RISE OF CHRISTIANITY Jesus born - Mary and Joseph Bethlehem DAY 1 NOTES Jesus born - Mary and Joseph Bethlehem age 30 began preaching/teaching ”Lord, Liar, Lunatic” used parables short stories with simple moral lessons

TEACHINGS OF JESUS Life and teachings of Jesus Christ becomes the New Testament Teachings found in the Gospels (“Good News”) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Teaching based on Jewish Law, but taught followers to live “Ethically” not just to observe the laws Jesus was God’s son Jesus taught of God’s Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness “Golden Rule” Jesus taught of eternal life in Heaven for those that repent of their sins

TEACHINGS OF JESUS “Sermon on the Mount” Moral and ethical teachings of Christianity “Beatitudes” “Lord’s Prayer” became the value system for western civilization

ROMANS DISLIKE OF CHRISTIANITY 1) Did not worship Roman Emperor as a god 2) Did not worship Roman gods 3) Secret meetings Roman gods were punishing the empire for Christian impiety

CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS KEY PLAYERS Pharisees Judas Iscariot Caiphas Feared growing popularity of Jesus Judas Iscariot Garden of Gethsemane Caiphas High Priest Pontius Pilate Roman Governor allowed Jesus to be crucified REASONS FOR CRUCIFYING CHRIST 1)BLASPHEMY 2)PLOTTING TO BECOME KING 3)FEAR OF INCITING REVOLT

RESURRECTION OF JESUS RESURRECTION is the CENTRAL focus of Christianity Jesus arose 3 days later EASTER believers in the Resurrection of Jesus Christians Jesus = MESSIAH

THE 12 APOSTLES

MARTYRDOM OF PETER Peter traveled to Rome and was crucified upside down by Nero Believed to be the first “Bishop” or Pope of the Christian Church Today all Popes are believed to be descendants of St. Peter “Petrine Doctrine” Apostolic Succession Rise of “Catholic Christian” Catholic = “Universal”

Saul = “HATER” to Paul “LOVER” persecuted followers of Jesus “Public Enemy #1” blinded by God on road to Damascus – Jesus asked “why are you persecuting me?” becomes known as Paul Paul was a Roman citizen which meant he could travel freely throughout the empire Spread to Gentiles

WAYS THE ROMAN EMPIRE HELPED CHRISTIANITY GROW Security of the Roman Empire allowed citizens (and ideas) to freely move around Common Language of Greek throughout Empire (Alexander the Great) Road System throughout the empire Fatalism of Roman Religion When you die there is nothing else Hope of Christianity Belief in an afterlife Persecution of Christians “blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity” By the second century, as the Pax Romana began to crumble, persecution of the Christians intensified. Romans exiled, imprisoned, or executed Christians for refusing to worship Roman deities. Thousands were crucified, burned, or killed by wild animals in the circus arenas. Other Christians and even some non-Christians regarded persecuted Christians as martyrs. Martyrs were people willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of a belief or a cause.

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY Passion of spreading Christianity The idea that man was a sinner and could gain eternal life through faith was revolutionary Christianity’s Visible Love Julian the Apostate (ironically followed Constantine) Pagan emperor – wanted to end Christianity “Christianity has been specifically advanced thru the loving treatment rendered to strangers…there is not a single Jew who is a beggar…they care not only for their poor, but ours as well.”

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY 3.Universal offer of Salvation anyone could believe taught a simple message “God’s Son became a man and died on the cross and rose and by faith you could trust him and be forgiven” 4.Offered answers to a crumbling Empire Rome’s gods were too little – could not answer questions Dignity of man How to get rid of sin Could not show you a moral base of righteousness – gave no absolute sense of right and wrong – Christianity did 5.Persecution / Martyrs 10 emperors – illegal to be Christian or own Bible

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY 5.Persecution/Martyrs cont. Would not worship Roman gods Considered atheists Famine, pestilence, natural disaster Not worship Roman Emperor During “Pax Romana” – to keep blessing on Rome you would provide sacrifice to Goddess of Rome, Roma – a pinch of incense and proclaim “curia caesar” – “CAESAR IS LORD” Not attend gladiator games Not go to hospitals – dedicated to Roman god of healing, Aesculapius

APPEAL OF CHRISTIANITY 5.Persecution/Martyrs cont. Conspiracy – early morning meetings Cannibalism – Communion Christians were not persecuted because they worshipped Christ, they were punished because they worshipped ONLY Christ

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION 64 Nero Fire Peter / Paul 98 Trajan made it policy to not seek out Christians, but if someone was reported to be a Christian, they could recant, be punished, or on 3rd denial, killed

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION 117 Hadrian // 139 Antonius Pius upheld policy towards Christians, but did not consent to persecution 161 Marcus Aurelius spy system against Christians accuser would receive Christian property persecution spread

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION 253-303 – General drop in persecutions 303 DIOCLETIAN re-instituted persecutions stabilize government by getting rid of faiths opposed to Roman state religion attempted to end Christianity 311 GALERIUS realized persecutions were only making Christianity stronger issued Edict of Toleration 312 30k Christians in Rome

CHRISTIANITY BECOMES ONLY RELIGION in ROMAN EMPIRE Constantine becomes 1st Christian Emperor Battle of Milvian Bridge “in this sign conquer” Edict of Milan Constantine granted: 1) tax exemptions to church leaders 2) abolished crucifixion/gladiator games as capital punishment 3) established Sunday as a holiday 4) allowed Christians to meet in Churches no longer in catacombs

CHRISTIANITY BECOMES ONLY RELIGION in ROMAN EMPIRE 380 Theodosius makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire 476 Western Roman Empire falls Christian Church will become the main uniting and stabilizing force in Western Europe