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The Rise of Christianity
Traditional Roman Religion
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Etruscan nature gods
Greek gods
Ancestor spirits
Emperor 1st priest
Cult of the Emperor
Freedom of worship – many religions
Judaism
• Idea of a Messiah – one who would save
the Jews from oppression
• Romans treated Jews cruelly
– Polytheists vs. monotheism
– 1 god
– Would not honor the emperor as god
• Prior to the 1st C there had been a few
rebellions against Rome in Judea
Kingdom of Judah becomes a
Roman Province 6 C.E.
Jesus of Nazareth
• Born in the reign of Caesar Augustus
• Started teaching when approx 30 years
old
Jesus of Nazareth’s teachings
• God’s kingdom will govern all soon
• Give to others and care for others
• Do not sin- based on 10 commandments
• God is forgiving and loving
• Give up material wealth- spiritual equality
Uses parables (symbolic stories) to explain beliefs
Roman’s and some Jewish leaders
believed
• Leading people astray from god (J)
• Danger to Roman govt. (R)
• Could bring rebellion (R)
Result:
• Executed by Romans by Crucifixion
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Christians worship in secret and
are persecuted by the Romans
because:
Refused to worship emperor or serve in the
military (thou shalt not kill)
Tried to actively convert Romans (some seen
as threat to traditional Roman values and
Power)
Nero uses Christians as scapegoats for Great
Fire of Rome 67AD
It was seen as a sect of Judaism - It was
believed they might actively spread rebellion
(like the Jewish Uprisings)
Romans Put Down Jewish
Uprising in 70 C.E.
• Romans banned Jews from Jerusalem in
132 C.E. – Start of Jewish Diaspora
Martyrs in Rome
Emperor Trajan to Pliny - 1st Century AD
“You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those
who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay
down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be
sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished,
with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really
proves it--that is, by worshiping our gods--even though he was under suspicion
in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted
accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a
dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.”
How Christianity Became
Accepted in Rome
• 312 Emperor Constantine wins Battle of
Milvian Bridge over the Tiber River in
Rome
Constantine
• Saw Flaming Cross in the sky before battle with
Roman Rivals
• Had soldiers paint sign of cross on their shields
won the Battle
313 C.E. Edict of Milan
Legalized Freedom of Religion (Including
Christianity
325 C.E.- Nicean Council in Anatolia, Asia
Minor
Chose 4 Gospels
Nicean Creed
New Testament
Spread of Christianity
Other events
• 332 C.E.- Constantine is Babtized and
then Dies
• Late 4th century C.E.- The Scholar
Augustine writes “The City of Gods” which
is first history book from “Christian
Perspective
• 392 C.E.- Emperor Theodosius made
Christianity the official religion of Rome
Constantinople is made the
Rome
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