Ancient RomeChristianity

Date: 1/20/2012

Daily Question: How does Christianity emerge underneath the Roman Empire?

Warm-up Questions: Where did your religious beliefs come from (if you are religious

or spiritual)? How does a religion originate/get started?

ChristianityJews under Roman Rule

• The Jews were under Roman rule.• One group of people that lost its land to the Romans was the

Jews. Many Jews wanted the Romans to leave their land.• Others hoped for the coming of the Messiah – the savior.

According to Jewish tradition, God promised that the Messiah would restore the kingdom of the Jews.

Christianitythe Life of Jesus

• Jesus was born in Judea. At about the age 30, Jesus began to preach. His message included many ideas from Jewish traditions, such as the principles of the Ten Commandments and the belief in one God (monotheism). According to close followers, who were later called apostles, Jesus performed many miracles. His fame grew. Some believed him to be the long-awaited Messiah.

• Jewish leaders did not believe that his teachings were those of God. Roman leaders feared his hold on the people. Also, Christian refusal to worship Roman gods was seen as opposition to Roman rule. The Romans arrested Jesus and put him to death.

ChristianityThe Beginning of a Religion

• After his death, his followers said that he had appeared to them again and then gone to heaven. They said this proved that he was the Messiah. They called him “Christ,” which is Greek for “savior,” and his followers came to be called Christians.

• At first his followers were all Jewish. Later, under one follower, Paul, the Christians began to look to all people, even non-Jews, to join the church. The leaders of the early church traveled throughout the empire spreading the teachings of Jesus

The message of Jesus Christ

• Jesus emphasized God’s personal relationship to each human being. He stressed the importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and even themselves. He also taught that God would end wickedness in the world and would establish an eternal kingdom after death for people who sincerely repented their sins

• The main source of information about Jesus’ life and teachings are the Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible.

Christianity spreads across the empire

• At first his followers were all Jewish. Later, under one follower, Paul, the Christians began to look to all people, even non-Jews, to join the church. The leaders of the early church traveled throughout the empire spreading the teachings of Jesus.

• During this time, Jews made attempts to break free of the Romans. These movements did not succeed. Most Jews were driven from their homeland into exile. This scattering of the Jews is called the Diaspora.

• At the same time, Roman leaders tried to punish Christians. Some were put to death or killed by wild animals in the arena. But Christianity continued to spread. After almost 200 years, millions of people across the empire became Christians.