The Life of Jesus

• Born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth

• Studied scriptures in Hebrew

• He traveled around preaching to people in everyday language using parables.

• Jews were waiting for a messiah to save them; refused to worship the Roman emperor and paying high taxes

• Crucified, like lower criminals, outside of Jerusalem

• His resurrection convinced his disciples that he was the Son of God.

Paul

• Small groups of people who believed in Christ were meeting in Antioch, Corinth, Rome and other trading cities.

• Paul taught Christianity to gentiles.

• He spent his life spreading the Christian message throughout the Roman world.

• He wrote letters to guide members of new communities.

• Paul was the first missionary for Christianity.

The Roman Empire helped Christianity spread:

•Pax Romana allowed missionaries to move across Roman lands

•The system of roads made travel easy.

•Most people spoke Latin or Greek which made it easier for missionaries to talk to them.

Romans had issues with those who practiced Christianity:

Christians did not want to serve in the army or hold public office.

Christians criticized Roman festivals and games.

Christianity taught all people were equal in heaven if they followed Jesus’ teachings.

Romans blamed Christians for disasters.

Christians were not allowed to use Roman burial grounds.

Christianity appealed to the poor and slaves who led

bad lives.

Christianity spread

throughout the Roman

Empire:Romans grew tired of war.

Romans admired the courage of

Christians.

Constantine I

Saw a flaming cross in sky

In hoc signo vinces - “In this sign you shall conquer”

Edict of Milan gave religious freedom to all people.

Built churches

Used government money for Christian schools Theodosius

Followed Constantine I

Made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

Church Structure

Church organization followed the Roman Empire’s structure of government.

Each church was called a parish. Priests were the leaders.

Groups of parishes were called a diocese. A bishop headed each.

The most important bishops were called archbishops. They led churches in large cities.

The five leading archbishops were called patriarchs.

Pope Archbishop of Rome claimed power as the head of the Church

In 1054 AD Latin speaking and Greek speaking churches split.

Roman Catholic Greek Othodox Church Church

New Testament

Christian scriptures

Jesus left no written records

Four others wrote accounts of his life – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (and Paul)

Heresy is belief that does not follow Church doctrine

Fathers of the Church

Scholarly writers

Jerome

Translated the Old and New Testaments into Latin

Vulgate became the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church

Augustine

Wrote City of God

Rome’s fall was a result of the rich and corruption; not Christianity

Monasteries

Hermits lived in isolation

Basil suggested Christians form religious communities

Men monks monasteries

Women nuns convents

Benedict drew up a set of rules for religious

1.Gave up personal possessions

2.Could not marry

3.Obey orders of

4.Pray seven times daily