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Christianity
The religion based on the life, teachings,
and example of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Son of God ~ Messiah ~ Savior
What is Christianity?
A diverse, 2000 year old religion followed by
almost one third of the world’s population!
Based on the life, teachings, death and
resurrection of a first century Jew known as
Jesus, believed to be the messiah/savior by
his followers, called “Christians”
Symbols of Christianity
The Cross -symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice
The fish - Early Christians used the fish as a
secret symbol to mark meeting places and
tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes.
Who Was Jesus?
Born, lived, and died a Jew in first century
Roman occupied Palestine.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem.
He learned carpentry from his father and studied
the writings of Jewish prophets.
Around age 30, took on a
mission of preaching,
teaching, and healing
Who Was Jesus?
Jesus had a following of 12 primary disciples
and countless multitudes attracted by his
miracles and words of wisdom.
They were all seen as a political threat to the
Roman Empire.
Preaching
Jesus preached a message of love and renewal.
People began to follow him and his message of a
loving, benevolent, forgiving God.
Jesus created excitement by performing miracles
of healing; defending the poor and oppressed.
Rome’s Reaction
The Roman Empire ruled over
Palestine.
Jesus' popularity- crowds
alarmed authorities who
feared political uprisings
Jesus was arrested, tried, and
sentenced to death.
Put to death through torturous
crucifixion (a Roman
punishment).
Death and Resurrection
According to the New Testament, after
crucifixion:
Jesus rose from the dead
Appeared for 40 days
Ascended into heaven
Followers believe Resurrection and Ascension
reveal that Jesus is the Messiah
These are matters of faith and cannot be
explained any other way.
Paul of Tarsus
Originally known as Saul, born in Tarsus, in Asia
Minor (Present day Turkey)
At first he actively opposed teaching that Jesus
was the Messiah
Paul had a conversion on his way to Damascus
and became Christian
Saul 43:00 Roman Empire PBS Season 1 Episode 3
Paul of Tarsus
If not for his work,
Christianity might
have remained a
branch of Judaism.
Paul believed God
sent him to convert
non-Jews, or
Gentiles
Converting the Gentiles
Paul helped make Christianity broader religion
and attracted many new followers
Paul’s epistles, or letters, to those churches later
became part of the New Testament
The Bible-Christian Holy Book
Most knowledge of Jesus comes from the
Gospels, the first four books of the Christian
Bible, also known as the New Testament
The New Testament and the Old Testament
(books from the Torah) make up today’s entire
Christian Bible.
Threat leads to Persecution
The Roman Empire was mostly polytheistic and
Roman emperors were seen Gods.
Christians were persecuted for their belief in one
God and the denial of the emperor as a God.
Large-scale persecution by Romans grew as
rulers saw Christianity as a threat to their
loyalty to the Empire and the emperor.
Results of Persecution
Christians killed by Roman officials were seen
as martyrs -people who choose to die rather
than deny a strongly held belief, especially a
religious belief.
Martyrs were revered which also helped
Christianity spread
and gain popularity.
Imperial Approval
The spread of Christianity was accelerated by
Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to
Christianity.
313 CE, Constantine made Christianity legal
within empire-Edict of Milan
Polytheism gradually
disappeared from
the Empire.
Constantine
Constantine’s mark on Christianity:
Made December 25th the birthday of Jesus
Christ (Christmas). It had been the birthday of
the pagan Sun god.
Observance of Sunday as the day of rest.
Instituted celebrating Easter and Lent based on
pagan springtime celebrations.
What is this symbol?
Christian Rituals
During Eucharist, people eat bread, drink wine in
memory of Jesus' death and resurrection
With baptism, people are
admitted to the faith
*Water used to purify.
Christian Holy Days
Christmas- commemorates the birth
of Christ.
Easter- celebrates the resurrection of
Jesus Christ on the third day after his
crucifixion.