David & Solomon’s Israel
Early Christian and Eastern
Religions
Five major faiths developed in the Middle
East during and after the collapse of the
Roman Empire :
Judaism
Islam
Christianity
Mithraism
Gnosticism
Early Christian and Eastern
Religions
These faiths all shared several things in common:
Claimed Exclusive Path to Paradise (heaven)
Claimed they were the Only True Faith
Placed Emphasis on Prophecy and Spiritually Revealed
Truth
Offered hope of salvation to those who believed their
truth
Honored a chief Prophet or Messiah
Believed that there was a struggle between good and
evil for man’s soul
Practiced ritual purification or initiation with water
Believed that members should seek out new converts for
their faith (except Judaism)
Early Christian and Eastern
Religions
Only 3 of these 5 have survived although each
one had periods of great success: Christianity,
Islam and Judaism are the great survivors.
Mithraism almost became the official religion of
the Roman Empire – only Constantine’s victory
changed that
Gnosticism was a variant of Christianity that
survived into the 1200s in France where it was
eventually wiped out by Papal Christianity in a
series of Crusades and the creation of the
Inquisition.
Judaism
2000 BCE – Abraham is called from Ur in Mesopotamia to Canaan by
Yahweh
1600 BCE – Hebrews leave Canaan for Egypt
1250 BCE – Moses and Hebrews leave Egypt (Exodus) and return to
Canaan
1000 BCE – Israelites establish a monarchy under Saul – the 1st Hebrew
King
1000 – 961 BCE – David is King
961 – 922 BCE – Solomon is King
922 BCE – Kingdom splits into 2 – Israel and Judah
722 BCE – Israel falls to the Assyrians
600 BCE – Hebrew Torah and other Holy writings are compiled into their
final form
587 BCE – Judah falls to Chaldaeans under Nebuchadnezzar II and the
Hebrews are enslaved and taken to Babylon (Babylonian Captivity)
Judaism/Christianity
539 BCE – Persians conquer Chaldaeans and
return Hebrews to homeland
4 BCE – Birth of Jesus Christ
26-29 CE – Public career of Jesus Christ
29 CE – Crucifixion of Christ under Pontius
Pilate
34 CE – Stephen is the first Christian martyr –
stoned to death
200 CE – Rome becomes the center of the
Christian faith
Christianity
307 – 337 CE – Reign of Constantine the Great
313 CE – Edict of Milan is issued by Constantine
legalizing Christianity
325 CE – Council of Nicea establishes Nicene
Creed and Orthodox Christianity – all other
forms of Christianity are made heresies.
376 CE – Western Roman Empire is invaded by
the Huns under Attila
395 CE – The Edict of Theodosius is issued
making Christianity the only legal religion in the
Roman Empire - Roman Empire splits into east
and west at Theodosius’ death
395 CE – The beginning of the reliquary trade
Synagogue Interior
Wall paintings of Old Testament scenes
from Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256
tempera on plaster
Similar in style to Roman work
Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of Dagon
Synagogue Interior
Wall paintings of Old Testament scenes
from Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256
tempera on plaster
Judaic Art
Judaica
Isaiah Scroll (Dead Sea Scrolls)
1st century BCE
Qumran, Israel
This early version of the Book of Isaiah is exactly the
same as modern ones
Jewish. Masada, the fortress of King Herod on the Dead
Sea.
Late first century CE.
Jewish. Model of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.
.
326-335 CE
A History of the Jewish People
The Jewish sense of history begins with the
stories recounted in the Hebrew Bible or
Tanakh
Jews hold the “five books of Moses” as the
most sacred part of the scriptures – The
Torah
The theme of exile reappears continually in
the Hebrew Bible, and in later Jewish history
the people are rendered homeless again and
again
Biblical History
Begins with the creation of the world by a
supreme deity, or God
Progresses through:



the patriarchs and matriarchs
Moses who spoke with God and led the people
according to God’s commandments
the prophets who heard God’s warnings to those
who strayed from the commandments
Biblical History
After the Tanakh:

After the holy center of Judaism, the Temple of
Jerusalem, was captured and destroyed by the
Romans in 70 CE, Jewish history is that of a
dispersed people, finding unity in their evolving
teachings and traditional practices, which were
eventually codified in the great compendium of
Jewish law and lore, the Talmud.
Biblical Stories
From creation to the God of Abraham

