After Jesus was executed, his followers claimed that he had risen from the dead three days later. This becomes the fundamental belief of Christianity: that Jesus was resurrected and a belief in him would lead to everlasting life.
The first Christians were Jewish. They lived in small communities and still practiced traditional Jewish holidays and rituals. Gradually, the Jewish nature of these early Christians began to fade as new rituals took hold. There was no uniform set of beliefs or a “Bible” in the early days. Consequently, there were hundreds of gospels written at this time.
Christianity might have remained a strictly Jewish sect if it were not for one man: Paul, who was considered the "father of Christianity."
Paul was born Saul to a devout Jewish family in Tarsus (in modern day Turkey). He spent some time in his life persecuting early Christians, especially Jews who had converted. However, he would soon convert to Christianity, changing his name to Paul and dedicating his life to spreading the new religion, especially to gentiles. He traveled all over the Roman world, spreading the message that Jesus was for everybody, not just Jews. He preached that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah.
The first Christians were Jewish. They lived in small communities and still practiced traditional Jewish holidays and rituals. Gradually, the Jewish nature of these early Christians began to fade as new rituals took hold. There was no uniform set of beliefs or a “Bible” in the early days. Consequently, there were hundreds of gospels written at this time.
Christianity might have remained a strictly Jewish sect if it were not for one man: Paul, who was considered the "father of Christianity."
Paul was born Saul to a devout Jewish family in Tarsus (in modern day Turkey). He spent some time in his life persecuting early Christians, especially Jews who had converted. However, he would soon convert to Christianity, changing his name to Paul and dedicating his life to spreading the new religion, especially to gentiles. He traveled all over the Roman world, spreading the message that Jesus was for everybody, not just Jews. He preached that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah.
Paul would eventually travel to Rome, where he too would be persecuted and crucified. Without Paul, Christianity may not have become the prominent religion in the Roman Empire.
WHY DID CHRISTIANITY WORK?
Christianity appealed to the common people and the poor. In a time when the Roman Empire was a corrupt and decadent place, Christianity offered something else. Christianity also gave converts a sense of community.
THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY
60+ CE The Roman empire begins persecuting Christians because they did not accept the divinity of the emperor. Thousands are killed during gladiator games and fed to wild animals. In order to get out of being killed, all that they had to do was to say that the emperor was a god. They did not do this but chose to be martyrs instead. This strengthened the religion as more people sought to learn about Christianity. As was told, "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church."
Watch this short clip below from the 1951 film, Quo Vadis, which shows Nero persecuting Christians in the Coliseum.
WHY DID CHRISTIANITY WORK?
Christianity appealed to the common people and the poor. In a time when the Roman Empire was a corrupt and decadent place, Christianity offered something else. Christianity also gave converts a sense of community.
THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY
60+ CE The Roman empire begins persecuting Christians because they did not accept the divinity of the emperor. Thousands are killed during gladiator games and fed to wild animals. In order to get out of being killed, all that they had to do was to say that the emperor was a god. They did not do this but chose to be martyrs instead. This strengthened the religion as more people sought to learn about Christianity. As was told, "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church."
Watch this short clip below from the 1951 film, Quo Vadis, which shows Nero persecuting Christians in the Coliseum.
311 CE The Edict of Toleration is issued, ending the persecution of Christians in Roman Empire
312 CE Emperor Constantine converts, becoming the first Christian emperor
313 CE Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which decriminalized Christianity and provided tolerance for all religions. It also declared that all church property that had been seized be returned.
325 CE The First Council of Nicaea meets to decide the universal doctrines of Christianity. They declare the belief that Jesus was the Messiah with the "Nicene Creed" which is still used in Christian churches today.
380 CE Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire through the Edict of Thessalonica
As Rome continued to decline in the 5th century C.E., Christianity began taking hold in the outer regions of the empire. Missionaries helped spread the religion as a church simply known as "catholic" began to take shape. "Catholic" is a Latin term that means "universal."
In the early days of Christianity, there was no single Bible or New Testament. The Bible as we know it today, was not created until at least the Council of Hippo in 393 CE and confirmed by the Council of Carthage in 397 CE. Prior to these councils, there were many gospels being used in Christian churches, such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary. By the end of the fourth century, four Gospels were agreed upon. These Gospels were written at various times for different audiences. However, no one knows who actually wrote these documents:
By 600 CE, Christianity had spread through the length of the old Roman Empire:
312 CE Emperor Constantine converts, becoming the first Christian emperor
313 CE Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which decriminalized Christianity and provided tolerance for all religions. It also declared that all church property that had been seized be returned.
325 CE The First Council of Nicaea meets to decide the universal doctrines of Christianity. They declare the belief that Jesus was the Messiah with the "Nicene Creed" which is still used in Christian churches today.
380 CE Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire through the Edict of Thessalonica
As Rome continued to decline in the 5th century C.E., Christianity began taking hold in the outer regions of the empire. Missionaries helped spread the religion as a church simply known as "catholic" began to take shape. "Catholic" is a Latin term that means "universal."
In the early days of Christianity, there was no single Bible or New Testament. The Bible as we know it today, was not created until at least the Council of Hippo in 393 CE and confirmed by the Council of Carthage in 397 CE. Prior to these councils, there were many gospels being used in Christian churches, such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary. By the end of the fourth century, four Gospels were agreed upon. These Gospels were written at various times for different audiences. However, no one knows who actually wrote these documents:
- MARK: Probably the oldest Gospel; written between 65 and 75 CE for a Roman audience
- MATTHEW: Written in the mid 80s CE, primarily for a Jewish audience
- LUKE: Written between 83 and 90 CE for a Gentile audience
- JOHN: Written around 100 CE for those who were torn between strict Judaism and believing that Jesus was the Messiah
By 600 CE, Christianity had spread through the length of the old Roman Empire: