how he lived are found in the New how he lived are found in the New Testament of the Bible. After Jesus Testament of the Bible. After Jesus died, his died, his disciplesdisciples – or followers, told – or followers, told stories about his life and teachings.stories about his life and teachings.

Four stories exist about Jesus’ life. Four stories exist about Jesus’ life. The authors are Matthew, Mark, The authors are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are called the Luke, and John. They are called the gospels.gospels.

Christian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

According to the New Testament, According to the New Testament, Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He learned to be a carpenter and began learned to be a carpenter and began to teach His beliefs when he was 30 to teach His beliefs when he was 30 years old. years old.

A few Christian beliefs: 1) There is A few Christian beliefs: 1) There is only one God. 2) You must love God only one God. 2) You must love God and your neighbor. 3) Followers of and your neighbor. 3) Followers of Jesus will have everlasting life.Jesus will have everlasting life.

Fears about ChristianityFears about Christianity

Jesus’ teachings alarmed many Jesus’ teachings alarmed many people. People complained that people. People complained that Jesus taught that God was more Jesus taught that God was more important than the emperor.important than the emperor.

These fears caused the Romans to These fears caused the Romans to condemn Jesus to death. He was condemn Jesus to death. He was crucifiedcrucified, or put to death on a , or put to death on a wooden cross.wooden cross.

Christianity SpreadsChristianity Spreads

Many people who followed Jesus Many people who followed Jesus spoke Greek. The Greek word for spoke Greek. The Greek word for messiah is messiah is cristos.cristos. The Greek people The Greek people began to refer to Jesus as Christ and began to refer to Jesus as Christ and eventually spread the religion all the eventually spread the religion all the way to Rome (city).way to Rome (city).

Letters of PaulLetters of Paul

One of Jesus’ most devoted disciples One of Jesus’ most devoted disciples was a Jew named Paul. According to was a Jew named Paul. According to the gospels, Paul originally rejected the gospels, Paul originally rejected Christianity. One day, as he walked Christianity. One day, as he walked toward Damascus, Jesus spoke to toward Damascus, Jesus spoke to him in a vision. him in a vision.

Paul’s writings were known as Paul’s writings were known as epistlesepistles – letters. Some appear in – letters. Some appear in the Bible.the Bible.

PaulPaul

Spread of ChristianitySpread of Christianity

Christianity Moves to the CitiesChristianity Moves to the Cities

By 100 AD, many Christian groups By 100 AD, many Christian groups were gathering in cities such as were gathering in cities such as Corinth, Alexandria, Ephesus, Corinth, Alexandria, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Rome.Thessalonica, and Rome.

Ways of WorshipWays of Worship

Early Christians shared beliefs, but Early Christians shared beliefs, but because of their regional differences, because of their regional differences, the ways they worshipped varied. the ways they worshipped varied.

Christians set aside Sunday for Christians set aside Sunday for worship because they believed this worship because they believed this was the day he had risen from the was the day he had risen from the dead.dead.

Jesus also instructed Christians to Jesus also instructed Christians to practice two holy acts: baptism and practice two holy acts: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.the Lord’s Supper.

BaptismBaptism

Rome BurnsRome Burns

One night in 64 AD, a fire was started One night in 64 AD, a fire was started in Rome that burnt for nine days. in Rome that burnt for nine days. Emperor Nero blamed the Christians Emperor Nero blamed the Christians and had them imprisoned.and had them imprisoned.

Some were sentenced to death, and Some were sentenced to death, and some were forced to fight animals in some were forced to fight animals in the Colosseum. Some were burnt the Colosseum. Some were burnt alive, and some were crucified. Paul alive, and some were crucified. Paul was imprisoned for two years and was imprisoned for two years and then killed. then killed.

Fire of Rome, 64 ADFire of Rome, 64 AD

Treatment of ChristiansTreatment of Christians

The Romans continued to persecute The Romans continued to persecute Christians for the next 250 years.Christians for the next 250 years.

The Romans blamed the Christians The Romans blamed the Christians for their declining empire. It became for their declining empire. It became a standard crime to follow a standard crime to follow Christianity. The punishment was Christianity. The punishment was death.death.

Appeal of ChristianityAppeal of Christianity

Despite persecution, Christianity began Despite persecution, Christianity began to spread. Emperor after emperor tried to spread. Emperor after emperor tried to halt the spread of Christianity. to halt the spread of Christianity.

Christianity appealed to the poor Christianity appealed to the poor because of its teachings and the because of its teachings and the gospels help to spread the message. gospels help to spread the message. Many Romans saw Christians as Many Romans saw Christians as martyrsmartyrs – someone who dies for a – someone who dies for a cause. By the 300s AD, about 10% of cause. By the 300s AD, about 10% of all Romans were Christian. all Romans were Christian.