Hebrew scriptures begin with an account of the
creation of heaven and earth by God in six days
Covenant

A unique belief introduced into Jewish theology
was the idea of a special covenantal relationship
between the Jewish people and God
Early Monotheism

Scholars disagree on whether pure monotheism
was practiced by the early patriarchs
Biblical Stories
Israel’s Birth in Struggle

The story in which a human being struggles and
finally is reborn at a higher level of spirituality has
been taken as a metaphor for the spiritual evolution of
the people of Israel
Egypt: Bondage and Exodus

According to the scriptural Book of Exodus, Moses
was chosen by God to defy the pharaoh and lead the
people out of bondage, out of Egypt
Biblical Stories
From the Wilderness to Canaan


Acceptance of the laws given to Moses at Mount
Sinai brought a new dimension to the covenant
between God and Israel
Carrying the ark representing this covenant, the
Israelites had to wander for forty years through the
desert before they could re-enter the promised land,
fertile Canaan, which at that time belonged to other
peoples
Biblical Stories
The First Temple of Jerusalem




David, the second king of Israel, is remembered
as Israel’s greatest king
Under the reign of King Solomon (son of David), a
great temple was built in Jerusalem
The temple became the central place for sacrifice
in Judaism
In 586 BCE the great walls of Jerusalem were
battered down and its buildings put to the torch by
the Babylonians
Return to Jerusalem
•
•
•
After fifty years of exile in Babylon, a small group of
devoted Jews returned to their holy city and land,
now called Judaea.
King Cyrus authorized the rebuilding of the Temple of
Jerusalem, which was completed in 515 BCE.
The second temple became the central symbol to a
scattered Jewish nation.
Three Sects
Under the Hasmonean kings, three sects
of Jews formed in Judaea:
 Sadducees: priests and wealthy businesspeople,
conservatives intent on preserving the letter of the
law
 Pharisees: more liberal citizens from all classes who
sought to study the applications of the Torah to
everyday life
 A third general movement was uncompromising in its
piety and its disgust with what it considered a
corrupted priesthood
Revolts
Spurred by anti-Roman militias called Zealots, some
Jews rose up in armed rebellion against Rome in 66
CE

The rebellion was suppressed, and the Jewish defenders
were slaughtered in the holy walled city of Jerusalem In 70
CE
A second ultimately disastrous revolt followed in 132
CE
Judaea was renamed Palestine after the ancient
Philistines. Judaism no longer had a physical heart or
a geographic center
Rabbinic Judaism
Rabbis and the messianic movement survived the
destruction of Judaea
 Rabbis:



inheritors of the Pharisee tradition
founders of rabbinic Judaism, which has defined the major
forms of Jewish practice over the last 2,000 years
teachers, religious decision-makers, and creators of liturgical
prayer
 The messianic movement : there were many until one

