The Rise of ChristianityThe Rise of Christianity

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

1. Christianity differed from the Roman religion in that it emphasized a personal relationship between God and people while the Roman religion was practiced without emotion.

Jews Come Under Roman Rule

Jews Come Under Roman Rule

2. Jewish kings kept their independence by working as representatives of the Roman Empire.

They allied with the Romans and accepted the Roman plans to “Romanize” Jerusalem.

3. After King Herod died, the Jewish people began to revolt against the Roman occupation. This revolt lasted ten years.

4. The Romans gained control by giving control of religious matters and local affairs to the Jewish court called the Sanhedrin.

5. Zealots wanted to rid their homeland of the Romans and believed that the Messiah (promised savior) would restore the kingdom of the Jews.

The Life and Teaching of Jesus

The Life and Teaching of Jesus

Jesus was a Jew born in a land under Roman rule. He grew up in Nazareth in northern Palestine. At age 30, he began his public ministry.

6. For the next three years, Jesus emphasized God’s personal relationship to each human being and the importance not only loving God, but loving one’s self, one’s neighbors and one’s enemies.

He also taught that God had established an eternal kingdom for people after their death if they repented their worldly sins.

Jesus’ MessageJesus’ Message

7. We know about the life of Jesus because of the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible.

8. The 12 men who followed Jesus most closely are now known as the apostles.

9. Jesus appealed to the poor because he ignored wealth and status. He told the people “blessed are the poor as they shall inherit the earth”.

Many began to believe that he was the long awaited Messiah.

Jesus’ DeathJesus’ Death

10. Jesus’ popularity concerned the Roman and Jewish leaders because the Romans saw him as a threat to their authority and the Jewish leaders believed his message to be blasphemous (as well as a threat to their authority in religious matters).

Jesus’ DeathJesus’ Death

11. After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he was arrested by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The charge against Jesus is that he challenged the authority of Rome. Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion ( a popular form of Roman execution).

ChristianityChristianity12. According to the Gospels, three days after

Jesus died, his body was gone from the tomb. This fulfilled his promise that he would rise from the dead on the third day.

13. The Apostles believed that Jesus had ascended into heaven, thus fulfilling the prophecy. It is from that belief that the name “Christ” was given to him by the Greeks.

14. Peter led the apostles after Jesus’ death.

The apostles spread the teachings of Jesus throughout Syria and Palestine. The cross on which Jesus was crucified became a symbol for their beliefs.

Christianity Spreads Through the Empire

Christianity Spreads Through the Empire

15. Paul, an enemy of Christians, reports seeing a vision on Jesus on his journey to Damascus, Syria. After this incident, he spent the rest of his life spreading Jesus’ teachings.

16. Christianity spread easily and safely throughout the Roman empire because of Pax Romana, the excellent system of Roman roads, and the common languages of Greek and Roman spoken throughout the empire.

17. Paul wrote letters, called epistles, to groups of believers.

Jewish RebellionJewish Rebellion18. In 70 A.D., Romans stormed Jerusalem to put down a

rebellion. The Temple of Solomon was destroyed once again.

In 73 A.D.,Masada, a Jewish fortress, high on a mountaintop, was stormed by the Romans. When the Romans entered the fortress, they found that all of the Jews had killed themselves

In 132 A.D., the Jews rebelled again. This time, the Romans put an end to the Jewish political state and most of the Jews were driven from their homeland into exile. This is known as a diaspora.

Persecution of the Christians

Persecution of the Christians

19. Christians posed a problem for the Roman rulers because they refused to worship the Roman gods. Their refusal was interpreted as opposition to Roman rule.

20. Roman rulers used Christians as scapegoats, blaming the Christians for Rome’s political and economic troubles. Peter and Paul were both put to death by the Romans in this state sponsored persecution.

21. As the Pax Romana, began to crumble, Roman exiled, imprisoned , or executed Christians for refusing to worship Roman gods. Thousands were crucified, burned or fed to wild animals in the circus arenas.

A World ReligionA World Religion

22. Christianity appealed to so many people for the following reasons:

a. Christianity embraced all people.b. Gave hope to the powerlessc. Appealed to those repelled by the

extravagances of imperial Rome.d. Offered a personal relationship with God.e. Promised eternal life after death.

Early Christian ChurchEarly Christian Church

23. The early church was structured much like the Roman hierarchy. a. Priests served at the local level- who led a small

group of Christians.

b. A Bishop supervised several local churches.

c. The pope supervised all of the bishops.

24. The apostle Peter was the 1st pope.

Constantine Accepts ChristianityConstantine Accepts Christianity25. In 312 A.D. (~300 years after the death of Jesus), the

Emperor Constantine prayed for divine help in his battle against his two rivals. At stake was the Roman throne. He reported having seen a cross of light with the inscription “In this sign, conquer.” At that moment, Constantine converted to Christianity. He won the battle, gained the throne of Rome and upon his return to Rome announced the end of the persecution of the Christians. He then recognized Christianity as one of the religions approved by the emperor.

Eventually (in 380 A.D.), Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire

Discord and HarmonyDiscord and Harmony

26. In an attempt to end conflicts within the Church, leaders sought to set a single official standard of belief. These beliefs are contained in the New Testament.

Conference of NicaeaConference of Nicaea27. In 325 A.D., the emperor

Constantine attempted to end the disputes and disorder within the Church by calling Church leader to a conference in Nicaea, Anatolia.

28. It is at Nicaea where the Church leaders wrote the Nicaea Creed, which defined the beliefs of the Church.

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking29. The people of the Roman Empire were receptive to the

Christian religion because it:1. embraced all people, gave hope to the powerless, 2. appealed to those who were repelled by the

extravagances of imperial Rome, 3. offered a personal relationship with God, and 4. promised a life after death.

For Roman citizens, this was a much better deal than the one they had as a citizen of Rome.

30. The Spread of Christianity was made easier by the network of roads throughout Rome and the peace and prosperity of the empire during pax romana.

Scoring: Each question is worth 3 points apiece!