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Rise of Christianity
Article written by David Bercot.
When Christianity was young, the focus was on
Jesus Christ and His kingdom—not theology. In the
beginning, Christians understood that the essence of
Christianity was an obedient love-faith relationship
with Jesus Christ. But then something happened:
Theologians took over the church. Once they took
over, the emphasis soon changed from godly fruit to
“orthodox” theology. Christianity became
Doctrianity. - David Bercot
RAPID GROWTH
Christianity spread rapidly from A. D. 30 until the
fourth century, when it was legalized.
The sudden and rapid rise of Christianity during
this time period is one of the most amazing
events in all of human history. In less than two
centuries after the death of Christ, Tertullian
could already say, “We are but of yesterday, and
yet we have filled every place among you—cities,
islands, fortresses, towns, market places, the
very camps, tribes, companies palace, senate,
and forum. We have left nothing to you but the
temples of your gods.”1
A decade earlier, Clement of Alexandria had
written, “The whole world, along with Athens and
Greece, has already become the domain of the
Word.”2
To be sure, other religions have sometimes
spread rapidly—such as Islam in the seventh and
eighth centuries. However, Islam spread quickly
through use of the sword. Most of its converts did
not convert willingly. In contrast, before the year
325, the rise of Christianity was entirely without
the use of the sword. No one was forced to
convert to Christianity during this time period. In
fact, the Roman Empire used every means
available to it to prevent Christianity from
spreading. Yet, Christianity spread so fast that it
eventually conquered the Roman Empire itself—
without the use of the sword.
REASONS FOR THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY
Secular historians conjecture various reasons for
Christianity’s rapid rise. However, the believer
realizes the reason for the swift spread of
Christianity was that God’s Spirit was behind it.
As Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it” (Mt 16:18). Because Christianity is the
truth and its spread was often backed by
supernatural power, neither Judaism nor pagan
religions could successfully stop it.
Although secular historians are not normally
going to acknowledge the primary reason for
Christianity’s rapid rise, there are several
reasons that even they acknowledge. Three of
these causes for the speedy growth of
Christianity that historians recognize are:
(1) the contrast between the teachings of Christianity
and that of the pagan religions,
(2) the admirable lifestyle of the Christians, and
(3) the willingness of Christians to die for their faith.
As the church historian Philip Schaff wrote,
“Christianity rises far above all other religions in
the theory and practice of virtue and piety. It sets
forth the highest standard of love to God and to
man. …The wisest men of Greece and Rome
sanctioned slavery, polygamy, concubinage,
oppression, revenge, infanticide; or they belied
their purer maxims by their conduct.”3
The teachings of the pagan priests and even the
pagan philosophers paled in contrast to the
teachings of Jesus. It was not difficult for even
unlearned Romans to see the foolishness of
worshipping statues and images. Furthermore,
as taught in mythology, the Greek and Roman
gods were no better than the vilest of humans.
The God of Christianity was quite different.
Even though the Romans often lived immoral
lives, they valued many of the qualities that
Christians lived out: honesty, faithfulness in
marriage, kindness and love to neighbors, and
trustworthiness.
As Schaff wrote, “Deeds speak louder than
words. The finest systems of moral philosophy
have not been able to regenerate and conquer
the world.” 4
One of the Christian apologists declared to the
Romans, “We don’t speak great things, we live
them!” 5
At no other time in the history of Christianity did
love so characterize the entire church as it did in
the first three centuries. And Roman society took
note. Tertullian reported that the Romans would
exclaim, “See how they love one another!” 6
Justin Martyr sketched Christian love this way:
“We who used to value the acquisition of wealth
and possessions more than anything else now
bring what we have into a common fund and
share it with anyone who needs it. We used to
hate and destroy one another and refused to
associate with people of another race or country.
Now, because of Christ, we live together with
such people and pray for our enemies.” 7
Christianity rose rapidly because of this notable
contrast between the lives of Christians and
those of pagans.
A third reason for the rapid rise of Christianity
was the readiness of Christians to die for their
faith when necessity arose. The very fact that
Christians were willing to suffer un-speakable
horrors and to die rather than disown their God
was, next to their lifestyle, their single most
effective evangelistic tool. Few, if any, Romans
would die for their gods. There had to be some
substance to Christianity if it meant so much to
those who practiced it. In fact, the Greek word for
“witness” is martyr.
As Tertullian famously wrote, “The more often we
are mown down by you, the more in number we
grow. The blood of Christians is seed. ...For who
that contemplates it, is not excited to inquire what
is at the bottom of it? Who, after inquiry, does not
embrace our doctrines?” 8
© Scroll Publishing Co.
Article written by David Bercot.
David Bercot’s personal homepage is
at www.davidbercot.com.
1Tertullian, Apology. Quoted in A Dictionary of Early Christian
Beliefs, p. 138.
2Clement of Alexandria Miscellanies. Quoted in A Dictionary of
Early Christian Beliefs, p. 138.
3Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church. Vol. 1, p. 433.
4Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church. Vol. 1, p. 433.
5Mark Minucius Felix, quoted in We Don’t Speak Great Things,
We Live Them, p. 65.
6Tertullian, quoted in Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up,
p. 27.
7Justin Martyr, quoted in Will the Real Heretics Please Stand
Up, p. 27.
8Tertullian Apology. Quoted in A Dictionary of Early Christian
Beliefs, p. 138.