formed around Jesus of Nazareth, later known as
Christianity
Rabbis’ Work
The rabbis:
•
•
•
thoroughly interpret Hebrew scriptures
apply the biblical teachings to their contemporary
lives, in very different cultural circumstances from
those of the ancients
interpret scripture in ways acceptable to
contemporary values
Torah
Jewish teachings are known as the Torah
The one God
Love for God
The sacredness of human life
Law
Suffering and Faith
Sacred Practices
 scriptural study
 remembering God in all aspects of life
 ritual circumcision
 what one eats is of cosmic significance
 giving thanks continually
 the Sabbath
 Bar Mitzvah
Holy Days
Judaism follows an ancient lunar calendar of annual
holidays and memorials linked to special events in
history:
 Rosh Hashanah
 Yom Kippur
 Sukkot
 Hanukkah
 Purim
 Passover
 Holocaust Remembrance Day
 Shavuot
CENTRAL BELIEFS
 With the many historical forms of Judaism, they all share
similar characteristics.
 The most essential characteristic is the belief in one God who
created the universe and continues to rule it.
 The God who created the world revealed himself to the
Israelites at Mount Sinai.
 The content of that revelation makes up the Torah, God's will
for humankind stated in his commandments.
 A second major concept in Judaism is that of the covenant, or
agreement, between God and the Jewish people. The Jews
would acknowledge God, agreeing to obey his laws. God, in
turn, would acknowledge Israel as his chosen people.
 The Bible is the word of God
CENTRAL BELIEFS
Jewish People believe that goodness and obedience will
be rewarded and sin punished by God’s judgment after
death. Then at the end of times, God will send his
Messiah to redeem the Jews and deliver them to their
Promised Land.
Although all forms of Judaism come from the Hebrew
bible, Judaism is mainly derived from the rabbinic
movement during the first centuries of the Christian era.
At the turn of the 3rd century, the rabbis, or Jewish
sages, produced the Mishnah, the earliest document of
rabbinic literature.
Some for fun
Not to indulge in familiarities with relatives, such as kissing, embracing, winking, skipping, which
may lead to incest (Lev. 18:6)
Not to commit sodomy with one's father (Lev. 18:7)
Not to have intercourse with a woman, in her menstrual period (Lev. 18:19)
"When a woman has a discharge of blood, which is her regular discharge from her body, she shall
be in her impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening." -Leviticus 15:19-20
Not to castrate the male of any species; neither a man, nor a domestic or wild beast, nor a fowl
(Lev. 22:24)
Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind." -- Leviticus 11:22
"When men fight with one another, and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from
the hand of him who is beating him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts,
then you shall cut off her hand." -- Deuteronomy 25:11-12
Some more for fun
 Not to eat flesh with milk (Ex. 34:26)
 Not to eat the flesh of an ox that was condemned to be stoned
(Ex. 21:28)
 Not to compel the Hebrew servant to do the work of a slave
(Lev. 25:39)
 To keep the Canaanite slave forever (Lev. 25:46)
 That the violator (of an unbetrothed virgin) shall marry her
(Deut. 22:28-29)
 Not to wear garments made of wool and linen mixed together
(Deut. 22:11)
 That a man, having a running issue, defiles (Lev. 15:1-15)
 To exterminate the seven Canaanite nations from the land of
Israel (Deut. 20:17)
Stoned 2
Stoning to death punishment for disobedient sons.
21.21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, so that he die. So shalt thou put evil away from
among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.
Stoning to death punishment for non virgin women.
22.20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel, (unmarried women)
22.21 then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her
with stones that she die, because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house; so shalt
thou put evil away from among you.
Death punishment for adultery.
22.22 “If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man
that lay with the woman and the woman; so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
Stoning to death punishment for virgin women for adultery.
22.23 If a damsel who is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city and lie with her,
22.24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones, that they
die — the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city, and the man,because he hath humbled his neighbor’s
wife; so thou shalt put away evil from among you.
Early Middle Ages - Eastern
Religious Art
Mithras Slaying the
Sacred Bull
150 – 200
Rome, Italy
The Mithraic cult focused
on the sun, good vs. evil
and Mithras – a god who
was killed and rose again
3 days later and was born
on December 25
Mithraic. Mithraic relief.
Greco-Eyptian. Isis Lactans, Isis giving the breast to the
infant Horus, from Antinoe, Egypt. Early third century
CE.
Height: 35".
CHRISTIANITY
 6-4 BC – BIRTH OF JESUS (COULD BE AS EARLY AS 10 BC)
 15-26 AD – VALERIUS GRATUS IS PREFECT OF JUDEA, UNDER
TIBERIUS
 18-37 AD – CAIAPHAS IS APPOINTED HIGH PRIEST OF THE
SANHEDRIN BY VALERIUS GRATUS
 24-26 AD – PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS
 26-36 AD – PONTIUS PILATE IS PREFECT OF JUDEA, UNDER
TIBERIAS
 27-29 AD – CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS FOR SEDITION
 27-29 AD – PENTECOST OCCURS AND THE CHURCH BEGINS
 34 AD – PHILIP CONVERTS FIRST PERSON, AN ETHIOPIAN JEW
IN GAZA
 35 AD - SAUL OF TARSUS CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY,
BECOMES PAUL
 39 AD – PETER PREACHES TO THE GENTILES FOR FIRST TIME
CHRISTIANITY
 42 – Mark goes to Egypt
 44 – James, the brother of Jesus, is stoned to death by the Jews
for blasphemy
 49 - Jerusalem Council held on admitting Gentiles into the
Church
 51-52 – First written accounts of Christianity – Paul’s letters to
the Thessalonians
 52 - Apostle Thomas arrives in India and founds church that
subsequently becomes Indian Orthodox Church (and its various
descendants).
 59-62 - Paul journeys to Rome and is imprisoned
 60 – Andrew martyred in Greece by crucifixion under Romans for
sedition; possible date for Gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew
 64 – Nero begins persecution of Christians for fire in Rome
 68 – Paul and Peter are killed under Nero
Christianity
 70 – Jerusalem and Judea invaded and destroyed by the
Romans under Titus
 72 - Traditional date of the Apostle Thomas' martyrdom in India
 90-95 – John exiled to the island of Patmos (Gospel of John is
written)
 95 – The Book of Revelations is written
 95-120 – All other new testament books and gospels are written
 202 – Christians persecuted under Septimus Severus
 211 – Christians tolerated under Caracalla
 222 – Christians favored under Alevander Severus
 230 – Origen defends Christianity with his books
 235 – Christians persecuted again under Maximum the Thracian
 238 – Christians tolerated under Gordian III
Christianity
244 – Christians favored under Philip the Arab
251 – Cyprian writes On the Unity of the Catholic Church
303 - Diocletian begins the Great Persecution – kills Christians, priests,
bishops, popes and even churches and structures are destroyed.
312 – Constantine defeats Maxentius and becomes sole Roman Empereror
313 – Constantine issues the Edict of Milan – ordering the toleration of all
religions (including Christianity)
325 – Council of Nicea is called and the dogma of the Christian faith is voted on
by various bishops. Constantine is in charge of the proceedings. Christ’s divinity
is voted on, as well as which books to call Gospels
, etc.
Christianity
336 – Constantine converts to Christianity, then dies becoming first
Christian emperor.
381 – First Council of Constantinople – called by Emperor Theodosius
– it included a restatement of the Nicene Creed and fully established
the concept of the Trinity as one. It outlawed Arianism (Jesus did not
exist until his birth) as heresy.
395 – Edict of Theodosius – outlaws all religions except Christianity in
the entire Roman Empire
400 – The Bible is translated into Latin from Greek by St. Jerome
418 – Council of Africa – led by Augustine- condemned Donatists (who
claimed people who converted under persecution could not be priests)
and the Pelagians (who claimed that sin could beavoided and we men
were not born with original sin). Original sin becomes an official dogma
as does repentance and forgiveness.
Christianity
 451 – Council of Chalcedon – called by Emperor Anatolius - called to
condemn Nestorianism (claimed Christ was part human and part
divine), Leads to doctrine that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man at the
same time
 1054 – Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity
(Catholic is only kind at this time). First break up of Catholic Church.
Over a phrase in the Nicene creed and in clergy marriage.
 1122 – Concordat of Worms – separates the Church from local
governments
 1123 – First Lateran Council - banned clerical marriage
 1139 – Second Lateran Council – banned nuns and monks from
singing together in church
 1160-1180 – Purgatory becomes part of the Christian doctrine (a place
between heaven and hell where one waits to be judged)
 1179 – Third Lateran Council – banned the Waldensian and Cathar
heresy (earthly things are evil including the body). Only cardinals can
now elect the Pope.
Christianity
1215 – Fourth Lateran Council – created dogma of Transubstantiation (the bread and wine actually become the body
and blood of Christ)
1517 – Martin Luther nails his 99 Theses to the Church in
Wittenburg, Germany – officially begin the Protestant Movement
of Christianity. The Catholic Church would no longer be the only
kind of Christianity
1534 – Henry VIII creates the Anglican Church (to get divorced)
1536 – John Calvin starts new Christian Church in Switzerland
1517-1600 – Protestant Reformation
1563-1648 – Catholic Counter-Reformation – reaction against
Protestantism to return the Catholic Church to prestige; boom in
church building and patronage of the arts; Jesuits are created to
convert people back
Christianity
1609 – The Baptist faith begins under John Smyth
1611 – King James version of the Bible is printed in English
1729 – The Methodist faith begins under John Wesley
1730-1755 – First Great Awakening – Christ’s return is awaited, repent.
Mainly occurs in British colonies. Focus on guilt for sin, repentance.
Congregationalist and Presbyterian Churches develop alongside Dutch
Reformed (Amish).
 1790-1840 – Second Great Awakening – Christ’s return is imminent,
repent. People can be saved through religious revivals only, not
through good works. Beginnings of evangelical Christianity. Mormon
religion established by Joseph Smith. Only in the U.S.
 1850-1900 – Third Great Awakening – After cleaning up the world, then
Christ will come. American Protestant Christians start social programs
to reform the US, then the world. Proselytizing and evangelizing the US
and the world will bring about Christ’s return. Church of Christ
Scientists, Salvation Army, Pentecostals and the Jehovah’s Witnesses
begin.




Christianity
1854 – The dogma of the Immaculate Conception (Mary was born without
original sin, hence so was Jesus) is declared by Pope Pius
1868 – Vatican Council – declaration of Papal Infallibility (Pope is direct link to
God and cannot be wring if issuing a Papal Bull)
1960-1980 – Fourth Great Awakening – Jesus is coming and boy is he pissed.
Only took place in the U.S. Evangelical and fundamentalist movements push
aside the more traditional churches and beliefs to enforce religion on society to
bring back an angry Christ to seek vengeance on those who did not adhere to
their faith
1962- 1965 – Second Vatican Council – declaration that Jews are not accursed
people or to be blamed for Christ’s death; claims the Catholic Church is the true
church, but there are other Truths to be found outside of it; permission granted
to say mass in languages of the country rather than only Latin
Early Christian Art Characteristics
Decay in style
Religious themes are the focus
Substance over style
Basilica main form of church building
The subject matter and story are what’s
important not the artist
Baptistery from Christian
Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256
Baptism was done in homes before churches
developed
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
C. 330 CE
Constantine the Great
One of Holiest spots in Christendom
Contains the place of the crucifixion and the tomb of Christ
under its domes.
Early Christian. Cutaway drawing: the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, showing site of Christ’s
Tomb (line drawing). ca. 300 CE.
Basilica of the Nativity – Bethlehem c. 327
Early Christian. Drawing: Traditional Christian Symbols
(line drawing).
Early Christian and Eastern
Religious Art – Old St. Peter’s in
Rome
Early Christian Art
Interior of Old St.
Peter’s
C. 324 – 400 CE
Rome, Italy
This drawing was
done by Jacopo
Grimaldi in 1619
Shows typical
Christian basilica
style church plan
Early Christian Art
Interior of Santa Maria
Maggiore
430 – 440 CE
Rome, Italy
The first church built
dedicated to Mary
Most of the interior is in
its original state including
the art work
Upon entering the eye is
immediately drawn to the
altar
Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
ca. 422-432
Typical early Christian basilica style
Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
ca. 422-432
Interiors still received more detail than exteriors, continuing Roman tradition
Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351
Early Christian Art
Santa Costanza
350 CE
Rome, Italy
Although most churches were
based on the basilica plan,
some were built on circular
plans similar to the tombs of
the emperors, especially if it
contained the relics of an
important saint
Here the Emperor
Constantine’s sister (Santa
Costanza) was placed
The circular plan would see
wider use as baptisteries
Longitudinal Section
Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351
Plan
Santa Costanza vault mosaic
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351
tessera mosaic
Different Bible and pagan stories mixed
Christ as Sol Invictus
from the Mausoleum of the Julii
Rome, Italy
late 3rd century
tessera mosaic
Christ drives Apollo’s chariot of the sun
Early Christian Art
Jesus the Good
Shepherd
3rd century CE
Rome, Italy
Large scale
sculptures are rare in
early Christian art
Shows Christ
beardless and in
Roman garb
Early Christian Art
Sarcophagus of Junius
Bassus
359 CE
Rome, Italy
Early Christian sculpture
focused on Biblical
themes as well
Note the doll like bodies
with large heads
Note beardless Christ
again, in Greek
philosopher pose and
garb
Christ Entering Jerusalem
Christ Enthroned
Christ Enthroned
ca. 350-375
marble
approximately 2 ft. 4 1/2 in. high
Jesus sits on an imperial throne in togata
Catacomb showing loculi (spots for
tombs)
Rome
3rd-4th centuries CE
Catacombs were also used as early meeting
places for Christians before it became legal
