The Birth and Spread of

ChristianityRoman Judaea

How did Christianity Spread?

The spread of Christianity is not linear

Rather, it is very gradual, and happens over a long period of time.

It starts from Jewish Synagogues and private homes

The initial enclaves expand with time

As it expands, it becomes more hierarchical

By the 4th century we have bishops (ἐπίσκοπος/episkopos), namely church officials overseeing entire regions

Rome in the New

Testament• Gospel of Matthew: the miracle

involving the son of the centurion

• The Role of Pontius Pilate and the Romans in the Crucifixion of Jesus

• Gospel of John: The reference is probably an anachronism, having in mind the outcome of the final destruction of the temple of Jerusalem

• The Pentecost

• Acts of the Apostles

• Letter to the Romans

• Rome is portrayed as the violent occupying force.

How the Roman world contributed to the Spread

of Christianity Pax Romana

The unification of the three sides of the Mediterranean, relative safety in the sea routes, and the Roman road network facilitated movement. Paul alone is believed to have covered 10,000 miles in terms of travel.

The widespread use of common languages (Greek in the East and Latin in the West) facilitated communication and the spread of the message

The religious and cultural syncretism of the Roman empire and the presence of so many religions allowed for the followers of Christianity to preach their message all around the Mediterranean.

While Islam had to conquer its way through the Near East, Christianity found a world unified, ready and receptive

The reasons why Christianity Spread so

Effectively Its message was egalitarian in many ways

(including women, slaves, and all socioeconomic classes)

It gave hope by promising a better life after death

It appealed to the masses of poor and destitute inhabitants of large cities, but also to members of the upper classes who felt spiritually empty

It promised equality and social justice, and offered a positive alternative to an uncertain and dangerous world

It appealed to tendencies of oriental mysticism

Early Centers of Christianity

Jerusalem

Antioch

Corinth

Ephesus

Thessalonike

Rome

Alexandria

North Africa (Carthage, Hippo)