10-2 The Christian Church

A Growing Faith During the first 100 years Christianity won followers throughout the Roman world. Peace and order established by Rome allowed people to travel freely and safely. Christians used well paved Roman roads carry their message from place to place

A Growing Faith Since most people spoke Latin or Greek, Christians could talk with them directly.

How Christianity attracted followers: A Growing Faith How Christianity attracted followers: Christian message gave meaning to people’s lives. Christianity reached out to the poor and powerless who had hard lives.

How Christianity attracted followers: A Growing Faith How Christianity attracted followers: It offered hope and comfort. The ideas of Christianity were familiar to many Romans. P.3

A Growing Faith How Christianity attracted followers: Christianity appealed to the emotions and promise of happiness after death. Christianity gave people a chance to be a part of a caring group.

A Growing Faith They took care of the sick, elderly, widows and orphans. Women found that Christianity offered them new roles. They ran churches from their homes, spread the message of Jesus and helped care for those in need.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Over time the Romans saw the Christians as a threat. All people could worship freely but had to recognize the emperor as a god. Like the Jews, Christians believed in one God and refused to recognize the emperor as a god.

How the Romans Treated the Christians They criticized Roman festivals and games. Christians also refused to serve in the army or hold public office. Hence the Romans saw Christians as traitors. P.5

How the Romans Treated the Christians In 64 AD, under Nero, the government began persecuting Christians. Nero falsely accused the Christians of burning down Rome.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Under the Emperor Nero Christianity was mad illegal and many Christians were killed. During these times many Christians became martyrs. Martyr- one who dies for their faith rather than give it up.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Romans required the dead to be cremated, but Christians wanted to bury their dead. They were forced to bury their dead outside Rome in catacombs, or underground burial places.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Christians believed in resurrection, or the idea that the body would one day be reunited with the soul, which is why Christians would not allow bodies to be cremated.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Roman law did not allow bodies to be buries above ground. Bodies were stacked in slots inside the catacomb tunnels. More than 5 million bodies were buried under the Roman streets.

How the Romans Treated the Christians Catacombs were also used for Christian religious services. Over time Christianity began to draw people from all classes even with all the hardships. Quiz 2A

Rome Adopts Christianity In the early 300’s AD the emperor Diocletion carried out the last of the great persecution of the Christians. Romans realized that Christianity was too strong to be destroyed.

Rome Adopts Christianity In 312 AD the emperor Constantine accepted Christianity. As tradition had said Constantine saw a burning cross in the sky as he was about to go into battle. Written beneath the cross were the words “In this sign you will conquer.”

Rome Adopts Christianity In 313 AD Constantine issued an order called the Edict of Milan giving religious freedom to all people and made Christianity legal. Constantine began giving Christians government support. P.5

Rome Adopts Christianity With the help of his mother Helena, he built churches in Rome and Jerusalem. He also let church officials serve in government and excused them from paying taxes.