The Development of Christianity Chapter 5 Section 4.

The Development of The Development of ChristianityChristianity

Chapter 5 Section 4Chapter 5 Section 4

Roman ReligionRoman Religion

Augustus revived traditional Augustus revived traditional festivals & ceremoniesfestivals & ceremonies

Official state religion: worship Official state religion: worship of multiple gods & goddesses, of multiple gods & goddesses, including Senators (state gods)including Senators (state gods)

What other nationality What other nationality worshippedworshipped

multiple gods & goddesses?multiple gods & goddesses?

Greek vs. Roman Gods/-Greek vs. Roman Gods/-essessessess

Zeus vs. Jupiter (Chief Gods)Zeus vs. Jupiter (Chief Gods)

Hera vs. Juno (Wives of Chief Hera vs. Juno (Wives of Chief Gods)Gods)

Aphrodite vs. Venus (Godesses Aphrodite vs. Venus (Godesses of Love)of Love)

Roman Religious BeliefsRoman Religious Beliefs Pleasing the gods by observing ritualsPleasing the gods by observing rituals In exchange for peace & prosperityIn exchange for peace & prosperity Building an empire was a sign of satisfied Building an empire was a sign of satisfied

gods and goddessesgods and goddesses Romans were tolerant of other religionsRomans were tolerant of other religions Even adopted certain Hellenistic beliefsEven adopted certain Hellenistic beliefs e.g. an after-life superior to the presente.g. an after-life superior to the present

The Jewish BackgroundThe Jewish Background

Judea, including the province of Judea, including the province of Judah, was conquered by the Judah, was conquered by the Romans in 6 A.D.Romans in 6 A.D.

Placed under a Roman official: Placed under a Roman official: procuratorprocurator

3 different groups of Jews:3 different groups of Jews:

1)1) Sadducees: cooperated w/ Sadducees: cooperated w/ the Romansthe Romans

1)1) Essenes: a Messiah would Essenes: a Messiah would save Israel from oppressionsave Israel from oppression

1)1) Zealots: violent overthrow of Zealots: violent overthrow of the Romansthe Romans

The Rise of ChristianityThe Rise of Christianity

Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth begins to preach: begins to preach:• Did not want to abolish old Jewish religionDid not want to abolish old Jewish religion• Believed not in strict adherence to the lawBelieved not in strict adherence to the law• But in the transformation of the inner But in the transformation of the inner

personperson• Love God & one another Love God & one another basis for the basis for the

value system of medieval civilizationvalue system of medieval civilization

The Judean authorities’ The Judean authorities’ reaction to Jesus:reaction to Jesus:

Jesus as a potential Jesus as a potential revolutionaryrevolutionary

Captured, prosecuted & Captured, prosecuted & sentenced to death by sentenced to death by crucifixioncrucifixion

Procurator: Pontius PilateProcurator: Pontius Pilate

Pontius PilatePontius Pilate

Jesus’ followers’ reactions:Jesus’ followers’ reactions:

He was the Messiah, the long-He was the Messiah, the long-awaited savior of Israelawaited savior of Israel

Jesus had overcome death and come Jesus had overcome death and come back to lifeback to life

So which of the three groups of Jews So which of the three groups of Jews did Jesus’ followers belong to?did Jesus’ followers belong to?

The Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of Christianity Began as a religious movement in JudeaBegan as a religious movement in Judea Followers of Jesus (his disciples) Followers of Jesus (his disciples)

spreading his teachingsspreading his teachings After Jesus’ death Christianity spread After Jesus’ death Christianity spread

rapidlyrapidly Orally and in writing (b/w A.D. 40-100)Orally and in writing (b/w A.D. 40-100)

sayings & personal memories of Jesussayings & personal memories of Jesus Later formed the basis of the New Later formed the basis of the New

TestamentTestament

Peter, the fishermanPeter, the fisherman

Jesus was the Savior, the Son of GodJesus was the Savior, the Son of God Came to Earth to save all humans Came to Earth to save all humans

from eternal damnationfrom eternal damnation Saved humans by dying for them, Saved humans by dying for them,

making up for all of their sinsmaking up for all of their sins Reconciled God & human salvationReconciled God & human salvation If you accept God, you are savedIf you accept God, you are saved

Paul Paul

Preached the gospel to both Jews & Preached the gospel to both Jews & non-Jews (gentiles)non-Jews (gentiles)

Founded Christian communities in Founded Christian communities in Asia Minor & along the Aegean SeaAsia Minor & along the Aegean Sea

Early Christian communitiesEarly Christian communities Churches by 100 A.D.Churches by 100 A.D. Most early Christians were Jews & Most early Christians were Jews &

GreeksGreeks Regarded as a threat to public order Regarded as a threat to public order

& morals& morals

WHY?WHY?

Christians publicly believed that Christians publicly believed that there was only one Godthere was only one God

Worshipping multiple gods = Worshipping multiple gods = worshipping false gods = worshipping false gods = endangering their own salvationendangering their own salvation

An act of treason An act of treason punishable by punishable by deathdeath

Especially, under Nero (A.D. 54-68), Especially, under Nero (A.D. 54-68), who blamed Christians for the fire who blamed Christians for the fire

that destroyed most of Rome.that destroyed most of Rome.

The Triumph of ChristianityThe Triumph of Christianity

Persecution Persecution defiance defiance Christianity Christianity became more organized became more organized had more had more followersfollowers

Distinct church structure:Distinct church structure:

- clergy (church leaders, esp. bishops)- clergy (church leaders, esp. bishops)

- laity (church members, i.e. the - laity (church members, i.e. the public)public)

Why did Christianity spread so Why did Christianity spread so widely by A.D. 300?widely by A.D. 300?

Reasons:Reasons:1)1) Gave purpose & meaning to life Gave purpose & meaning to life

(salvation, no state relationship)(salvation, no state relationship)2)2) Was similar to other religions Was similar to other religions

(immortality, sacrificial God)(immortality, sacrificial God)3)3) Fulfilled the human need to belong:Fulfilled the human need to belong: - loving community taking care of - loving community taking care of

the sick & the poorthe sick & the poor

Why did Christianity spread so Why did Christianity spread so widely by A.D. 300?widely by A.D. 300?

4) Attractive to the poor & the 4) Attractive to the poor & the powerlesspowerless

5) A sense of spiritual equality to all 5) A sense of spiritual equality to all (eternal life)(eternal life)

Christianity as the Official Christianity as the Official Religion of RomeReligion of Rome

Diocletian: in early A.D. 400 Diocletian: in early A.D. 400 admitted that Christianity was just admitted that Christianity was just too great of a force to battle againsttoo great of a force to battle against

Constantine in A.D. 313: Edict of Constantine in A.D. 313: Edict of Milan – tolerance toward ChristiansMilan – tolerance toward Christians

ConstantineConstantine

Theodosius the Great: Christianity as Theodosius the Great: Christianity as the official Roman religionthe official Roman religion