Judaism & Christianity 2000 BCE ~ 600 CE-beyond

History: Much of the History of Christianity is based in the Old Testament of the Hebrews. Torah Elevated Priestly class Aramaic – common language of Palestine Monotheistic Religion

Judaism 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus, a man named Abraham listened to God’s call & moved his family from Ur (in Iraq today) to the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Here he became the Patriarch - ? To the Hebrews. These lands were known as Canaan, but today they are part of Israel. Following the exodus led by Moses to get the Hebrews out of Egypt; they find the promised land and it is divided up into 12-Tribes, who are ruled over by judges.

Exodus and the Ten Commandments Complete Reading: Exodus and the Ten Commandments

Moses and 10 Commandments God Calls to Abraham

The first King is Saul; he was followed by David, Israel’s greatest king. He is followed by his son, Solomon. Following his death the kingdom is divided into two parts – Israel to the North and Judah to the South.

Hebrew Kings…. King David King Saul

continued…. Alexander the Great ordered The Old Testament translated into Greek 57 BCE – Herod becomes King of Galilee Roman Empire founded in 27 BCE, controls all regions around the Mediterranean, Gaul & part of Britain.

ROMAN EMPIRE: Jesus Born Here

Birth of a Child…… In Bethlehem, in the province of Judea under the control of the Roman Empire in 4 BCE a baby boy was born to a young women named Mary and her finance, Joseph. Little is known about the youth of Jesus, most of what has been written began he was about 30-years old.

The Story Unfolds…. Many of you, as Christians know this story. His trials & successes are followed in the Bible. Following his crucifixion and his rising; the story of the Christian Church begins:

Complete Reading: The Teachings of Jesus

Between 64 BCE & 313 CE the Story of the Christian Church is one of formation. Peter delivered the first Sermon, it became the outline for the early church As the church grew, the Apostles -? needed help in administering to the needs of the faithful. Young men became Deacons - ? The first was Stephen, but he was condemned by the Sanhedrin & stoned. He became the First Martyr - ?

Personalities….. Apostles Peter

A Roman citizen at the stoning was named Saul – he later became Paul of Tarsus, a leading missionary of Christianity. Early in Rome, Christianity was tolerated, until they refused to acknowledge the emperor as the sole power of Rome. Rome began to attack Christians and blamed them for anything that befell the empire.

Christianity Expands:

Compare the Roman Empire to the Spread of Christianity: What is Similar? What is Different?

Pliny the Younger sent many Christians to the arena, some as lion food. Some Christians chose to die as martyrs, rather than renounce their faith. In spite of this persecution, the “church” spread rapidly throughout the empire and beyond.

Pliny the Younger

Persecuting Christians Complete Reading: Persecuting Christians

Why did Christianity have a wide appeal? Accepted converts Extended the hope of salvation to rich & poor alike Christians had an explanation for the suffering & evil in the world Promised relief from this life’s hardships & injustices in the next life. Universal Love & Brotherhood

Monastic Communities: Following the Fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, the Church of Rome assumed political and spiritual control for the people. Some members of the church chose to abandon the secular World and either entered Communal Organizations or chose the Solitary Life.

Communal Organizations: Earliest communities established in Egypt. Members dedicated themselves to rigorous prayer & self-mortification under command of abbots who ruled their communities. This model spread to Palestine where Jerome translated the Bible into Latin. Basil the Great practiced this in Greece to train religious leaders.

Benedict of Nursia, later St Benedict of Nursia, later St. Benedict created the most popular model in the West. His rule required monks to lead a life of Poverty, Chastity & Obedience. They shared work, meals and celebrated the Eucharist.

Christian Communities Preserve Civilization The monasteries & convents not only educated the young, but they also preserved the knowledge of the Ancients in their libraries. Through their farming abilities, they also helped feed the local people and protect them from starvation. For a long time, the church protected, fed, educated and governed the people Replace Chaos with Control

Important Events of Christianity: Edict of Milan Allowed all citizens of the empire to choose their own religion – (Religious Toleration) which in turn helped Christianity spread

Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) Council of Nicaea (325 CE) 1st Ecumenical (universal) Church counsel. Stated the Jesus & God were of the same nature in every way God the Father & God the Son implies a superior-inferior relationship Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) Declared that the faithful had to accept the teachings of the Church – (Dogma) Jesus was fully Human and fully Divine at the same time.

Councils of: Nicea Chalcedon

The Great Schism ~ 1054 CE In the 11th century – the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Bishop of Rome (Pope) could tolerate the other no more. The Church of Rome split into two churches Rome (Catholics) Orthodox – Eastern, Byzantine & Russian They argued over the Council of Nicaea, Chalcedon and the power of the Pope.