Rome, Jesus, and the Spread of Christianity Pastor Jeff Krogstad Central Lutheran Church Pastor Jeff Krogstad Central Lutheran Church

Rome at the Birth of Christ

Rome: The Right time… The right place!!!  GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS  PHILOSOPHICAL FACTORS  POLITICAL FACTORS  GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS  PHILOSOPHICAL FACTORS  POLITICAL FACTORS

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 RELIGIOUS FACTORS  Blending of Greek & Other Religious beliefs  Polytheism… Many Gods  Pagan  State recognition of Traditional Greek Gods  Emperor cult worship

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

Rome: The Right time… the right place!!! ROMAN ORDER  Transportation  “All roads lead to Rome”  Legal System 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 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?  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  His Ministry  His Death  His Claim Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth

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

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

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

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 PETER  Traveling Preacher  Later revered as “First Pope” or the “Bishop of Rome”  Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s 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 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

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 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 2 nd century  “Alexamenos worships his god”  Graffito from Rome, late 1st or early 2 nd century

Martyrdom -- POLYCARP

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