Unit Three Centuries of Amazing Growth A.D. 30 - 313.

Unit ThreeUnit Three

Centuries of Amazing GrowthCenturies of Amazing Growth

A.D. 30 - 313A.D. 30 - 313

Unit 3: Lesson 1Unit 3: Lesson 1

The Beginning of the ChurchThe Beginning of the Church

The Gospels: Part TwoThe Gospels: Part Two

St. Luke wanted to do more than write St. Luke wanted to do more than write about Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection.about Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection.

He wanted to finish the story by telling He wanted to finish the story by telling what happened on earth when Jesus what happened on earth when Jesus returned to his home in Heaven.returned to his home in Heaven.

The story of the time after the The story of the time after the Resurrection of Jesus is called the Acts of Resurrection of Jesus is called the Acts of the Apostles.the Apostles.

You Are to Be My You Are to Be My WitnessWitness

Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples after his death and Resurrection.after his death and Resurrection.

Eventually Jesus had to return to Heaven. Eventually Jesus had to return to Heaven. Ascension Ascension

Read Acts 1:1-10Read Acts 1:1-10 Whom did Jesus promise to send to the ApostlesWhom did Jesus promise to send to the Apostles

What instructions did Jesus give the Apostles?What instructions did Jesus give the Apostles?

You Are to Be My You Are to Be My WitnessWitness

List as many of the twelve Apostles as you List as many of the twelve Apostles as you can:can:

Simon, Andrew, John, Thomas, James the Simon, Andrew, John, Thomas, James the Greater, James the Less, Bartholomew, Jude, Greater, James the Less, Bartholomew, Jude, Peter, Philip, Matthew, JudasPeter, Philip, Matthew, Judas

Read Acts 1:21-26Read Acts 1:21-26 Who was chosen as the new Apostle?Who was chosen as the new Apostle?

What requirements did the new Apostle have to What requirements did the new Apostle have to fulfill?fulfill?

Pentecost – The Church Pentecost – The Church is Bornis Born

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit transformed On Pentecost the Holy Spirit transformed the frightened group of followers into the frightened group of followers into enthusiastic believers.enthusiastic believers.

Read Acts 2:1-12Read Acts 2:1-12 How would the “gift of tongues” help the How would the “gift of tongues” help the

Apostles to spread the word of God?Apostles to spread the word of God?


Two Great Servants of Christ:Two Great Servants of Christ:St. Stephen and St. PaulSt. Stephen and St. Paul

Christianity: The First Two Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsThousand Years

DVD DVD

Chapters 3 & 4Chapters 3 & 4

Controversy and Paul of TariusControversy and Paul of Tarius

First Deacons of the First Deacons of the ChurchChurch

Early days of the Church were not always Early days of the Church were not always easyeasy

Trouble with High Priests and PharisesTrouble with High Priests and Pharises Read Acts 5:17-21 and 5:28-30 and 5:42Read Acts 5:17-21 and 5:28-30 and 5:42 Read Acts 6:1-2Read Acts 6:1-2 How did the prejudice shown toward the Greek-How did the prejudice shown toward the Greek-

speaking Christians hurt them?speaking Christians hurt them? How did this prejudice cause problems for the How did this prejudice cause problems for the

Apostles?Apostles?

First Deacons of the First Deacons of the ChurchChurch

To remedy the evil of prejudice seven To remedy the evil of prejudice seven Holy Men were chosen to be deaconsHoly Men were chosen to be deacons

Read Acts 6:5 and list the names of the Read Acts 6:5 and list the names of the seven deacons chosen by the early seven deacons chosen by the early Christian community.Christian community.

The First Christian The First Christian MartyrMartyr

Stephen was an early follower of Jesus.Stephen was an early follower of Jesus. After Jesus' death and resurrection he After Jesus' death and resurrection he

became a deacon of the early Church.became a deacon of the early Church. He preached the Good News of Jesus and He preached the Good News of Jesus and

stood up to the leaders of the Jewish Church.stood up to the leaders of the Jewish Church. He was stoned to death because of his He was stoned to death because of his

strong belief in Jesus.strong belief in Jesus. One of the people present during his stoning One of the people present during his stoning

was Saul who would later become Paul.was Saul who would later become Paul.

St. PaulSt. Paul Complete Activity on Paul, from Complete Activity on Paul, from

Persecutor of Christians to Great Persecutor of Christians to Great Christian Saint.Christian Saint.

Saint PaulSaint Paul

Did not know Jesus during his time on Did not know Jesus during his time on earthearth

Conversion on the road to DamascusConversion on the road to Damascus

Paul was a great missionaryPaul was a great missionary Traveled to Turkey, Greece, RomeTraveled to Turkey, Greece, Rome


Reasons for the Spread of Reasons for the Spread of ChristianityChristianity

Growth of ChristianityGrowth of Christianity

Following Jesus’ Ascension into heaven Following Jesus’ Ascension into heaven conditions were ideal for the growth of conditions were ideal for the growth of Christianity.Christianity. The Roman PeaceThe Roman Peace

Cultural UnityCultural Unity

Spiritual HungerSpiritual Hunger

The Christian ExampleThe Christian Example

The Roman PeaceThe Roman Peace

During early Christian period all lands During early Christian period all lands and people of the Mediterranean were and people of the Mediterranean were united under the control of Rome.united under the control of Rome.

The unity of the Roman Empire helped The unity of the Roman Empire helped Christianity to spread.Christianity to spread. Peace and securityPeace and security

Marvelous system of roads, bridges and Marvelous system of roads, bridges and harbors to make travel easy.harbors to make travel easy.

Cultural UnityCultural Unity

Mediterranean was united culturally as Mediterranean was united culturally as well.well.

Due in part of King Alexander the Great Due in part of King Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)(356-323 B.C.) His conquests spread the Greek culture His conquests spread the Greek culture

throughout the eastern Mediterraneanthroughout the eastern Mediterranean

Even after Rome took over the Greek culture Even after Rome took over the Greek culture was still a unifying forcewas still a unifying force

Common language - GreekCommon language - Greek

Spiritual HungerSpiritual Hunger

Despite relative peace, people felt that Despite relative peace, people felt that something was missing from their lives.something was missing from their lives.

People were rejecting the life style of the People were rejecting the life style of the Romans and searched for something Romans and searched for something more.more.

The Christian ExampleThe Christian Example

The way Christians treated each other The way Christians treated each other and the poor set an example that others and the poor set an example that others wanted to follow.wanted to follow.

Jesus’ message of love was appealing to Jesus’ message of love was appealing to people.people.


First Council of the ChurchFirst Council of the Church

The BeginningsThe Beginnings

Church history began in Jerusalem on the Church history began in Jerusalem on the feast of Pentecost.feast of Pentecost.

This event sparked the beginning of Jesus’ This event sparked the beginning of Jesus’ followers preaching the Good News.followers preaching the Good News.

These early disciples were mostly These early disciples were mostly Palestinian Jews who spoke Aramaic and Palestinian Jews who spoke Aramaic and had little contact with the outside world.had little contact with the outside world.


Some Greek-speaking Jews were attracted Some Greek-speaking Jews were attracted to the Christian community in Jerusalem.to the Christian community in Jerusalem.

These Jews were different from the These Jews were different from the Palestinian Jews.Palestinian Jews. They grew up outside PalestineThey grew up outside Palestine

They were influenced by Greek cultureThey were influenced by Greek culture

Practiced their Jewish faith differentlyPracticed their Jewish faith differently

Called HellenistsCalled Hellenists


Hellenists’ beliefs caused tension with the Hellenists’ beliefs caused tension with the early Christian-Jews.early Christian-Jews.

Fighting broke out and the Hellenists Fighting broke out and the Hellenists were forced out of Palestine to Antioch in were forced out of Palestine to Antioch in Syria.Syria.

Greek speaking Jewish-Christians began Greek speaking Jewish-Christians began spreading the Good News outside of spreading the Good News outside of Palestine.Palestine.

They began to preach to non-Jews.They began to preach to non-Jews.


In 40 A.D. in Antioch the followers of In 40 A.D. in Antioch the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.Jesus were first called Christians.

