1. Early Christianity

2. Judaism at time of Jesus
Recap of Jewish history
Kingdom period (David & Solomon) – approx BC
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Temple of Solomon; exile to Babylon – 587 BC
Cyrus the Great lets Jews return to Israel; Ezra brings back the Torah – 538 BC
Hellenization under Seleucids (f. 323 BC) => Macabean revolt (167 BC) => Hasmonean kingdom (f.140 BC)
Rome gains control in 63 BC
Second temple destroyed by Titus in A.D. 70
Time of dissatisfaction with traditional temple priesthood and ritualistic approach to religion (like Buddha in India)
Many different sects all competing with one another
Sadducees – elite group; focused on rituals of temple and rule of high priests; wiling to coorperate with Romans
Pharisees – average people; strict observers of rules for Jewish living; opposed to Roman rule
Essenes – small monastic group; rejected authority of high priests; celibate
Zealots – militaristic group who wanted to force the Romans out of Judea
Teachers/leaders like Jesus and John the Baptist were part of this environment
Jesus’ teaches closely match Hillel – famous Rabbi who dies in 10 BC – and so is part of Jewish tradition of the time
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation”
”Whoever destroys a soul, it is as if he destroyed an entire world; whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved an entire world.
Internal Jewish “family” arguments
Jews in Roman Empire: recognized religion – not required to worship Roman gods/emperor
Jewish tax after destruction of second temple
Later, Christians said there were not Jews which meant they didn’t have to pay the tax (but then there were not a legal religion)

3. Apostolic Period
Disciple (follower) vs. Apostle (a person who goes out to spread the teachings)
Apostolic Period (Age) – approx. A.D. 30 to 100; from death of Jesus to death of John the Apostle
The apostles went out from Jerusalem to spread the teachings of Jesus; one even went to India (St. Thomas)
All were killed (martyred) except John
Great deal of diversity in how the apostles interpreted teachings of Jesus
Jewish Christians – under James: saw themselves as Jewish reformers; Jesus as messiah but not as a deity
Pauline Christians – under Paul; combined Jewish ideas with elements of pagan religions; Jesus as god-man
Gnostic Christians and other groups
MESSIAH – literally means “anointed one” i.e. someone consecrated with holy oil; Jewish idea was a king from line of David returning to reestablish kingdom; later more broadly as a leader to bring an era of peace and plenty – end of history

4. New Testament Written over time, by different people
Traditionally, it was thought that the New Testament was written during this apostolic period (A.D )

5. Simon Peter  Peter the Apostle
Fisherman and follower of Jesus
One of the original apostles
Originally, the apostles were devout Jews; saw Christianity as a sect of Judaism
They only preaches to other Jews (mostly in the Diaspora, i.e. outside of Judeah)
To be Christian, you had to be a Jew and follow Jewish laws, e.g. circumcision and dietary laws
Peter was supposedly the first to convert a non-Jew (he converted Cornelius – a Roman military officer) – major turning point!
GENTILE: non-Jew
Eventually he was crucified in Rome by order of Nero (legend says he was crucified upside down)

6. Saul of Tarsus  Paul the Apostle
Paul the Apostle – one of the most influential of the early Christian missionaries
Started out as Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and strongly opposed to followers of Jesus
Believed to have been a Roman citizen
While on his way to Damascus to take charge of a group of Christians and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment, he was struck blind by resurrected Jesus who sent down a powerful beam of light
After three days, his sight was restored, and he began to preach that Jesus was the Jewish messiah and son of God
He traveled all over the eastern Roman empire, converting mostly gentiles
He accepted that you could be a Christian without following all the Jewish traditions like circumcision and dietary laws; making Christianity a universal religion rather than a religion of the Jews
Presumed beheaded in Rome by order of Nero in A.D. 64 or 67 (Roman citizens were not crucified!)

7. Journeys of Paul the Apostle

8. Important Cities * * * * * * * * * Germany Atlantic Ocean Black Sea
Britain
Germany
Atlantic
Ocean
Gaul
Dacia
Black Sea
Constantinople
Italy
Adriatic Sea
Macedonia * *
Spain
Greece
Aegean
Sea
Asia Minor
Antioch
Rome
Tyrrhenian Sea
Ionian
Sea * * * *
Carthage
Syria
Sicily
Athens
Corinth *
Ephesus
Mediterranean Sea
(Mare Nostrum)
Jerusalem
Africa
Judea *
Alexandria *
Egypt
Red
Sea

9. Early Christian Symbols
Chi-Rho – first two letters of Christ in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ or Christos) – was used by early Christian
Fish – word for fish in Greek was ІΧΘΥΣ which are the letters for the words Jesus Christ Son God Savior
Anchor – symbolizes safety and hope
Others – peacock, dove, good shephard, etc.

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