1. Christianity in ancient Rome
The Spread of Christianity

2. The promise of a messiah
Jewish Background
The promise of a messiah

3. The Kingdom of the Jews
*Judea, the kingdom of the Jewish people was taken over by the Romans
*Judea was made a province (state) of the Roman Empire in A.D. 6
*Many Jews believed God would send a Messiah who would come to restore their freedom

4. Just Historical or the Messiah?
Who was Jesus?

5. Who Was Jesus? *Jesus was born in Nazareth around 6 - 4 B.C.
*Started his teachings at the age 30
Nazareth
*Did good works, performed miracles around the region
*Taught beliefs connected to Jewish traditions:
-Monotheism (one god)
-10 Commandments

6. Jesus & His Teachings
*Christianity started as a sect (or group) of Judaism *since there was a connection to Jewish traditions
*However, some of Jesus’ teachings did not fit with the Jewish beliefs…
-A personal relationship with God
-Love for all people, not just people of Jewish faith
-Eternal kingdom & life after death
*Jesus told people he was the son of God, many people believed he was the Messiah that God has promised

7. Jesus & His Teachings
*The Jewish leaders did not like Jesus’ teachings and they did not believe he was the son of God
*Jewish leaders told Roman officials that Jesus was trying to create instability among the Roman Empire – they arrested him for this
*The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, arrested Jesus and sentenced him to be crucified
– considered to be the most disgraceful punishment for slaves and the worst criminals

8. Dedicated to Christ’s Message
The Next Chapter

9. Spreading the Word
*3 days after the crucifixion the Bible says that Jesus rose from the dead
*Jesus’ 12 Apostles (pupils) believed even more that Jesus was the Messiah sent from God
*The 12 Apostles & Jesus’ followers dedicated their lives to spreading His Word

10. Troubles Ahead
*Christians refused to acknowledge & worship the Roman gods, this was seen as opposition to the Roman Empire
*Persecution of Christians meant they were put in jail, fed to wild animals, burned
*Christians became scapegoats for political & economic problems

11. The Spread Continues
*By A.D. 200, over 1 million Christians in the Roman Empire
*An attractive message:
-Embraced all people
(poor, rich, disabled)
-Gave hope
-Personal relationship with higher being
-Eternal afterlife

12. The Spread Continues
*A.D. 313 – Constantine the Great issued Edict of Milan – ended persecution of Christians, declared Christianity approved by the emperor
*A.D. 380 – Emperor Theodosius the Great made it the official religion of the Roman Empire

13. Blues & purples = different sects of Christianity
Christianity Today
Blues & purples = different sects of Christianity
*about 2 billion Christians today (1 in 3 people)
*most live in Europe, the Americas, & Southern Africa