Post on 01-Apr-2015
Rome, Jesus, and the Spread of ChristianityRome, Jesus, and the Spread of Christianity
Pastor Jeff KrogstadCentral Lutheran Church
Rome at the Birth of ChristRome at the Birth of Christ
Rome at the Birth of ChristRome at the Birth of Christ
Rome: The Right time… The right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… The right place!!!
GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS
PHILOSOPHICAL FACTORS
POLITICAL FACTORS
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!RELIGIOUS FACTORS
Blending of Greek & Other Religious beliefs
Polytheism… Many Gods
PaganState recognition of
Traditional Greek Gods
Emperor cult worship
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
GREECECulture
Language
Metaphysics
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
ROMAN ORDERTransportation
“All roads lead to Rome”
Legal System
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
Rome: The Right time… the right place!!!
JEWISH RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION
Jewish Beliefs
MonotheismOne God
Hope for a Messiah
Christianity: Seizing the moment
Christianity: Seizing the moment
Christianity: Seizing the Moment
Christianity: Seizing the Moment
Christ is born in 5 or 6 BCWhy not 0?What the heck does AD mean?
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
His Ministry
His Death
His Claim
Y’Shua min Nazaret…Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
HIS MINISTRYHealing
Preaching
“The Kingdom of God”Harsh judgment or
Loving Father?
Y’Shua min Nazaret…Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
HIS DEATHPontius
Pilate
Scandal
Y’Shua min Nazaret…Jesus of Nazareth
The Appeal of JesusThe Appeal of Jesus
THE CLAIMResurrectionAvailable to
BelieversHope After
Death
Y’Shua min Nazaret…Jesus of Nazareth
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityPETERTraveling PreacherLater revered as
“First Pope” or the “Bishop of Rome”
Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityPAUL (Saul of
Tarsus)JewishStarted Gentile
ChurchesWrote letters
which make up 1/3 of the New Testament
Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityTHE JEWISH WARDestruction of
the Jewish Temple in 70 AD
Clear Division between Jews & Christians
Josephus
Was this universally appealing?
Was this universally appealing?
“Alexamenos worships his god”
Graffito from Rome, late 1st or early 2nd century
Martyrdom -- POLYCARPMartyrdom -- POLYCARP
Key Resource for the Spread of ChristianityKey Resource for the
Spread of ChristianityTHE NEW
TESTAMENTPortable
Translatable Religion
DaVinci Code???
Spawns other writings
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
Christianity
Key People & Actions foster the Spread of
ChristianityConstantine’s Edict of
Toleration (313 AD)Theodosius declares
Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire (380 AD)
Augustine & the Rise of the Holy Roman Empire (d. 430 AD)