2. Objective
WWABT: Discuss the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the development of early Christian beliefs

3. Our Next Religion
We are going to be moving onto the second of our monotheistic religions today
Christianity
First let’s set up our interactive notebooks

4. Interactive Notebook Setup
10/17/2017
Development and Spread of Christianity
This will be on 2 pages

5. Life and Teachings of Jesus
Background
Life and Teachings of Jesus

6. Church Organization and Papacy Development and Spread of Christianity
Regular Clergy/Monasteries
Women in the Church

7. Background
Before we can talk about Christianity we need to have a working definition.
This might not line up with your personal beliefs, that’s ok!
This is a scholarly definition which allows for disagreement and discussion
Definition:
A religion based on the belief in the death of Jesus of Nazareth for human sin and in his resurrection from the dead.

8. Background Christianity began developing during the 1st century CE
At this time the area of Judea and Galilee(where Jesus was from) was under the control of the Roman Empire
Judaism was widely practiced along with the Roman State Religion

9. Background
There was a great deal of tension between Jews and the occupying Romans
Some Jews felt they should live along side the Romans
Some felt living by Jewish law would protect them from the Romans
Some moved away from Roman cities and lived in common and attempted to bring back abandoned Jewish traditions
Some supported a violent revolt again the Romans
This was the climate at the time of the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth

10. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
There is much debate by over many aspects of the life of Jesus
Such as:
The date of his birth
The intentions of his preaching
Saying and actions attached to him
There is also much debate about many aspects of his life amongst the sects of Christianity
However there is very little debate whether a man named Jesus did in fact live at this time and preach

11. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Jesus was most likely born in Nazareth between the years 7-2 BCE
Most Christian tradition holds that he was born of Mary who was a virgin
Jesus was believed to be the son of God by followers
The same god of Abraham!

14. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Jesus was born, raised, lived, and died as a Jew
Somewhere between the years 27-29CE Jesus began preaching, performing miracles and healing
His teaching and reputation began to spread quickly
Many teachings and actions of Jesus are presented in the form of Parables

15. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Jesus taught things such as:
Universal love for all people
Charity
Humility
“Do to others what you would have them do to you”

16. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Eventually both Roman and Jewish leaders began to view Jesus and his followers as a threat
Jesus was arrested for treason, tried, and executed by the Roman state around the years CE
Jesus was crucified, the common punishment for traitors in Rome

18. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Christian traditions teaches that Jesus died to forgive the sins of humans
Death also created a NEW covenant with God
The forgiveness of sin would allow humans to go to heaven after death
Three days after his death Jesus is said to have been resurrected and ascended into heaven
Celebrated with the holiday of Easter

20. How Did Christianity Spread?
Ok, yesterday we discussed the life and teachings of the founder of Christianity
Today we are going to talk about the early years and the spread of Christianity
We will also talk a little bit about the Holy Text of Christianity, the Bible

21. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Christianity began as a branch off from Judaism
Much disagreement if this was new religion, or an update to Judaism
This movement began after a Jewish man named Jesus from Nazareth began preaching
He was executed by the Roman Leaders

22. An Early depiction of Jesus

23. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Christianity originated partly from a long-standing Jewish belief in the coming of a Messiah, or a leader who would restore the Jewish kingdom to its former glory days
Followers saw Jesus as the Messiah who would cleanse the Jewish religion of its rigid/overly powerful priests and assure life after death to followers
Predicted a final judgment day when God would reward the righteous with immortality and condemn sinners to eternal hell
Made religion very popular with ordinary people

24. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Christianity spread quickly in many different forms
This was largely because of the work of new leaders called Apostles/Disciples(future saints) and diffusion by merchants to spread the faith
The most famous of this leaders is the Apostle Paul
Explained Christian principles in ways that Greeks and Romans understood, and he established churches all over the eastern end of the Mediterranean, and even as far away as Rome.

25. The Conversion of Paul

26. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Early Christians mostly only associated with other Christians
This made them suspicious and mysterious to non-Christians
Christians did not participate in Roman society like other citizens
Did not practice state religion, interact at markets, or pay their taxes

27. FISH???
Iota (i) is the first letter of Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), Greek for "Jesus".
Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos (Χριστός), Greek for "anointed."
Theta (th) is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), Greek for "God's", the genitive case of Θεóς,Theos," Greek for "God."
Upsilon (y) is the first letter of (h)yios (Υἱός), Greek for "Son".
Sigma (s) is the first letter of sōtēr (Σωτήρ), Greek for "Savior."

29. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Early Christians were used as scapegoats by Roman emperors and officials
Blamed for natural disasters because of their refusal to worship Roman Gods
Early Christians were sometimes killed at the hands of the Romans
Called martyrs

32. Depiction of Christian Martyrs in the Coliseum

33. Developments and Spread of Christianity
Despite this persecution the Christian religion continued to grow
In 313 the Edict of Milan was issued which made Christianity legal in Rome
In 388 Edict of Thessalonica was issued which made Christianity the state Religion of Rome

36. Developments and Spread of Christianity
The Holy Text of Christianity is called the Bible
The Bible is made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament
The Old Testament similar to the Torah
But just what is the New Testament and where did it come from?

37. Developments and Spread of Christianity
The New Testament tells of the life and teachings of Jesus, forms the doctrine of Christianity
The New Testament generally contains four sections:
Four gospels, called the Canonical Gospels
Acts of the Apostles (The lives of the Apostles)
Epistles of the Apostles (Letters of the Apostles)
Revelations(Description of the End of Days)

38. The Bible and Its History
The Canonical gospels are by four of Jesus’ apostles
Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John
There were many gospels and accounts of written in the early years of Christianity, but eventually only these four were agreed upon for in inclusion in the Bible

39. The Bible and Its History
The Gospels of Luke, Mark, and Matthew are also called the Synoptic Gospels
This is because these three gospels have many similarities in them
Let’s look at these similarities