After Jesus:
The Triumph of Christianity
Based on the book of the same title by
Jane R. Baun; Rita G. Christopher;
Donald R. Cutler; Marleen B. Flory;
Charles Flowers; Robert Kiener;
Robert Thurston; Edward Watkin;
Peter Young
Gayla Visali – Editor
Published by Reader’s Digest, 1992.
On the day of
Pentecost, after Jesus’
death, his disciples
were suddenly filled
with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak
excitedly about the
works of God.
Strangely, their
ecstatic words were
heard not as a
Galilean dialect of
Aramaic (their native
language) but as all
the languages spoken
by the pilgrims
visiting Jerusalem.
Part I: In Jesus’ Footsteps
(A.D. 30-40)
Jesus, it is recorded in
the gospels spoke of
his death and gave it
meaning in
celebration of the
Passover meal called
the Seder.
Along with baptism
the Lord’s Supper
(Communion) have
been unbroken rituals
throughout Christian
tradition.
The Last Supper
Jesus died by the
brutal capital
punishment inflicted
by the Romans.
The early followers
were destroyed, but
would later come to
view his death as
integral to their
salvation and in
fulfillment of ancient
Hebrew prophecy
(Isaiah 53).
The Crucifixion
Prior to his death,
according to the
gospels, Jesus
predicted his death
and resurrection. This
event will define the
church as believers in
the Resurrection.
The Resurrection was
the physical raising of
Jesus from the dead.
The circumstances of
his death and reports
of his rising were
public and well
known.
The Resurrection
Hundreds of people
saw the risen Jesus. A
few of these
encounters are
recorded in the
gospels.
On the road to
Emmaus two travelers
walked with Jesus but
did not recognize him
until they broke bread
together.
Jesus’ appears to many of his followers
As the disciples
waited and prayed
they were baptized in
the Holy Spirit.
Tongues of fire rested
over their heads and
they were
commissioned to go
into all the world with
the good news of the
Resurrected Jesus.
“I will pour out my Spirit.”
Peter who had
previously denied he
knew Jesus now with
the power of the Holy
Spirit filling his soul
preached
courageously and
effectively to the
masses gathered in
Jerusalem.
The first proclamation of the gospel
The church was born
in the City of
Jerusalem. It is
important in Hebrew
history and the center
of the importance is
the Temple which
Jesus claimed himself
to be the fulfilment of
its purpose.
Jerusalem
Emperor Hadrian and
the Savior god
Serapis represented
on the coins were just
two aspects of the
plurality of religions
and cultures into
which the new faith in
Christ emerged.
In addition to GrecoRoman religions there
was also oriental,
Egyptian, and sects of
Judaism influencing
the new faith.
Competing faiths and cultures
Within five year’s
after Jesus’ death a
church had been
established in
Jerusalem and
missions sent out.
Religious life centered
around three
functions:
Prayer (the Lord’s
Prayer recited).
Sermons and
Teaching
A Daily Common
Meal (The Lord’s
Supper)
The meal fed hungry
Christians as well.
Early Christian Lifestyle
To provide sustenance
for poorer converts
and for preachers
early Christians
shared their
possessions.
It was the practice of
the early church to
help the poor
especially widows.
When the Hellenist
Christians complained
that their widows
were being neglected
deacons were chosen.
More than just social
service, they were
also active in
missions.
Everything in common
A dramatic ritual
connected with
conversion. Involved
a confession of faith
followed by complete
immersion in water in
the name of Jesus
Christ.
Variations on
immersion were
created by end of the
first century (water
poured 3xs over the
candidate’s head).
Christian baptism was
meant to be a single
stirring event.
Baptism
“Followers of the
Way”
“The Way”
“The Way of the Lord”
“The Way of God”
“Nazarenes” –
derisive
N.T. :
“God’s temple”
“little flock”
“salt of the earth”
”church”-ekklesia in
Greek
“Christian” – 40 A.D.
Names for Christians
The strongest
opponents of early
Christianity were the
Sadducees.
Joined in opposition
by the Pharisees.
Elders of both groups
sat on the Sanhedrin.
The opposition
A heated debate
resulted in violence
when Hellenist Jews
became outraged at
Stephen and rushed
him before the
Sanhedrin.
The first follower of
Christ to die for the
profession of his faith.
He is stoned by an
angry religious mob.
Assisting in the action
was a young Pharisee
from Tarsus named
Saul.
Martyrdom of Stephen
Saul of Tarsus, a
member of the party
of the Pharisees
became an ardent
persecutor of the
young church.
On his way to
Damascus he is struck
blind, confronted by a
heavenly voice, and
converted.
The Christians in
Damascus eventually
accept him, though
they were at first
doubtful.
Paul’s conversion
Jesus’ disciples and
followers recalled his
deeds and words.
The oldest gospel
(good news) is the
account given by
Mark.
