1. OBJECTIVES
Summarize the life of Jesus.
Trace the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
Analyze Christianity’s appeal.

2. The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Romans take control of ______ in 63 B.C.
Judea becomes part of the Roman Empire in 6 A.D.
A _________ will come to restore the
land of the ________.

3. Jesus of Nazareth Born ________________. Born ___________________.
Raised in ________________.
Baptized by _______________.
Occupation: Carpenter
Began preaching at the age of 30
Stressed love, (God, neighbors, enemies)
Eternal kingdom for those who repent

4. A GROWING MOVEMENT Main source about his life came from Gospels
First _ books of the New Testament
Some are written by Jesus’ _________
12 men later called ___________
Became popular
__________________________________; appealed to the poor

5. Jesus’ Death Rulers where concerned, both Jewish and Roman leaders
In ____________, people greeted him as a savior and messiah, or king.
Jewish priests disagreed
_____________________, Roman leader, accused Jesus of breaking Roman law
Sentenced to _______________
Nailed to a wooden cross

6. Jesus’ Death cont… Jesus died on the cross
Body was gone three days later
Because he was believed to be the messiah or “savior”, he was called Jesus Christ

7. Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
Disciples carried on _____________.
Did not contract Jewish law
First followers were _________.
New religion began
___________________ spread throughout the empire.

8. What did Jesus Teach? Forgiveness _______________ Turn the other cheek
Do you know anymore of the teachings of Jesus?
Name them…..

9. Paul’s Mission Paul Never met Jesus Enemy of Christianity
Had a vision of Jesus
Spent the rest of his life spreading Jesus’ message

10. Paul’s Mission Cont. Christianity spread
____________ made the spread ideas easy
Common language - Latin
Paul wrote letters, _______________
Stressed that Jesus was the _________ who died for people’s sins
Christianity welcomes converts Jew of Gentile

11. Jewish Rebellion Jewish rebellion in ___ A.D. against Rome
Temple destroyed by Romans in ____ A.D.
Only western portion remains
Jewish fortress, Masada, held until A.D. 73, half million dead
Tried again in A.D. 132, half million died
Diaspora - __________ _________________

12. Persecution of Christians
Crucified, exiled, imprisoned, executed
Sent to the gladiator games
Looked at as martyrs
Willing to sacrifice their lives for their belief
Used as

13. A World Religion
Christianity was growing rapidly throughout the Roman Empire and beyond
Why? 1.
2. Gives hope to the powerless
3. Appealed to those who were repelled by the
extravagances of imperial Rome
4. Offered personal relationship with a loving
God 5.

14. Constantine Accepts Christianity
Fighting 3 rivals of the Rome
Battle was at the Tiber River
Prayed for divine help
Saw the image of a cross
Put the cross on the shields of his soldiers

15. Constantine Accepts Christianity cont.
Constantine made Christianity an accepted religion of the empire
Emperor Theodosius made it the official religion of the empire.

16. Early Christian Church
Priest led small groups of Christians
Bishop supervises local churches
Peter
Became first
Apostle
“rock” on which the Christian Church will be built

17. A Single Voice
Many disputed the beliefs that developed amongst believers
Became intense
Church officials tried to set the standards of belief
Combine the Old Testament (Jewish Torah) + New Testament (Story of Jesus)= The Holy Bible
Met and created the Nicene Creed- define the basic beliefs of all Christians
“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth……

18. The Fathers of the Church
Early writers who also defined the teachings
Augustine
Bishop from N. Africa
Humans need the grace of God
Can not get God’s grace without being a member of the Church
Wrote ______________________