Rise of
Christianity
in Rome
The Teachings of Jesus
• Jesus born in
Bethlehem in
Judea
• He was both a Jew
and Roman citizen
• He was baptized
by John the
Baptist
Jesus’ Message
• By age 30, he began preaching publicly
and for 3 years he:
– Preached
– Taught
– Did good works
– Performed miracles
• Contained many ideas of
Judaism such as: Monotheism
and the 10 Commandments
• He emphasized God’s personal
relationship with each human being.
Jesus’ Message
• Stressed importance of love for
God, neighbors, enemies and
even their own selves.
• He gathered 12 apostles or
pupils = disciples
• Main source of information
about Jesus comes from the
Gospels – the first 4 books of
the New Testament of the Bible
• Gospels written by one or more
of the apostles (disciples).
Jesus’ Death
• The people called him
the Messiah which
means King.
• This worried the
Roman and Jewish
leaders, Pontius Pilate a
Roman governor
arrested Jesus.
• Sentenced to be
crucified or nailed to a
cross.
Resurrection
• According to
Gospels he rose
from the dead and
ascended to heaven
• One of the first
apostles, Peter,
spread the teachings
of Jesus throughout
Palestine and Syria
Christianity Spreads
• Another apostle, Paul had
enormous influence of the
development of
Christianity
• Spread during the Pax
Romana where conditions
were safe for travel on the
Roman Roads.
• Paul stressed that Jesus
was the son of God who
died for people’s sins.
Jewish Rebellion
• The Jews eventually
rebelled against control
of Romans
• About half million Jews
died trying to break free
from Roman control.
• This caused a Diaspora
– when mass Jews were
driven from their
homeland in Jerusalem
into exile.
Persecution of the Christians
• Christians would not worship Roman Gods
= viewed as opposition to Roman rule
• Some Romans blamed bad economic
conditions on Christians
• When a disastrous fire occurred in Rome,
and Emperor Nero blamed the Christians
and ordered them to be persecuted.
• Thousands were exiled, imprisoned,
crucified, burned or killed by animals in
circus arenas
A World Religion
• Christianity still survived
because of widespread appeal:
– 1. Embraced all people
– 2. Gave hope to the powerless
– 3. Appealed to people who
rejected the extravagances of
imperial Rome
– 4. Offered a personal
relationship with a loving God
– 5. Promised life after death.