Other accounts
include the synoptic
(same eye) gospels of
Matthew and Luke.
The final gospel is
that of John.
Recollections of Jesus
As “the Way” moved
from Jerusalem to
Antioch and on to
Rome, Gentiles joined
the ranks, ministered
to especially by Paul,
the converted
Pharisee. Meanwhile,
Rome was ravaged by
a devastating fire,
and tensions in
Jerusalem were
building toward a
disastrous conflict
with the Roman
Empire.
Part II: A Tale of Three Cities
(A.D. 40-70)
To bring Gentiles into
the Christian
community was not
an easy step. Jews
were forbidden to eat
with them or consume
food apart from the
dietary laws. Only a
pagan who had
converted to Judaism,
agreeing to live by its
laws, would be able to
take the next step
and be baptized in
Jesus’ name. While
praying on the roof of
Simon the tanner
Peter has a vision that
changes the church.
Breaking the bread with Gentiles
The Ethiopian eunuch
like Simon the tanner
would have been
unclean but instead
was baptized on the
spot by Philip.
Conversion of a eunuch
They rejected belief in
pagan gods and
magic; adopted the
Christian ethic, which
besides avoidance of
sins such as idolatry
and adultery, stressed
charity and
brotherhood. They
were now part of a
loving community that
took care of one
another in time of
illness and other
troubles, even
meeting needs for
basic food and shelter
if necessary as well as
a strong belief in life
after death.
What it meant to become a Christian
They met in homes.
Paul writes, “When
you come together,
each has a hymn, a
lesson, a revelation, a
tongue, or an
interpretation. Let all
things be done for
edification.” It is clear
that these early
gatherings were
dynamic and exciting
and encouraged every
worshiper to
participate.
Christian meetings
It was at Antioch the
followers of the Way
were first called
“Christians.” Antioch’s
church attracted all
classes from patrician
to slave. It counted
wealthier citizens
among membership.
From 46 AD the
community sent
famine relief to
Jerusalem. It was
from here that Paul
and Barnabas
departed on their
missionary journey.
Antioch, a first outpost
Jerusalem was still
headquarters of the
movement. The group
that remained after
many had fled the
persecutions led the
Jerusalem church
down a more
conservative road.
James , the leader of
the church acted as
mediator between
those powerful Jewish
Christians who were
opposed to welcoming
Gentiles and those
who were willing to
receive them.
The church in Jerusalem
Thanks to Caligula
(37-41) relations
between Rome and
the Jews became
more hostile. He
became obsessed
with the idea that he
was a living god.
When opposed he
demanded that a
colossal golden statue
of himself be erected
at the Temple in
Jerusalem. He was
assassinated before
the order could be
carried out, but the
damage was
irreparable.
An insane emperor
He covered some
10,000 miles over his
lifetime. He suffered
shipwrecks, a stoning,
beatings,
imprisonments,
humiliations, the
rigors of primitive
travelling conditions,
and a great deal more
in his mission to
spread the word of
Christ. His capacity
for survival was
coupled with an
ability to touch
people’s souls as he
preached the Gospel.
Paul’s missions
How did Christianity’s
most successful
missionary survive
such hardships? His
devotion to spreading
the gospel apparently
strengthened his
nerve.
He planned his travel
carefully following
Roman highways and
sea routes.
At times his Roman
citizenship helped
him, as did his
knowledge of Greek,
and skill as a
tentmaker.
On the road again
Paul would realize his
dream of journeying
to Rome. After his
fourth shipwreck in
Malta he was finally
transported to Puetoli
and then to Rome.
He was placed under
house arrest for two
years and welcomed
all who came to him.
It is possible that he
travelled all the way
to Spain (Clement of
Rome).
All roads lead to Rome
Possibly began by
Jews after they
returned from
pilgrimages to
Jerusalem in 40’s, and
possibly 30’s.
Claudius (41-54)
expelled the Jews “
because they caused
continuous
disturbances at the
instigation of Chrestus
he expelled them
from the city.”
Aquila and Pricilla
were among these.
They went to Corinth.
The Christian community in Rome
A typical Roman
believed that gods
controlled nearly
every activity in the
world and that paying
them homage to them
would guarantee
success or at least
stave off disaster.
Moral codes were
determined more by
social or familial
codes of behavior.
The father or
paterfamilias
dominated. He could
decide life or death
within his family.
Pagan life
There continues to be
speculation as to
whether or not Peter
actually went to
Rome, much less was
the head of the
Roman church.
Archaeology in the
Vatican seems to
point to the grave and
bones of Peter buried
beneath St. Peter’s
Basilica.
Peter in Rome
July 19, 64 AD a fire
began near the Circus
Maximus spread by
the wind and ravaged
the city. The fire
burned for nine days
and left most of the
cit y in ruins.