As Gentiles entered the Christian As Gentiles entered the Christian community new tensions arose.community new tensions arose.

Did these gentiles have to become Jews Did these gentiles have to become Jews before they could become Christian?before they could become Christian?

Council of JerusalemCouncil of Jerusalem

In 48 A.D. Church leaders came together In 48 A.D. Church leaders came together in Jerusalem for the first Council.in Jerusalem for the first Council.

Guided by the Holy Spirit the Council Guided by the Holy Spirit the Council decided that Gentiles did not have to decided that Gentiles did not have to become Jewish before they became become Jewish before they became Christian.Christian. Good News not reserved only for JewsGood News not reserved only for Jews

Christianity is not a new form of Judaism but a Christianity is not a new form of Judaism but a distinct religiondistinct religion

The Spread of The Spread of ChristianityChristianity

As a result of the missionary activity As a result of the missionary activity Christian communities existed through Christian communities existed through out the Roman Empire.out the Roman Empire.

Called themselves the Catholic Church Called themselves the Catholic Church because “Catholic” means universalbecause “Catholic” means universal

Churches in 100 A.D.Churches in 100 A.D.


The Church PersecutedThe Church Persecuted

Christianity: The First Two Christianity: The First Two Thousand YearsThousand Years

DVD DVD

Chapters 5Chapters 5

Seeds of FaithSeeds of Faith

PersecutionPersecution

The Roman Government viewed The Roman Government viewed Christianity with suspicion.Christianity with suspicion.

They were thought to be bad citizensThey were thought to be bad citizens Did not worship pagan gods who were thought Did not worship pagan gods who were thought

to protect Rometo protect Rome

Did not worship the emperor as a god which Did not worship the emperor as a god which was considered treasonwas considered treason

Roman’s were suspicious of the night Roman’s were suspicious of the night meetings held by the Christiansmeetings held by the Christians


Practice of the Eucharist was viewed as Practice of the Eucharist was viewed as cannibalismcannibalism

Christians believed that everyone was Christians believed that everyone was equal in God’s eyesequal in God’s eyes


Persecution was not continuous during Persecution was not continuous during the first 300 years of the Churchthe first 300 years of the Church

First persecution came about by accidentFirst persecution came about by accident

Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for a Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for a fire that he had startedfire that he had started

This period of persecution was brief This period of persecution was brief

Peter and Paul were martyred during this Peter and Paul were martyred during this periodperiod

Later PersecutionLater Persecution

In 250 A.D. things became worse for the In 250 A.D. things became worse for the ChristiansChristians

Rome was in danger of collapse due toRome was in danger of collapse due to Civil WarCivil War

Barbarian InvasionBarbarian Invasion

Bad harvestsBad harvests

Plague Plague

InflationInflation


Emperor Decius insisted that everyone Emperor Decius insisted that everyone worship himworship him

When the Christians refused he passed When the Christians refused he passed the first anti-Christian lawsthe first anti-Christian laws

Persecution was focused on the leaders of Persecution was focused on the leaders of the Church the Church

Leaders were tortured until they Leaders were tortured until they renounced their faithrenounced their faith


In 261 the emperor Gallienus passed a In 261 the emperor Gallienus passed a law tolerating Christianslaw tolerating Christians

This followed 30 years of peaceThis followed 30 years of peace

In 303 the emperor Diocletian began the In 303 the emperor Diocletian began the worst persecution that the Church has worst persecution that the Church has ever seenever seen

Thousands of Christians were killedThousands of Christians were killed


Constantius and his son Constantine were Constantius and his son Constantine were protectors of the Christiansprotectors of the Christians

In 312 Constantine became the sole ruler In 312 Constantine became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire in the Westof the Roman Empire in the West

In the following year he and his co-In the following year he and his co-emperor in Rome issued a proclamation emperor in Rome issued a proclamation granting tolerance to all Christians granting tolerance to all Christians

Proclamation was called the Proclamation was called the Edict of Edict of MilanMilan and ended the Christian persecution and ended the Christian persecution

Unit Three Centuries of Amazing Growth A.D. 30 - 313.

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Transcript of Unit Three Centuries of Amazing Growth A.D. 30 - 313.