Early Christianity

Standard 6-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of life in ancient civilizations and their contributions to the modern world. Enduring Understanding The foundations of government, science, technology, and the arts are legacies of ancient civilizations. To understand that the contributions of these ancient civilizations have endured and are evident in our society today, the student will... 6-2.6 Compare the polytheistic belief systems of the Greeks and the Romans with the origins, foundational beliefs, and spread of Christianity.

Analogies of the Trinity God in three persons:

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil You shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16

Eve disobeys God, eats the fruit from the forbidden tree and gives some to Adam.

Adam and Eve banished from the Garden of Eden

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

What Did Jesus Teach? HE CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD. HE CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH. HE ASKED PEOPLE TO TURN FROM THEIR SINS & REPENT. He preached that God was coming soon to rule the world HE OFFERED HIS BELIEVERS ETERNAL LIFE IN PARADISE. (living eternally with God.) OFFERED SALVATION TO RESCUE PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.

Other Teachings Teachings of Jesus Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Forgive from the heart, not just go through motions of religious laws. Teachings of Jesus Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Love & forgive others as God has forgiven people

“Cat-o-nine” tails used to whip Jesus

Early Christian symbol secretly used to identify believers

1. Why did Christianity spread? 3 reasons. Safe travel/good roads in Roman empire. Latin or Greek - common language Christianity = meaning/hope to people 2. How did the Romans treat the Christians and how/when did Rome adopt Christianity? 60s A.D. – persecute (Nero) 312 A.D. – Constantine adopts Christianity 392 A.D. – Theodosius outlaws other religions 3. How was the early church organized? (hierarchy) Patriarchs – 5 leading AB in charge of large churches & territories Archbishops – in charge of a region Bishops – led several churches in an area – diocese Priests – in charge of leading one church Laity – churchgoers / members

4. What is the new Testament 4. What is the new Testament? written record of the life of Jesus and his followers 5. Who was the Pope and what are the Christian catacombs? Bishop of Rome – leader of worldwide Roman Catholic Church, infallible. The Christian catacombs were a series of dark, cold, stench filled tunnels used to bury their dead. The catacombs were located under the city of Rome because it was against Roman law to bury dead aboveground. Christians refused to burn the bodies of their dead, which was the Roman custom. They believed that the body would one day be reunited with the soul, therefore they insisted that the bodies of the dead be intact.

CHRISTIAN ICONS

Basil Cyril St. Augustine

St. Peter One of Jesus' 12 disciples Jewish fisherman Was an apostle Set up a church in Rome

Apostle Paul Persecuted Christians before he converted Became a Christian on the road to Damascus. Roman citizen Founded churches in Eastern Mediterranean. Martyr who wrote several Epistles that are in the New Testament.

St. Augustine Bishop in North Africa His mother was Christian, but he was not a convert until later in life. Good student in school that made bad choices Taught rhetoric & was well educated. Became a Christian & wrote Confessions & City of God.

Benedict Italian Monk Roman Catholic Wrote the Benedict Rule, which was a list of rules for the monks & nuns.

Patrick Was a Catholic Priest in the A.D. 400s. Brought Christianity to Ireland. Set up churches & monasteries. Preserved Christian & Roman learning.

Basil Was a Bishop in the Eastern Orthodox church. Created the Basilian Rule, which was a list of rules for monks and nuns.

Cyril Byzantine missionary Carried Christian message to the Slavs Invented a new alphabet based on Greek letters in about A.D. 863. Wanted people to be able to worship in their own language.

Religious Arguments Icons Images of saints Worshipped & believed to be responsible for miracles Some Byzantines wanted icons, some not Emperor Leo III outlaws icons Sent iconoclasts to break images in churches Eventually adopted throughout Byzantine church

Religious Arguments 2 Pope Infallible, unquestioned leader of Roman Catholicism Roman Catholics said leader of worldwide church Byzantine Emperor Byzantines believe their emperor is leader of their church (appoints Patriarch of Constantinople)

Religious Arguments 2 III. Invasions Pope and Byz. Emperor refuse to help each other during invasions Pope turn to Franks (French) for help w/invasions Appoints Frankish king Charlemagne as Emperor This angers Byzantines Spilt (schism) into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches