The Rise of ChristianityThe Rise of ChristianityCh. 1.4Ch. 1.4

Principles of Judaism (Ch1.3) Principles of Judaism (Ch1.3) • The Ancient Israelites

– According to the Torah, Abraham migrated with his family westward from Mesopotamia to Canaan

– near the eastern Mediterranean coast, Abraham founded the Israelite nation

• God’s Covenant with the Israelites– The Israelites were monotheistic– They believed God would protect and provide for them as long as

they followed God’s laws

• Teachings on Law and Morality– The Torah established moral principles and set out laws– The Ten Commandments that became part of the cultural foundation

of Western civilization

Early Life of JesusEarly Life of Jesus• Most of what is known is through

the Gospels (1st four books of the new Testament)

– Born about 4 B.C. in Bethlehem, mother Mary was told he would be the messiah.

– Growing up he worshiped God, followed Jewish law and worked as a carpenter.

Early Life of Jesus cont.Early Life of Jesus cont.

• Ministry

– Jesus chose twelve close followers• known as the apostles

– He began preaching at age 30 drawing large crowds when word spread that he performed miracles.

– Jesus often used parables (short stories) to communicate his ideas.

Life of Jesus cont.Life of Jesus cont.

• His Message– Rooted from Jewish tradition– He believed in God and the Ten

commandments • also preached new beliefs

– He called himself the Son of God – declared himself the messiah that Jews were

waiting for

Life of Jesus cont.Life of Jesus cont.

• Promised spiritual salvation & eternal life to anyone who believed in him

• Jesus rejected “an eye for an eye” but embraced “love your enemies”

• “If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one, too.”

Death and ResurrectionDeath and Resurrection

• Death on the Cross– Some welcomed Jesus

• others saw a troublemaker

– Roman leaders felt Jesus was a revolutionary• would lead the Jews in a rebellion

– Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples• tried, convicted, and crucified by the Romans

– After his death his disciples began to spread his word. (Apostles- “a person sent forth”)

Spread of ChristianitySpread of Christianity

• Work of Paul– After having a vision of Jesus, sets out to spread

Jesus' teachings• Set Christianity on the road to becoming a world religion

• Persecution– Rome was not tolerant of Christianity

• Officials suspected “C” of being disloyal to Rome– “C’s” refused to make sacrifices to emperor or Roman

gods• Christian’s used as the scapegoats for social & economic

problems

Reason for Christianity’s AppealReason for Christianity’s Appeal

• Survival– “C” ethics generated broad appeal– Jesus has welcomed ALL people,

• humble, poor, & oppressed

– People found comfort in the message of love– Christian missionaries added ideas from

Plato, the stoics, & other Greek thinkers to Jesus’ message

The Christian ChurchThe Christian Church• The early communities

– “C” communities shared a common faith in the teachings of Jesus

– Believed by the grace of God, renouncing evil, & baptism their sins would be washed away.

– All members were considered equal

– “C” church developed into a hierarchy • Each community has its own priest• Priest came under the authority of a bishop

The Early ChurchThe Early Church• Medieval Church

– 1054 church split in to East and West church – Roman Catholic Church controlled the western half.

• Triumph– Persecutions ended in A.D. 313 when emperor

Constantine issued the “Edict of Milan”– As the Roman empire collapsed the Church inherited

many of its functions