1. Introduction to Christianity

2. Who is a Christian?
Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ (note: “the”. Christ means “Anointed One”. It’s a title, not a name.)
Many denominations like: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Baptist, United, Mennonite, Anglican, Lutheran, Salvation Army, etc
Approximately one third of Earth’s population

3. Jesus (c.4 BCE – c CE)
Son of Mary, and believed by Christians and Muslims to be born of immaculate conception, after Holy Spirit blessed Mary
According to Christians, Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Torah. (Jews do not agree on this point)
Saviour – Salvation comes through Jesus’ sacrifice (connected to covenant with God from Judaism)
Dual Nature - Human and Divine

4. Jesus cont’d Fulfillment of prophecy
Virgin birth
Line of David
Bethlehem
Started teaching in late twenties/early thirties, died at 33

5. Jesus cont’d Death and Resurrection
Christians believe Jesus was crucified, died, and miraculously came back to life three days later (Muslims do not agree on this point)
This self-sacrifice is seen as a cleansing of all of humanity’s sins.

6. Saul of Tarsus/Paul (c. 5- c.67, CE)
Arguably second most important person in Christianity, after Jesus
Was a Jew and a Roman, whose job it was to persecute Christians
One day, on the road to Damascus, had a vision of Jesus, demanding to know why Saul was persecuting him
He converted, changed his name to Paul, and started spreading gospel and building churches in 30s to 50s CE
Many books of the Bible are his letters to those new churches: Romans, Corinthians I and II, Galatians, Ephesians and 9 others
Responsible for bringing Christianity to non- Jews (Gentiles)

7. Where/how did Christianity start?
Originated in present day Israel and the disputed Palestinian territories.
Started as a Jewish reform movement and shifted to a new religion over time.

8. Nicene Creed What do Christians believe?
Nicene Creed sums it up (What follows is from the Catholic catechism. There are other versions, depending on the sect. Dates to about 325 CE.):
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth]
Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man;
He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Ghost.
In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
[But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable'—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]

9. The 5 W’s of Christianity (“What” cont’d)
Beliefs first codified by the Council of Nicea in 325 CE.
Council of Nicea established:
One unified church
Which books were to be included in Bible (before that point, there were several conflicting accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings. Those not accepted as gospel are now referred to as “apocrypha”).
Concept of Holy Trinity

10. Gospels
Gospels (accounts of Jesus’ life) form the heart of Christian Bible.
Synoptic (one view) Gospels have many similarities, and may have used each other as sources
Synoptic Gospels (dates are a source of debate):
Mark c CE
Matthew c CE
Luke c CE
John c CE (not synoptic, because there are many details here that don’t show up elsewhere)

11. Timeline of Early Christian Writing
Link to embiggify

12. Trinity

13. Sermon on the Mount
Central teaching, and possibly one of the most famous speeches in the Christian tradition.
Video