Rome, Jesus, and the Spread of ChristianityRome, Jesus, and the Spread of Christianity
What are the basic facts about Christianity from a historical perspective?How did Christianity go from an unknown, illegal movement to being one of the main driving forces behind western civilization?
Rome: The Right time… The right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… The right place!!!
GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS RELIGIOUS/SOCIAL FACTORS POLITICAL FACTORS
All above Factors paved the way for Christianity to spread. Christianity could not have expanded the way it did at any other time in history.
Rome at the Birth of ChristRome at the Birth of Christ
Rome at the Birth of ChristRome at the Birth of Christ
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Geographic FactorsRoman OrderTransportation
“All roads lead to Rome”
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!RELIGIOUS/SOCIAL FACTORS
Roman Religion (mythology) Blending of Greek & Other
Religious beliefsPolytheism… Many GodsPagan
State recognition of Traditional Greek Gods now known as Roman GodsSeen with the Emperors
some considered themselves descendants of the Gods
Political FactorsPolitical Factors Rome provided for religious freedom Christians and Jews looked down upon for their
condemnation of Roman gods however, free to do pretty much as they wished, in most places, most of the time.
Persecution did take place but were infrequent and involved very few people.
Once Roman Religion (mythology) no longer embraced by the Head of the empire allowed for Christianity to be embraced more
Example: when a Roman governor in Asia Minor began a persecution of Christians during the second century, "the entire Christian population of the region paraded before his house as a manifesto of their faith and as a protest against injustice“. The more significant part of this story is not that the Christians had the nerve to protest, but that they went unpunished.
Christianity: Seizing the moment
Christianity: Seizing the moment
Christianity: Seizing the Moment
Christianity: Seizing the Moment
Jesus is born in 4, 5, or 6 BCWhy not 0?What the heck does AD mean?
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
His Ministry
His Death
His Claim
…Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
HIS MINISTRYHealing
Preaching
“The Kingdom of God”Embrace God and
have eternal life?
Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of JesusHIS DEATHNo trial or execution in
history has had such an impact as that of Jesus in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, 2000 years ago.
But was it an execution or a judicial murder; and who was responsible?
Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
THE CLAIMResurrectionAvailable to
BelieversHope After
Death
Y’Shua min Nazaret…Jesus of Nazareth
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityPETERTraveling PreacherLater revered as “First
Pope” or the “Bishop of Rome”
Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD Killed by emperor Nero
in 64 ad
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityPAUL (Saul of Tarsus)JewishStarted Gentile ChurchesWrote letters which make up 1/3 of the
New TestamentMartyred in Rome in mid-60’s ADPaul is a key figure in this transition – he
specifically went to non-Jewish people and told them that if they became followers of Jesus, they were acceptable to God
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityConstantine’s Edict of
Toleration (313 AD)Theodosius declares
Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (380 AD)
Augustine & the Rise of the Holy Roman Empire (430 AD)
Was this universally appealing?
Was this universally appealing?
The Alexamenos graffito is an inscription carved in plaster on a wall near the Palatine Hill in Rome, now in the Palatine Antiquarian Museum. It may be the earliest surviving image of Jesus and is alleged to be among the earliest known pictorial representations of the Crucifixion of Jesus
Key Resource for the Spread of ChristianityKey Resource for the
Spread of ChristianityTHE NEW
TESTAMENTPortable
Translatable Religion
Spawns other writings
Who Killed JesusWho Killed Jesus
The story begins when the Galilean rebel Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, deliberately fulfilling a prophecy in the Hebrew Bible about the coming of the Messiah. He's mobbed by an adoring crowd.
The next day Jesus raids the Temple, the heart of the Jewish religion, and attacks money-changers for defiling a holy place.
The leaders of the Jewish establishment realize that he threatens their power, and so do the Romans, who fear that Jesus has the charisma to lead a guerrilla uprising against the Roman Empire.
Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, tried by Caiaphas and then by the Roman Governor. He's sentenced to death and executed.
Meet the DefendantsMeet the Defendants
Caiaphas Pontius Pilate Jesus
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