1. The Triumph of Christianity in the Ancient world

2. Introductory Comments
The Historical and Cultural Impact of Christianity
The Paltry Beginnings (20 believers?)
Three centuries later
3 million believers?
The Roman Emperor Constantine
The Roman Empire
By the end of the fourth century (30 million believers)
How Did it Happen??

3. Pagan Converts and the Power of God

4. Terms
Christian
Pagan
Paganism (Was there such a “thing”?)

5. Why Are People Religious Today?
Quest for Truth
Moral Compass
Fellowship and Community
The Life to Come

6. Why Were They Religious In Anquity? None of the Above!
Virtually No Doctrines
Virtually No (Religious) Ethics
Virtually No Community
Virtually No Religious Connection to Afterlife

7. So What Was Religion? Polytheism instead of Monotheism
Cultic Acts instead of Faith
Present Life instead of Afterlife

8. What Made Christianity Different?
One God
Jesus his Son
Faith for Salvation
A Very Real Afterlife

9. What Made Christianity Attractive?
The Power of God
The Miracles He Achieved
The New Testament book of Acts
The Apocryphal Acts
Other sources
Realities or Rumors?

10. Other Miraculous Themes
The Amazing Martyrs
The Terrifying Afterlife
In Sum: Miraculous Conversions