Early Christian Art
Catacomb of Santissimi
Pietro e Marcellino
Ceiling
4th century CE
Rome, Italy
All the earliest Christian
art can be found in
underground catacombs
like this one
Catacombs were burial
places underneath the
city – usually on the
outskirts
Good Shepherd
Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino,
Rome, Italy
early 4th century
fresco
Note beardless and in Roman God clothing
Orant figure (Praying woman)
Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome,Italy
3th century
fresco
The early Church had female leaders as well
Early Christian Art
Mausoleum of Galla
Placida
425 – 450 CE
Ravenna, Italy
Named after the Emperor
Honorius’ sister who was
believed to be buried
here
Form of building is a
Greek cross – even
lengths on all arms
Early Christian Art
Interior of Mausoleum of
Galla Placida
425 – 450 CE
Ravenna, Italy
Interior is full of barrel
vaulting
Walls are covered in
bright mosaics
Most tell of St Lawrence’s
life – leads many to
believe that this was a
chapel dedicated to him
Early Christian Art
Good Shepherd
425-450
Ravenna, Italy
Located in the tomb of
Galla Placida this mosaic
shows us a beardless
Christ acting as a
shepherd tending his
flock (allegory)
Halo is used to show
importance not for
holiness (that came later)
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
Bell tower added to cal faithful to service
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
All original interior
The Three Wise Men (The Magi)
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
Mosaics became a crucial church decoration
Basilica Plan
Interior Space
This is a typical basilica /cathedral floor plan. Keep in mind that each
structure is different and may depart from this basic plan in some
ways.......however, the key elements (labeled below) are pretty much
common to most all structures.
The APSE is typically the rounded end of the nave, but can also be any
rounded appendage springing off the sides of a floor plan. Sometimes,
apses take the form of mini-altars to various saints.
The NAVE is the long, central aisle that goes down the middle of the
structure.
The AISLES border each side of the nave, and are usually separated
from the nave by a colonnade.
The TRANSEPT cuts across between the apse and the nave. (The
transept gives the floor plan the shape of the cross.)
The CHOIR is the area where the nave and the transept intersect,
where (you guessed it) the choir usually sits.
The NARTHEX (not labeled) is the entrance area on the opposite side
of the front apse.......it's sometimes shaped like the transept, although
not as large.
Basilica Plan
Vienna Genesis
Early 6th century
tempera, gold, silver on purple vellum
12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.
Best example of early Illuminated Manuscript
Genesis chapter 32
Vienna Genesis
Early 6th century
tempera, gold, silver on purple vellum
12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.
Close up of painting
Jacob travels to meet Esau
Jacob travels over the Jabbok brook
Jacob wrestles with the Angel
Jacob blessed by the Angel
Jacob’s 11 sons
Christianity
Christianity is a faith based on the life,
teachings, death, and resurrection of
Jesus.
Catholics were the first Christians.
Historical Evidence
There is very little historical proof of the
life of Jesus, but extensive scholarly
research has turned up some shreds of
evidence
While historical evidence of the life of
Jesus is very skimpy, more is known
about the milieu into which he was born
Evidence of the Bible
Many Christians feel that the true story
of Jesus can be found in the Bible
Given the textual complexity of the
Bible, some Christians have attempted
to clarify what Jesus taught and how he
lived, so that people might truly follow
him – because of this there are
thousands of interpretations
Biblical Texts
Christian beliefs about the life and teachings
of Jesus are especially founded on biblical
texts

