THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY (3) objectives: To explain how the Jews came under Roman rule. To explain how the Jews came under Roman rule. To summarize the life and teaching of Jesus! To summarize the life and teaching of Jesus! To trace the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. To trace the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. To analyze Christianity appeal. To analyze Christianity appeal.

Introduction: Christianity is today the world’s largest religion, representing at least a 25% of the world’s population. Christianity is today the world’s largest religion, representing at least a 25% of the world’s population. It is also the primary inspiration behind the second largest religion of the world, Islam. It is also the primary inspiration behind the second largest religion of the world, Islam. Christianity began as a tiny sect of Judaism during the life of Jesus, but in just 4c A.D. it had become the dominant religion of the entire Mediterranean World. Christianity began as a tiny sect of Judaism during the life of Jesus, but in just 4c A.D. it had become the dominant religion of the entire Mediterranean World. Q. How did Christianity achieve this tremendous feat?

During the time of emperor Augustus a very important events happened in a faraway part of the Roman Empire(called Palestine) that will have a lasting effect on all of world history. The events concerned the beginning of a new religion closely related to the history of the Jewish people. Palestine became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC. Shortly after this time, a new religion began that spread to all parts of the Empire by 380 AD. The events concerned the beginning of a new religion closely related to the history of the Jewish people. Palestine became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC. Shortly after this time, a new religion began that spread to all parts of the Empire by 380 AD.

To understand how Christianity began, we need to know about the history of the Jewish people in Palestine. The Old Testament became the basic Jewish law and one of the teachings in the Old Testament was that someday a Messiah (a leader) was to appear to help the Jewish build a new nation. The belief in Messiah became important after the Romans took over Palestine in 64 BC. Why? -The Romans were polytheists worshiping most of the Greek gods. The Jewish were monotheists. This was one of the big differences between the Jewish people and the Romans.

It was during this bloody period that Jesus Christ Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was born in Bethlehem in Judea

Questions: -Who was Jesus Christ? Just a great moral leader or he was something more than that? -What religious ideas did Jesus teach?

THE THEACHING OF JESUS: God loves all people and all men and women are brothers and sisters. He teaches about the kingdom of God in which all who accepted Jesus as their savior would find eternal life. The teaching of Jesus is LOVE and FORGIVNESS!

Roman Unity & the Spread of Christianity In the first few centuries of Christianity, the Roman establishment felt threatened by this new religious movement and Christians were at times persecuted under Roman rule. In the first few centuries of Christianity, the Roman establishment felt threatened by this new religious movement and Christians were at times persecuted under Roman rule. However, the spread of Christianity was only possible because of the stability and unification of the Mediterranean achieved by the Romans. The Romans had successfully unified the entire Mediterranean into a relatively peaceful and prosperous trading system. Communications between the various peoples of the Mediterranean had become streamlined into two major languages: Latin in the Western Mediterranean, and Greek in the Eastern Mediterranean. This prosperity and unification assisted early missionaries such as St. Paul in getting the word out about the new faith. However, the spread of Christianity was only possible because of the stability and unification of the Mediterranean achieved by the Romans. The Romans had successfully unified the entire Mediterranean into a relatively peaceful and prosperous trading system. Communications between the various peoples of the Mediterranean had become streamlined into two major languages: Latin in the Western Mediterranean, and Greek in the Eastern Mediterranean. This prosperity and unification assisted early missionaries such as St. Paul in getting the word out about the new faith. The early centers of Christianity were the largest cities and the most urbanized provinces on the major trade networks of the Mediterranean. The early centers of Christianity were the largest cities and the most urbanized provinces on the major trade networks of the Mediterranean.

Christians were at times persecuted under Roman rule

Jesus and the 12 Apostles

Questions: -How to explain the success of the Christianity? -How to explain the spread of Christianity in Pax Romana? -Why the persecutions during the time of Nero did not kill the Christian church.?

Diocletian

Diocletian’ Reforms 1.Diocletian concluded that the empire was too large and complex to be ruled by only a single emperor. Therefore, in order to provide an imperial presence throughout the empire, he introduced the "Tetrarchy," or "Rule by Four." 2.To save the economy he revised the tax system so that it was based on payments in kind. 3.Diocletian was able to bring the army back under control by making several changes. 4.He restore the power and the authority of the emperor. 5.Diocletian attempted to use the state religion as a unifying element. This began the so-called "Great Persecution."

Constantine

Constantine’s Reforms. 1.He ended the persecution of Christianity and by 396 AD, it had become the state religion of the Roman empire, both eastern and western. 2. He restored prosperity in the East by increasing the gold currency and by balancing the eastern and western economies. 3.He shifted the center of the empire to the East, building the city of Constantinople, the "New Rome.“ This caused the best talent and wealthiest families to leave Rome for the East.