Download Beginning of Christianity

Beginning of Christianity
1st – 4th C. CE
Jesus (0-33 CE [6/4 BCE – 29 CE])
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Born in Bethlehem in Roman province of
Judea
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Educated in Judaism, became preacher
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Grew up in the town of Nazareth
Lived during reign of Augustus
From 30-33 CE traveled through Judea
and Galilee preaching
Taught:
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Single God father: all men brothers
Love God above all
Life of each is sacred
Practice charity, justice, golden rule “Do
unto others as you would have them do
unto you”
All people can be cleansed of sin and are
worthy of salvation
Jesus’ Death
• Romans afraid because Jesus had aroused such strong feelings
• Believed he endangered Roman Rule
• 33 CE Roman governor Pontius Pilate arrested Jesus and ordered
him crucified as a political rebel
• His 12 disciples (followers) believed
• He was the Son of God sent as the savior (Christ)
• Proclaimed Jesus has risen from the dead and appeared to them
• Teachings are written in the New Testament
Early Church Leaders
• St. Paul (1st C. CE)
• Jewish, but born in Greece, so he
could appeal to Greeks
• Saw Christianity as a universal
religion
• Directed missionaries to focus on
the gentiles (non-Jewish people)
• Wrote letters to many churches
which became part of the New
Testament
• St. Peter (1st C. CE)
• First Bishop of Rome
• Shaped Church’s internal
structure
• Used bureaucracy of Roman
Empire as his model
Travels of St. Paul
Spread of Christianity within Roman
Empire: 1st – 4th Centuries CE
• Christianity gained
converts because
• People dissatisfied with old
pagan religions
• Ideas of one God, universal
love, eternal salvation, and
equality appealed to many
• Equality especially appealed
to poor and oppressed
• Missionaries traveled
throughout empire
• Impressive early church
leaders: courage, sincerity,
ability
• People impressed by early
martyrs who died and were
persecuted rather than
denouncing their faith
More Christianity in Rome
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Oppression and Persecution
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Pagan priests feared doom of
their religions
Upper class considered it a
“slave religion”
Romans accused Christians of
treason because:
• Refused to worship emperor
• Refused to serve in army
• Disapproved of gladiator fights
and pagan rituals
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300 years Christians
persecuted
• Loss of citizenship,
confiscation of property,
torture, death BUT still grew
Triumph of
Christianity
•313 Constantine
ordered religious
toleration by the
Edict of Milan
•325 Church leaders
called to Nicea to
outline basic
Christian beliefs:
Nicene Creed
•392 Theodosius
proclaimed it official
state religion
Nicene Creed (325 CE)
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things
visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father
before all ages.
Light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the
Father, through whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate
from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man.
He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And
He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.
And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will
come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom
there will be no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father,
who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.
In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission
of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Church Structure
Dailies: Christianity
• What is the importance of the Nicene
Creed?
• What did St. Paul do?
• Who are Gentiles?
• Describe the Church hierarchy.
• What did Theodosius do?
Dailies: Day 2
• What are the Gospels?
• During what time period did Jesus live?
• In what ways is Christianity a universal
religions?
• What is heresy?
• How does Christianity appeal to the
poor?