The Development of Christianity 1 C.E. CHAPTER 5-4.

The Development of Christianity1 C.E.

CHAPTER 5-4

Religion in the Roman Empire

During the rule of Augustus , many Romans continued to pray to the gods adopted from Greek mythology. In addition, former emperors, such as Julius Caesar were made gods after their death.

Romans credited their empires growth to their gods. The Roman politician, Cicero states “We have overcome all the nations of the world, because we have realized that the world is directed & governed by the gods.”

Though Romans brought their religion with them to newly conquered lands, they were tolerant of other religions and allowed natives to continue worshipping their own gods.

Behold the greatest of the gods and dearest   Are come to this city,   For here Demeter and Demetrius are   Present in season.   She indeed comes to duly celebrate   The sacred mysteries   Of her most holy daughter - he is present   Joyful and beautiful,   As a god ought to be, with smiling face   Showering his blessings round.   How noble does he look! his friends around,   Himself the centre.    His friends resemble the bright lesser stars,   Himself is the sun.   Hail, ever-mighty Poseidon's mightier son;   Hail, son of Aphrodite.   For other gods do at a distance keep,   Or have no ears,   Or no existence; and they heed not us -   But you are present,   Not made of wood or stone, a genuine god.  

We pray to you.   First of all give us peace, O dearest god -   For you are lord of peace -   And crush for us yourself, for you've the power,   This odious Sphinx;   Which now destroys not Thebes alone, but Greece -   The whole of Greece -   I mean the Aetolian, who, like her of old,   Sits on a rock,   And tears and crushes all our wretched bodies.    Nor can we him resist.   For the Aetolians plunder all their neighbours;   And now they stretch afar   Their lion hands; but crush them, mighty lord,   Or send some Oedipus   Who shall this Sphinx hurl down from off his precipice,   Or starve him justly.

Judaism in the Empire

In 6 C.E. , the territory of Judea, which lies in the lands of the old Jewish Kingdom of Judah, came into the hands of the Roman empire.

Jews differed as to how to coexist with the Roman rulers.

- Sadducees, asked for cooperation from the Jews & Romans . They believed that they could coexist.

- Pharisees, on the other hand, asked Jews to continue following religious laws, that God would protect them ( Based on the belief that Jews were God’s chosen people & he would protect them if they did right by him.)

After a Jewish rebellion, Romans destroyed a sacred temple in Jerusalem.

The Rise of Christianity

A movement based of the teachings of a Jew named Jesus gained great popularity amongst the Roman Empire.

- Originally a movement within Judaism, Christianity would soon attract non-Jews, thus growing in Large numbers the amount of people following the new religion.

The Teachings of Jesus

Jesus, himself Jewish, believed that his mission was to complete the salvation that God had promised to Israel throughout its history.

Jesus teachings centered around humility, charity, and love towards others. These concepts later shaped the value system of Western civilization.

Jesus was seen as a possible threat to Rome & was eventually crucified under the orders of Pontius Pilate, the procurator who governed a territory based on the direction gave.

Christianity spreads throughout the Empire

Following the death of Jesus , his followers or apostles began spreading the teachings of Jesus.

- Peter who was a follower of Jesus during his life & Paul , who joined the movement & later on founded and established the 1st Christian communities.

Paul’s message centered on the belief that Jesus was God’s son. It also claimed that Jesus was the messiah. (This is a claim most Jews today reject.)

Roman Persecution

Although romans were tolerable of others religion, the one exception came when that religion interfered with the Roman State.

As the number of Christians grew within the Roman empire, these followers of the teachings of Jesus refused to worship Roman Gods (especially former emperors who had been made gods.)

- Worshiping these idols came in direct conflict with Jesus’ teachings & the 1st commandment.

* Persecution of Christians reached it’s height during the reign of Nero.

Roman empire adopts Christianity

As persecution of the Christians continued, it had the adverse effects the Romans wanted. Instead of scaring people away from Christianity, its numbers grew.

A new system had also developed within Christianity at the time, leading to a more organized religion.

- At the top of a Christian church you had the clergy, who were the leaders of the church and the Laity, or the regular church members.

In 313 C.E. The Roman emperor Constantine became the 1st Roman emperor to become Christian. He also issued the “ Edict of Milan” which proclaimed tolerance of Christianity within the Empire.

Theodosius the Great , another Christian emperor officially makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.