Download Chapter 5, Section 4

Chapter 5,
Section 4
Christianity
Rome and Christianity
 Rome was tolerant of most
religions, but the Jewish
monotheistic faith created
problems.
 Zealots revolt, 135 A.D. the
diaspora occurs.
 On to the scene, a Jewish
carpenter named - Jesus
Roman Beliefs
• Observation of proper ritual ensure favour with the
gods
• Believe that because they had such success with
the Empire is because of the god’s favour.
“We have overcome all the nations of the
world, because we have realized that the
world is directed and governed by the
gods” - Cicero
Jewish Background
• Judea was a largely independent state, until the
Romans conquered in 6 A.D
• Ruled by a Procurator, or Governor
o Heard of Pontius Pilate?
• Group called the Zealots, one of many, pushed for
the violent overthrow of the Romans
• Jewish revolt started in 66 A.D results in the Zealots
destruction at Masada, and the destruction of the
Jewish Temple.
Jesus Arrives
• Christ – Greek from ‘christos’ , or “Savior/Messiah”
• Believed his mission was to complete salvation
promised to Israel throughout its Jewish History
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law
or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.” (Mt 5:17)
• The two commandments of Christian Beliefs
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength. This is the first commandment. The second is
this: Love your neighbor as thyself” (Mt 22:37-40)
Rome and Christianity
 JC - problems with the Romans
on the “One God”
issue…problem with the
Hebrews on the Healer /
Messiah issue
 Eye for an Eye vs. Love your
enemy???
 Salvation for those who
believe….big selling point!
 What kind of life do most Romans live?
(Think of what class most people belong to?)
Death & Resurrection
• Jesus is eventually turned over to the Roman
procurator, Pontius Pilate
• Proclaimed to have risen from the dead, according
to the Gospels and fulfilling the old prophecies
• Believed to be the Messiah, or savior of the Jews.
The Spread
• Christianity begins as a cult within Judaism (and
remains a cult until the 300’s)
o Cult – followers of exclusive system of beliefs of practices
• After reports of Jesus’ resurrection, the religion was
able to take hold in the region”
• Simon Peter
o Jewish fisherman who follows Jesus
o An Apostle, or leader, soon recognized as the leader of Jesus’ followers
• Paul of Tarsus, or Paul, joins later and becomes the
greatest contributor to the New Testament and the
emerging Church
Peter’s Charge
Paul’s Teaching
Jesus is the Savior
Son of God who came to earth to save humanity
Jesus’ death “clean-slated” humanity’s sins
By accepting Jesus AS Christ, people could be saved
and reconciled.
Problems
Orally passed down all teachings for hundreds of years
Epistles, or letters, written by Paul, the Apostles, and others
(hundreds of them) used as the basis for belief and practice
No Bible yet
• Takes about 800 years for that to happen, and then there are dozens of
versions even today!!
New Testament
Literally, the “New sayings” or “New
Account” of God
Old Testament is made up of Jewish “Torah”,
plus added other books.
• NOT Entirely the Jewish “Torah” as is commonly
thought.
Sayings, Teachings, and Letters of followers
form the basis of the “Gospels”, or Good news
Persecution of the Christians
 Paul (10-67) spread Christianity
under Pax Romana
 Christians were later made
scapegoats, and then
martyrs…. 2 key terms
Rome and Christianity
 Emperor Constantine converts
and issues the “Edict of Milan”
313 A.D. ending Roman
persecution
 Emperor Theodosius makes it the
official religion in 392 A.D.
Rome and Christianity
 Structure…...bishops…….…Bisho
p of Rome - the Pope
(Rome was where Peter and
Paul suffered martyrdom)
 The Church will replace the
Roman empire as far as “World
Stability”