Thousands lost their
lives and the streets
were filled with
distraught, displaced
persons.
As Rome burned
Although Nero had
rushed to his subjects
aid, a rumor quickly
circulated that he was
the cause of the fire.
According to Tacitus,
“to suppress this
rumor, Nero
fabricated scapegoats
– and punished with
every refinement the
notoriously depraved
Christians (as they
were popularly
called).”
Scapegoats found
Handsome and
headstrong, he
ordered his own
mother’s death, vain
and a lover of arts
and entertainment, he
admired all things
Greek.
He was a tyrant,
claiming to be equal
with Apollo. A great
persecutor of
Christians. At his
death the Empire was
in deep turmoil which
would soon burst into
war in Judea.
The pleasure-loving Nero
In 66 AD in response
to a pagan sacrifice
that was deliberately
made in front of a
synagogue in
Caesarea, a
delegation of Jews
protested. The
governor had them
arrested and then
took money from the
Temple treasury. Then
he ordered Roman
troops to raid the
markets in Jerusalem
killing 3,600 men,
women, and children.
The Jewish War
Herod Agrippa II sent
2,000 troops to assist
the rebels. By late
summer the rebels
had taken control of
Jerusalem.
The crack 12th Legion
was sent down from
Syria. The Jews
managed to hold off
the Romans and
forced them to
retreat. Nero
dispatched Vespasian
to quell the rebellion
with three legions. His
son Titus prevailed
with 80,000 troops.
Rebel successes
Some perished, some
fled, and some
returned. But
Jerusalem was no
longer the nucleus of
the church. Jews
supporting the revolt
would have seen
Christians (who
remained neutral) as
betrayers. Rabbis
added to the
synagogue liturgy a
prayer that
condemned Jewish
Christians. From then
on Christianity would
develop separately
from Judaism.
What happened to the Christians?
Most scholars think
the Gospel of Mark
was composed around
70 AD. The claim of
70 is based on Mark’s
description of the
destruction of the
Temple, as prophesied
by Jesus.
Considered the
earliest Gospel, Mark
apparently was used
for Matthew and Luke.
Others, including your
pastor) challenge this
date believing the
authorship is earlier.
Mark’s Gospel
As Christianity passed
the half-century
mark, the churches
organized to meet
new challenges. The
scriptures are
produced.
Heirs Of Jesus Christ
The Roman church
grew quickly (70 AD).
By the end of the first
century the
congregation had
adopted a leadership
role throughout the
empire. The claim
that both Peter and
Paul had died there
added weight to this
claim . The Roman
church also prospered
enough to send
contributions to other
churches.
Christianity in Rome
Vesuvius formed a
time capsule of first
century Roman life.
Pompeii
70 A.D. Rome is in
shambles following
the rule of Nero.
Suetonius noted,
“Throughout his reign
he made it his
principal business to
shore up the moral
foundations of the
state, which were in a
state of collapse.”
Vespasian rebuilds Rome
By the end of the first
century A.D. the
Apostles had taken
the gospel north into
Syria and Asia Minor;
west to Macedonia,
Greece, Italy, and the
isles of the
Mediterranean; then
to northeastern
Africa, and Egypt. A
century later Christian
communities existed
in Gaul (France),
Germany, and the
Iberian Peninsula
(Spain) as well as in
northwestern Africa.
The Spread of Early Christianity
A well respected ruler
who continued many
of his father’s policies.
Titus
Domitian considered
himself the guardian
of the people’s
morals, and in 85 CE
he appointed himself
censor for life, with a
general supervision of
conduct and morals.
Although Domitian’s
conduct did not
always reflect good
personal conduct and
moral behavior, he
was a big supporter of
traditional Roman
religion; he also
seemed to hold
Minerva and Jupiter in
the highest esteem.
Domitian
And on the day called
Sunday, all who live in cities
or in the country gather
together to one place, and
the memoirs of the apostles
or the writings of the
prophets are read, as long
as time permits; then, when
the reader has ceased, the
president verbally instructs,
and exhorts to the imitation
of these good things. Then
we all rise together and
pray, and, as we before
said, when our prayer is
ended, bread and wine and
water are brought, and the
president in like manner
offers prayers and
thanksgivings, according to
his ability, and the people
assent, saying Amen; and
there is a distribution to
each, and a participation of
that over which thanks have
been given, and to those
who are absent a portion is
sent by the deacons.
• Justin Martyr, First
Apology c. 150 AD
Early Christian Worship
Paul mentions no
ecclesiastical
hierarchy when he
wrote to Rome in 50
A.D.
In Clement’s letter to
Corinth near the end
of the first century, it
says just as Christ
commissioned
Apostles, so the
Apostles had in turn
“appointed … bishops
(overseers) and
deacons (ministers)
for those who should
afterward believe.”
Also bishops refers to
presbyters or elders.
Early Christian Leadership