Rise of Christianity

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Rise of Christianity
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• Jews in the Middle East came under Roman control
  in 63 BC
• Two major Jewish groups
• Zealots wanted to get rid of the Romans
• Messianic According to Jewish texts, a messiah
  will come and re-establish the Jewish Kingdom

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• Jesus Christ
• Born in Bethlehem- both a Jew and a Roman citizen
• Took up carpentry but later began a ministry
• Monotheistic
• Took the basic beliefs of the 10 Commandments
• Stressed a relationship between Man and God
• Twelve men, known as Apostles, joined up and
  wrote down Jesus teachings and sermons
• Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were the chief
  Gospel writers

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• Jesus popularity concerned both the Romans and
  some Jews
• Romans feared he would lead a revolt against
  them
• Some Jews did not see him as the Messiah
• As a result, Jesus was put to death and
  crucified. According to the Bible, after he was
  placed in the tomb, his body disappeared three
  days later.
• Pontius Pilate- Roman Gov. who decided his fate

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• Christos, Greek for Messiah, hence the name
  Jesus Christ
• Several decades later, early Christians were
  persecuted for their beliefs- many worshiped in
  secret, making the Romans think they were
  plotting to overthrow the government
• Nero was known for placing Christians on poles,
  setting them on fire and using them as lights at
  night
• 312 AD Constantine accepted Christianity and
  became the first Christian Roman Emperor
• 313 AD all Christian persecutions ended