1. Roman Religion and Christianity

2. Overview of Christianity Mini-Unit Context for Christianity: Paganism and Judaism Life of Jesus Paul of Tarsus Spread of Christianity Persecution Constantine

3. Common Traits of Mediterranean Religion Polytheistic Focused on the Present Observance: Prayer/Sacrifice Tolerant

4. Judaism Similarities to Paganism Differences from Paganism – Monotheism – Jewish Law Variation

5. Life of Jesus: Historical Challenges Inaccessibility of ancient people Early Pagan Sources

6. Life of Jesus: Historical Challenges Inaccessibility of ancient people Early Pagan Sources Early Jewish Sources – Josephus “… brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others”

7. Life of Jesus: Historical Challenges Inaccessibility of ancient people Early Pagan Sources Early Jewish Sources Christian Sources and their Challenges

8. Life of Jesus: Historical Challenges Inaccessibility of ancient people Early Pagan Sources Early Jewish Sources Christian Sources Biblical Scholars look for…

9. Life of Jesus Who was he?

10. Life of Jesus Who was he? Jesus’ Teachings – Salvation and Forgiveness

11. Life of Jesus Who was he? Jesus’ Teachings – Salvation/Forgiveness – Apocalypticism – Political? – Rooted in Judaism

12. Life of Jesus Who was he? Jesus’ Teachings – Salvation/Forgiveness – Apocalypticism – Political? – Rooted in Judaism Jesus’ Death and Crucifixion

13. Life of Jesus Who was he? Jesus’ Teachings – Stories – Apocalypticism – Political? – Rooted in Judaism Jesus’ Death and Crucifixion Resurrection

14. Paul of Tarsus Influence Background: From Persecutor to Apostle Caravaggio (1573-1610), The Conversion of St. Paul on the way to Damascus.

15. Paul of Tarsus Influence Background: From Persecutor to Apostle Ideas of Paul – The Messiah – Jewish Law – Spreading to Gentiles

16. Paul, Romans 2:25-29 28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

17. Paul of Tarsus Influence Background: From Persecutor to Apostle Ideas of Paul – The Messiah – Jewish Law – Spreading to Gentiles

18. Paul of Tarsus Influence Background: From Persecutor to Apostle Ideas of Paul – The Messiah – Jewish Law – Gentiles Spreading Faith – Message to Pagans – Paul’s Strategy

19. Paul of Tarsus Influence Background: From Persecutor to Apostle Ideas of Paul – The Messiah – Jewish Law – Spreading to Gentiles Spreading Faith – Message to Pagans – Paul’s Strategy Results

20. Spread of Christianity How did Jesus’ band of lower-class Jewish followers manage to create a world religion that commanded respect of highest Roman officials in just 300 years? Grassroots Growth – Grows roughly 40% every decade – 5% of Empire by Constantine

21. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity

22. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity – Roman Context

23. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity – Roman Context Polit/Econ Context

24. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity – Roman Context Polit/Econ Context Infrastructure

25. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity – Roman Context Polit/Econ Context Infrastructure Persecution and Tolerance

26. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans Capitalizing on Spiritual Malaise? In Pagan Terms Exclusivity – Roman Context Polit/Econ Context Infrastructure Persecution and Tolerance Constantine

27. Spread of Christianity Grassroots Growth But Why? – Speaking to Pagans – Roman Context Other Themes – Sense of Community – Redemption and Salvation – Role of Women – Diversity and Orthodoxy

28. Persecution Why Were Christians Persecuted?

29. Persecution Why Were Christians Persecuted? – Refusal to Worship “They think the Christians the cause of every public disaster, of every affliction with which the people are visited. If the Tiber rises as high as the city walls, if the Nile does not send its water over the fields, if the heavens give no rain, if there is an earthquake, if there is famine or pestilence, straightway the cry is ‘Away with the Christians to the Lion.’” Tertullian, Christian apologist

30. Persecution Why Were Christians Persecuted? – Refusal to Worship – Suspicious Behavior

31. Persecution Why Were Christians Persecuted? – Refusal to Worship – Suspicious Behavior Extent of Persecution – Local, Sporadic, Limited – Mostly Grassroots

32. THE EMPEROR TRAJAN'S INSTRUCTIONS TO PLINY THE YOUNGER CONCERNING TREATMENT OF THE CHRISTIANS Around 100 CE the emperor Trajan received a letter from Pliny the Younger, his governor in Asia Minor, describing his treatment of the growing sect of Christians. After describing how he only executed them after giving them numerous chances to renounce their faith and worship the emperor, he asks Trajan for further instructions on how he should deal with this problem. “The method you have pursued my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is eminently proper...No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced & found guilty they must be punished; but where the accused party denies that he is a Christian, & gives proof...by adoring our gods, he shall be pardoned...Information without the accusers name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone."

33. Persecution Why Were Christians Persecuted? – Refusal to Worship – Suspicious Behavior Extent of Persecution – Local, Sporadic, Limited – Mostly Grassroots Effects of Persecution – “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God which is God’s.” – Helps spread?

34. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine

35. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine Conversion of Constantine (Milvian Bridge, 312)

36. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine Conversion of Constantine (Milvian Bridge, 312) Why?

37. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine Conversion of Constantine Increasing Support of Christianity

38. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine Conversion of Constantine Increasing Support of Christianity Effects – Growth of Christianity – Political Impact

39. Constantine Christianity on Eve of Constantine Conversion of Constantine Increasing Support of Christianity Effects – Growth of Christianity – Political Impact Long-Term – Christianity in Europe – Constantinople

40. Relation to Jewish Texts Shedding Jewish Ideas Keeping Old Testament Conflict