Rome, Jesus, and the Spread of Christianity Two questions: What are the basic facts about Christianity from a historical perspective? How did Christianity go from an unknown, illegal movement to being one of the main driving forces behind western civilization?

Rome at the Birth of Christ This is a rough approximation of the boundaries of the Roman Empire around the time Christianity began.

Rome at the Birth of Christ This map gives a little more detail – The yellow shows when the Empire began with the rise of Caesar Augustus, the green is the territory Augustus added to the empire, and the Red shows the empire at the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. So you see -the empire was growing during the rise of Christianity; -Judea was a recent addition to the empire out on its eastern edge (POINT OUT WHERE JUDEA IS)

Rome: The Right time… The right place!!! GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS PHILOSOPHICAL FACTORS POLITICAL FACTORS QUICKLY – Geography, Philosophy, and Politics all paved the way for Christianity to spread. Christianity could not have expanded the way it did at any other time in history. But there are even more important factors than just the Roman culture:

Rome: The Right time… the right place!!! RELIGIOUS FACTORS Blending of Greek & Other Religious beliefs Polytheism… Many Gods Pagan State recognition of Traditional Greek Gods Emperor cult worship Briefly describe paganism and the disillusionment that was going along with it.

Rome: The Right time… the right place!!! GREECE Culture Language Metaphysics

Rome: The Right time… the right place!!! ROMAN ORDER Transportation “All roads lead to Rome” Legal System

Rome: The Right time… the right place!!! JEWISH RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION Jewish Beliefs Monotheism One God Hope for a Messiah

Christianity: Seizing the moment

Christianity: Seizing the Moment Christ is born in 5 or 6 BC Why not 0? What the heck does AD mean?

The Appeal of Jesus His Ministry His Death His Claim Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth His Ministry His Death His Claim

The Appeal of Jesus HIS MINISTRY Healing Preaching Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth HIS MINISTRY Healing Preaching “The Kingdom of God” Harsh judgment or Loving Father?

The Appeal of Jesus HIS DEATH Pontius Pilate Scandal Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth HIS DEATH Pontius Pilate Scandal

The Appeal of Jesus THE CLAIM Resurrection Available to Believers Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth THE CLAIM Resurrection Available to Believers Hope After Death

Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity PETER Traveling Preacher Later revered as “First Pope” or the “Bishop of Rome” Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD Going back in time – one of the key players: Peter – mostly told other Jewish people about Jesus throughout the Roman Empire Killed by emperor Nero in 64 ad

Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity PAUL (Saul of Tarsus) Jewish Started Gentile Churches Wrote letters which make up 1/3 of the New Testament Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD One critical piece to understand is how Christianity spread from being just a Jewish movement to non-Jews, or “Gentiles” Paul is a key figure in this transition – he specifically went to non-Jewish people and told them that if they became followers of Jesus, they were acceptable to God

Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity THE JEWISH WAR Destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD Clear Division between Jews & Christians Josephus

Was this universally appealing? “Alexamenos worships his god” Graffito from Rome, late 1st or early 2nd century

Martyrdom -- POLYCARP 86 … hid in house outside the city … fixed meal for arresters …encouraged to worship Caesar, refused … voluntarily burned, then impaled … IMPACT ON CROWD?

Key Resource for the Spread of Christianity THE NEW TESTAMENT Portable Translatable Religion DaVinci Code??? Spawns other writings

Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity Constantine’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)