Spread of Christianity
What Made Christianity popular?
• 1) People who believed in God would enter
heaven (salvation)
• 2) Easily understandable
• 3) Preached God loved all people, not just
Jews and people equal in sight of God.
Spreading of Christianity
• Jesus instructed apostles to spread message.
– They became missionaries, or people that spread
a religion.
• Peter great missionary for 30 years, (arguably
more effective was Paul)
Common Beliefs of Christians
• Believe in Jesus Christ.
• Believed he was raised from dead.
Persecution Ends
• Once persecution ends the Church:
– 1) Define common beliefs for Christians
– 2) Develop hierarchy in church
Orthodoxy
• Decision at Council of Nicea, established
orthodoxy, or all members had to follow
official teachings and practices of church.
Church Leaders
• As New Testament organized, church
leaders such as Jerome, and Augustine
made additional writing that did not
become part of New Testament.
• These writings or theology, explained
beliefs about God.
Monasteries
• Monasteries developed
• A monastery is religious community
• Benedict found a monastery that
– Monks could not owe anything
– vowed obedience to abbot (head of monastery)
– Food and clothing restricted
– Could not travel without permission
Role of Monasteries
• Benedictines and Franciscans monks did
following:
– Preserved works of Western Civilization
– Passed knowledge to others
– Discovered new farming techniques
– New medical treatments
– Helped improve lives of everyday people.
Church Hierarchy
• By 400 A.D. Christian church became called Catholic
(universal) Church.
• Church had hierarchy, or organization of people
ranked by power.
• Church Hierarchy is:
–
–
–
–
–
Pope (Bishop of Rome)
Cardinals
Archbishops
Bishops
Priests
Judeo-Christian values
• Spread values beyond influence of religion
(individualism)
• Emphasis on family, respecting elders,
humility, and honesty.
• Also found in other religions.
Edict of Milan
• Edict of Milan (313A.D.)
proclamation by
Constantine that Christians
can worship without
hindrance.
How and Why did Constantine
convert to Christianity?
• 312 A.D., Constantine saw vision that
changed course of Christian history.
• Before battle, Constantine saw vision of
Christian cross in sky and told him to call
upon power of God.
• He puts symbol of cross on soldiers
shields and wins battle.
• In 313 A.D. he issued Edict of Milan.
How and Why did Constantine
convert to Christianity cont.?
• Edict of Milan turning point
because ended Roman
persecution of Christianity
• Constantine baptized before his
death in 337 A.D.
What else helped
Christianity Grow?
• Reasons besides Edict of Milan that
allowed Christianity to grow.
• Reason 1: Christian message had wide
appeal. Rich and poor welcomed.
• Reason 2: People unhappy of Roman
control of life. Religion explain meaning
in life and provided moral guidance.
What else helped Christianity
Grow cont.?
• Reason 3: Rome’s well built roads/
infrastructure allowed missionaries to
spread word.
• Reason 4: Explained suffering and
evils of world and promised heaven.
• Reason 5: Universal love and
brotherhood won the hearts of many.
The End