first four books of the New Testament:
Matthew John, Mark and Luke



written about sixty years after Jesus’ death
based on the oral transmission of the stories and
discourses, which may have been influenced by
the growing split between Christians and Jews
There are other Gospels that did not make it into
the Bible – they were banned but are available
now
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
The stories of the canonical New Testament are important to
Christians as the foundation of their faith
Yet there were over 50 gospels, and 127 other books originally
in circulation
The canon consists of only 4 gospels and 27 books total
Many of the stories were contradictory, so the Council of Nicea
in 325 CE voted on which books would be included and which
would need to be destroyed.
Fortunately, many of these books were saved and hidden –
although they are not deemed to be part of organized
Christianity today, they do shed light on the way of life and
historical era of the time.
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Birth
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Jesus is the divine Son of God who “became
flesh” by being conceived and born as a human
being
Preparation
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According to all four gospels, at the age of about
thirty Jesus appeared before John to be baptized
After being baptized, Jesus reportedly undertook a
forty-day retreat in the desert wilderness, fasting
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Ministry
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Jesus warned his disciples that they would have to
leave all their possessions and human
attachments to follow
Jesus is said to have performed many miracles
It was his mission to gather everyone together
who could be saved
Jesus:
preached and lived by radical ethics
extended the application of Jewish laws
taught love
preached that God is forgiving to those who repent
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Challenges to the Authorities
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Herod Antipas may have been concerned
that Jesus might be a troublemaker
According to the gospels, Jesus was also
regarded with suspicion by prominent Jewish
groups
Jesus seems not to have challenged Mosaic law
but, rather, its interpretations in the evolving
rabbinic traditions and the hypocrisy of some of
those who claimed to be living by the law
Jesus is said to have also confronted the
commercial interests in the Temple of Jerusalem
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Crucifixion
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The anti-institutional tenor of Jesus’ teachings did not endear
him to those in power
At the Last Supper, he is said to have given instructions for a
ceremony with bread and wine to be performed thenceforth
to maintain an ongoing communion with him
Jesus was accused of having attributed divinity to himself
and thus showing a lack of reverence for God, a crime
punishable by death according to Jewish law (so he should
have been stoned) by the Pharisees
Pilate (a Roman governor) turns him over to his military
guard for execution by crucifixion, a form of death by torture
widely used within the Roman Empire for disobedient slaves
and treasonous actions (not for blasphemy)
The Life and Teaching of Jesus
Resurrection and Ascension
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It was the belief in the Resurrection that turned defeat into
victory for Jesus, and discouragement into hope for his
followers
The Resurrection became the basis for the Christian hope of
salvation through belief in Jesus
Some Christians believe that Jesus miraculously ascended
bodily into the highest heaven, an invisible realm in the sky
where God is sitting with Jesus beside him, as an advocate
for his faithful followers
Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension give rise to the Christian
belief in life after death for those who believe in God
Similarities with old faiths
Osiris (Egypt)– died and resurrected 3 days, born December 25, 12
followers, healed the sick, raised El-Azur-Us from the dead, 3 kings
visit, star in the East
Adonis (Phoenician/Greek) – born in Bethlehem, died and resurrected,
forgave sins
Tammuz (Sumerian) – died, spent 3 days in hell, and resurrected.
Inanna (Ishtar), his wife, went to his tomb to discover it empty, virgin
birth
Hercules (Greek/Roman) – born of Zeus and human virgin, called
“Prince of Peace”
Mithras (Persian) – born December 25, virgin birth and Sun god was his
father, died and rose 3 days later, crucified on a tree, birth witnessed by
shepherds and Magi who brought him gifts, performed many miracles
(gave sight, made walk, etc), had a last supper with 12 disciples with
bread and wine, sins forgiven
Baal (Canaan) – storm god who dies and resurrects with help from his
wife
Marduk (Assyrian); Attis (Persian); Dionysius (Greek); Melquart
(Babylonian); and Eshmun (Philistine) – all were gods who died and
resurrected 3 days later
Contemporary Trends
Evangelicalism
Spirit-oriented movements
The Great Reversal
Liberation theology
Feminist theology
Creation-centered Christianity
Ecumenical movement
Major Types of Christianity
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Roman Catholic
Eastern Catholic
Byzantine Catholic
Greek Orthodox
Russian Orthodox
Arianism
Catharism
Gnostic
Lutheran
Anglican/Episcopalian
Calvinism
Quakers
Dutch Reform
Methodist
Baptist
Anabaptist
Unitarian
Mormon
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Evangelical
Pentecostal
Seventh Day Adventists
Presbyterian
Congregationalist
Southern Baptists
Jesus Movement
In the US alone, there are over 33,000 different denominations
Basic Tenets of Christianity
1) Belief in one God
2) Belief in the trinitarian nature of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
3) The Bible (Old and New Testaments) is the final revelation of God (except
the Mormons who also have the Book of Mormon)
4) The death and resurrection of Jesus are real events
5) The Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ to judge
6) Life after death in either salvation or punishment (heaven or hell)
7) Everyone is born into sin because of Eve and Adam’s Fall
8) Baptism to enter the faith and cleanse of sin
Branches of Christianity have 1000s of other tenets but these are the 8 they all
