The Rise of Christianity
Roman State Religion During Age of
Augustus



Official state religion
focused on worship of gods
and goddesses
Emperors often officially
made gods by Roman
Senate
 This strengthened
support for the emperors
Many festivals and
ceremonies to honor gods
What guaranteed peace and
prosperity under Roman religion?
 Romans
believed observance of proper
ritual by state priests created good
relationship with gods
 Because
they were able to build such a
strong empire, that meant the gods were
favoring them
Were Romans tolerant of other
religions?
 Yes
 Allowed
worship of native gods and
goddesses throughout provinces
 Even
 As
adopted some of the local gods
long as the religions did not threaten
public order or public morals
Location of Judaea
 Near
Egypt and
Jerusalem
 Between Red
Sea and
Mediterranean
Sea
What was a procurator?
 By
6 A.D., Judaea had been made a
Roman province
 The
official in charge of running Judaea
who was answerable to the Roman
emperor
 Pontius
Pilate (who condemned Jesus to
death) was the procurator of Judaea
Different groups of Jews’ response to
Roman rule

Sadducees: priests, favored cooperation with Rome

Pharisees: scholars, believed close observance of
religious law would protect them from Roman
influences

Essenes: lived apart from society, sharing goods in
common, waiting for God to save Israel from oppression

Zealots: called for violent overthrow of Roman rule
 66
A.D.: Began Jewish revolt that Romans crushed 4
years later
Connection between religion and
government in Roman empire
Religion
and government
completely intertwined
Government needed to keep the
favor of the gods and goddesses
in order to be successful and
keep the empire strong.
Jesus
 Jewish
teacher who travelled and
preached throughout Judaea and
neighboring Galilee
 These
teachings began new movement
within Judaism that gained strength and
eventually developed into new faith of
Christianity
The teachings of Jesus…

Believed his mission was to complete salvation God had promised to Israel

Adhered to entire Law, but focused on elements that transformed the inner person

Emphasized humility, charity, and love towards others

Preaching stirred controversy

Some saw him as potential revolutionary who could lead revolt against Rome

Opponents turned him over to Roman authorities

Procurator Pontius Pilate ordered his crucifixion

After death, followers proclaimed he had risen from death and appeared to
them

Believed he was the Messiah (anointed one) who would save Israel from its
foes and bring an age of peace, prosperity, and monotheism (belief in the
existence of only one god)

As opposed to polytheism (belief in many gods)
How Christianity spread throughout
empire

Apostles (leaders) travelled around spreading message
that Jesus was Savior and that accepting him as Christ,
people could be saved from sin

Teachings of Christianity passed on orally and through
written tradition
 Apostles’
epistles (letters) and accounts of Jesus’s
sayings made up the core of the New Testament,
second part of Christian Bible

By 100 A.D. Christian churches established in most major
cities
Why did Romans persecute Christians?

Basic values of Christianity differed from those of GrecoRoman world

Romans only tolerated religions of other peoples if those
religions did not threaten public order or public morals

Many Romans viewed Christians as harmful to Roman
state because Christians refused to worship state gods
and emperors

They saw this as act of treason, punishable by death

Roman govt. began persecuting Christians during reign
of Nero (A.D. 54-68)
Why did Christians refuse to worship
state gods and emperors?
 Christians
believed there was only
ONE God
 To them, worship of state gods and
emperors meant worshipping false
gods which would endanger their
own salvation
How did the church become more
organized in 2nd and 3rd centuries?
 Missionaries
established more churches and
converted more Christians
 Christian church created new structure
where different people had different
functions
 Clergy: church leaders
 Laity: regular church members
Three reasons Christianity attracted
followers
1. Gave
life
Romans meaning and purpose to
2. Was
familiar, yet easy to adopt and
relate-able
3. Provided
people with a sense of
belonging
Why was Christianity attractive to ALL
classes of people?
Eternal
life was promised to
all regardless of social class
or gender
 First
Christian emperor: Constantine
 Edict of Milan: proclaimed official
tolerance of Christianity
 Theodosius the Great: Romans
adopted Christianity as the official
religion of the Roman Empire