CHRISTIANITY

1. Christianity and Judaism

a. Christianity- a religion that developed based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth

b. Judaism in the Roman Worldi. Judea was conquered by the Rome in 63

B.C.ii. Jews had to pay a tribute to Rome but

were allowed to keep practicing their religion so long as they maintained civic order and paid their tribute

iii. Rome appointed a new ruler for the region

c. Reactions to Roman Rulei. Zealots

1. Wanted Jews to revolt against Rome and drive them out of Judea

2. Led a revolta. Result

i. Rome sacked Jerusalemii. Destroyed 2nd temple

3. Will revolt again resulting in all Jews being expelled from Jerusalem

d. Messianic Propheciesi. Messiah

1. Messiah is the spiritual leader who would restore the ancient kingdom and bring peace to the world

2. Jesus of Nazaretha. Life

i. Almost all we know about him comes from the 4 gospels of the New Testament

ii. Born in Bethlehemiii. Learned carpentry and also studied the

Jewish prophetsiv. Instructed people to repent and seek God’s

forgiveness

v. Two basic beliefs1. Love God above all else2. Love others as you love yourself

vi. Popular with the people but feared by the authorities

vii. Arrested, tried and sentenced to death

b. Death and Resurrectioni. Rose from the grave after his death ii. Spent 40 days teaching his disciples then

ascended into heaven1. Followers believe that this revealed that

Jesus was the Messiah

3. Spread of Christianity

a. Apostlei. 12 disciples that Jesus had chosenii. Earliest missionaries

b. Paul of Tarsusi. Name was Saulii. Missionary to the Gentiles (non-Jews)iii. Emphasized doctrines that helped

distinguish Christianity from Judaism

c. Persecutioni. Local leaders were afraid of an uprising

from Christiansii. Martyrs

1. People who died for the faith

d. Imperial Approvali. Constantine

1. Converted in early 300’s2. Issued Edict of Milan

a. Made Christianity legal within the Empireb. Did not ban practice of other religions

4. Early Christian Church

a. Development of Ceremoniesi. Eucharist

1. Held in memory of Jesus’ last supper with disciples

ii. Practiced baptism

b. Church Leadersi. Priests

1. Seen to have same authority as the apostles

ii. Bishops1. Oversaw church affairs in most cities2. Had authority over the priests within those

cities

iii. Pope1. Many believe that Peter founded the

Roman church and was its first bishop2. Popes are seen as the heirs of Peter