share in common
Basic Tenets of Catholic
Immaculate Conception – both Mary and Jesus were born
without original sin
Prayer to and adoration of Saints for intercession in heaven
The host and wine transubstantiate into the literal body and
blood of Christ
Baptism at birth to cleanse original sin, re-baptism at age of
reason (13-15) to accept the Catholic faith
Papal infallibility – if the Pope speaks on matters of the
faith, he is never wrong
Women cannot become priests
Clergy cannot marry
Science is good (now) – Evolution is not a conflict with
God’s creation, dinosaurs are real, the earth is 6 billion
years old, etc.
Tenets of Evangelical
Christianity
 Humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation.
 Humans possess free will to accept or reject salvation.
 Salvation is possible only by God's grace, which cannot be merited (you
can’t earn it).
 No works of human effort can cause or contribute to salvation - known
as predestination (God already picked who he would save).
 God's election is conditional on faith in the sacrifice and Lordship of
Jesus Christ (but you have to believe).
 Christ's atonement was made on behalf of all people (even those who
don’t believe).
 God allows his grace to be resisted by those who freely reject Christ.
 Believers are able to resist sin but are not beyond the possibility of
falling from grace through persistent, unrepentant sin (that way
preachers can sin again and again as long as they are eventually
sorry).
 Science is part of the false teachings of Satan (sorry evolution, round
earth, speed of light, etc)
Christianity vs Science
Christianity taught/teaches the earth was flat
Christianity taught/teaches the earth is less than 6000 years old
Christianity taught/teaches the stars are very close to us/ or the speed
of light is false
Christianity taught/teaches the sun goes around the earth
Christianity taught/teaches that evolution doesn’t happen
Christianity taught/teaches that only the earth supports life
Christianity banned Aristotle, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton,
Voltaire to name a few
Christianity banned/bans human dissection
Christianity bans stem cell research
Some fun
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mII6-IyaT3o - Trinity
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzf8q9QHfhI&feature=related
– Evil
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKM_JlCIMak&feature=channe
l – Lucifer
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHN3JtyUXg&feature=relate
d – Origin of Stupidity
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viw7MpXU4GU&feature=relat
ed – How to Be a Good Creationist in 5 Easy Steps
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5_L1coztJ4 – Mormon
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U17Qs5nyRo – Joseph
Smith
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a3eJC3qAFU – basic
Mormon cartoon
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7EEOMbBIO8 – Scientology
cartoon
Things to consider - slavery
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When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that
the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the
slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave
is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21)
 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve
them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5)
 Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that
the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is
a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work
all the harder because you are helping another believer by your
efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey
them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
 The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he
refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing
wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to
whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom
much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48)
Things to consider – role of
women
1 Tim. 2:9-14 - In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided
hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence
with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed,
then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived
was in the transgression.
1 Cor. 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let
them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak
in the church.
Some contradictions
God dwells in chosen temples (2 Chron 7:12,16)
God dwells not in temples (Acts 7:48)
God is seen and heard (Ex 33:23/ Ex 33:11/ Gen 3:9,10/ Gen 32:30/ Is 6:1/Ex
24:9-11)
God is invisible and cannot be heard (John 1:18/ John 5:37/ Ex 33:20/ 1
Tim 6:16)
Public prayer sanctioned (1 Kings 8:22,54, 9:3 )
Public prayer disapproved (Matt 6:5,6)
Man was created after the other animals (Gen 1:25,26,27)
Man was created before the other animals (Gen 2:18,19)
The father of Joseph, Mary's husband was Jacob (Matt 1:16)
The father of Mary's husband was Heli (Luke 3:23)
Christ was crucified at the third hour (Mark 15:25)
Christ was not crucified until the sixth hour (John 19:14,15)
Some contradictions
There was but one woman who came to the sepulchre (John 20:1)
There were two women who came to the sepulchre (Matt 28:1)
There were three women who came to the sepulchre (Mark 16:1)
There were more than three women who came to the sepulchre (Luke
24:10)
Christ is equal with God
John 10:30/ Phil 2:5
Christ is not equal with God
John 14:28/ Matt 24:36
The law was superseded by the Christian dispensation
Luke 16:16/ Eph 2:15/ Rom 7:6
The law was not superseded by the Christian dispensation
Matt 5:17-19
Jesus’ last words
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the
ghost.
It is finished. John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Some thoughts
And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have
faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree,
but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it
will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will
receive." (Matthew 21:21-22)
Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword.
- Matthew 10:34
... all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
- Matthew 26:52