Early Christendom

The Foundation The foundation of the early Christian Church was based on beliefs in the Resurrection (the rising of Christ from the dead).

St. Paul the Apostle A key figure in the evolution of Christianity was St. Paul the Apostle (C. AD 5-67). An early prosecutor of Christian converts, he was converted himself when a vision of Jesus Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

St. Paul the Apostle Paul’s doctrine and missionary work, during which he covered many thousands of miles around the Mediterranean, transformed Christianity from a minor sect of Judaism to a worldwide religion! HOWEVER! St. Peter was the first leader of the Christian Church, and it is he to whom all the Popes lead back in the “apostolic succession”.

Constantine I Constantine I was the first Roman emperor to be converted to Christianity. He did much to promote the spread of the faith throughout the Roman Empire, and in 380 the Empire adopted Christianity as its state religion.

Anthony the Great Another major influence in Christianity’s development was Anthony the Great ( ), the founder of desert monasticism in Egypt. These communities of ascetics, the “desert fathers,” became the model for Christian monasticism and inspired St. Benedict, whose Rule- set of guidelines for religious life- was followed by Benedict’s monastic communities and by many subsequent orders.

Monks The work of the monks guided people through the Dark Ages following the fall of the Roman Empire, through their missionary work, making copies of sacred tests, and promoting spiritual welfare. By the Middle Ages, Christianity was well established and the power of the Catholic Church was widespread.

Christianity Question Challenge! In the time left, each table will be challenge to answer as many of the following questions – use your notes, your textbook, and your previous knowledge. The team who answers the most questions CORRECTLY will win bonus points! Put answers on a separate piece of paper and make sure all groups members names are on the paper!

The Life and Teachings of Jesus 1.Why was Israel so full of unrest at the time of Jesus' birth? 2.Describe traditional teachings surrounding the birth of Jesus. 3.Why would Jesus not be well received by the Sadducees and the Jewish patriots? 4.What are the Gospels and how does their viewpoint differ from a historical research report? 5.What were the basic beliefs and practices Jesus embraced as a Jew? 6.Explain Jesus' emphasis on love and its many forms. 7.Describe Jesus' views and actions on matters relating to the family. 8.What are the Two Great Commandments that were so important to Jesus? Early Christian Beliefs and History 9.Describe the core of the early Christian message. 10.Describe the early Christian group in Jerusalem. 11.Why is Paul sometimes called the cofounder of Christianity? 12.Discuss Paul's background and the events that led to his support of Jesus. 13.What was Paul's usual missionary technique? 14.Describe Paul's reasoning on his position about whether new converts should keep Jewish laws. The Early Spread of Christianity 15.Describe the basic features of church structure that were adopted. 16.What was Constantine's role in the development of Christianity? 17.Offer some examples of Roman influence on Western Christianity. 18.How might some of the Greek and Roman religions have influenced early Christianity?