Christianity and Rome
A movement, A Man, and The Entire
Change of Western Civilization
Judaism in the Roman Empire
• By 6 AD the area of Judaea (the
lands of the old Jewish kingdom
of Judah) had fallen under
Roman control.
• There was unrest in Judaea, as
some Jews wanted Roman
influence and others did not.
– Priestly Sadducees favored
cooperation with Rome.
– Scholarly Pharisees said their
religious laws were above
Roman laws.
Judaea was a crucially important area of the
Roman Empire due to coast access from the
Mediterranean Sea and being a gateway
between the Middle East and Asia.
Judaism in the Roman Empire
• Some Jews wanted to wait for • However, it was a few decades before
God to save Israel from
the revolt that a Jewish Rabbi (teacher)
oppression.
named Jesus had traveled through
Judaea, spreading a message that would
start a new movement within Judaism.
• Other Jews, called Zealots,
called for the violent overthrow
of Roman rule.
– Jewish revolt began in 66 AD
– Romans crushed them in 70
AD
– The Jewish Temple in
Jerusalem was destroyed.
Rise of Christianity
• After reports that the man
named Jesus had overcome
his crucifixion, a new faith
developed that focused on
his teachings.
• The people were called
“Christians” because they
believed the man to be
Jesus Christ, the son of God
and the Savior.
– “Christos” in Greek means
Messiah/Savior.
Rise of Christianity
• Jesus believed his mission
was to complete the
salvation that God promised
to Israel.
– “Do not think that I have come
to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill
them.”
• Jesus emphasized the
transformation of the inner
person, and treating others
with kindness, love, and
understanding.
Rise of Christianity
• Jesus would cite verses
from the Hebrew Bible.
– “Love the Lord your God
with all your heart…”
• Jesus shared his concepts
with other Jewish
teachers.
– Humility
– Charity
– Love toward others
• His preaching caused
controversy because
some thought he was a
revolutionary who would
lead a revolt against
Rome.
• Jesus was then turned
over to the Roman
authorities, and the
Roman official in charge
of the area named
Pontius Pilate ordered
that Jesus be crucified.
Statuary of
Pontius Pilate
Film portrayal of Pontius Pilate from
“The Passion of the Christ”
Crucifixion was a common
practice in the Roman Empire
was a way to torture and murder
criminals or enemies. The bodies
were left to hang as a reminder
to the public about the values of
the Roman Empire and to heed
their actions.
This is a Japanese crucifixion
committed in the 1860s. This
man was killed for murdering
someone during a robbery.
He was tied, rather than
nailed.
Rise of Christianity
• After the death of
Jesus, his followers
proclaimed that he had
risen from death and
appeared to them.
• They believed Jesus was
the Messiah, the Savior
of Israel who would
bring peace, prosperity,
and all-spreading love
of God.
The First Christians
• Apostles (leaders) gained
prominence in leading the
spread of Christian faith.
– Simon Peter & Paul
– Paul delivered Christ’s message
to Gentiles (non-Jews) too.
• Paul taught that Jesus was
the Son of God who came to
save humanity from their sin.
By accepting Jesus as the
Savior, people could be saved
from their sin.
The First Christians
• The followers of Christ
recorded his teachings and
later wrote the Gospels – the
“good news” concerning
Jesus.
• These writings are the New
Testament, which is the
second part of the Christian
Bible.
• Most of the early Christians
came from Jews and the
Greek-speaking areas. Later
Christianity spread to the
Latin-speaking people.
Roman Persecution
• Christian values differed from
the values of the Roman
world.
• In the beginning Rome did
not pay much attention to
Christianity, but their
attitude changed.
– Romans tolerated religions as
long as they did not threaten
the public order.
– Many Romans came to view
Christians as harmful to the
state.
• Christians also refused to
worship the Roman gods and
emperors.
Roman Persecution
• Jews had been allowed to
not worship the Roman
Gods, but this curtesy was
not extended to
Christianity.
• Romans believed that such
Christian defiance should
be punished with death.
– Romans began persecuting
Christians under the reign of
Nero (the same guy who
killed his mother).
– Nero blamed the Christians
for a fire that destroyed
much of Rome.
• Christians were subjected to
very hateful and cruel
deaths, often times done in
public for others to watch.
The Strength of Christianity
• Persecution of
Christians did not stop
the spread of the faith.
In fact, it made it spread
even more.
• Christians began to
organize themselves
and their churches.
– Bishops and clergy
• Christianity grew quickly in
the 1st century, took root in
the 2nd century, and REALLY
spread by the 3rd century.
Why Did Christianity Spread?
1) The Christian message gave
life a meaning and purpose
beyond the things of reality,
and it offered salvation and
forgiveness.
2) It seemed familiar because
it had teachings very similar
to other religions. But it
also offered a human to
relate to, Jesus.
o
Also did not have to “pay” to
be a Christian or belong to
the Church.
Why Did Christianity Spread?
3) Christianity fulfilled the human
need to belong, and being unified
with all believers regardless of
money, background, or
circumstance.
• Christianity attracted people
from all social classes, but
especially from the poor and
powerless.
– Including women and slaves
– “Christ is all, and is in all.” - Paul
The Romans
Adopt Christianity
• Throughout the 3rd & 4th centuries
(200s/300s) emperors continued
persecutions of Christians.
– Diocletian was the last great
persecutionist.
– However, Christians were too strong
willed to be blotted out by force.
• In 312, Emperor Constantine saw
a vision of the Christian cross
before a battle.
– He won the battle and was convinced
of the power of the Christian God.
– 313: “Edict of Milan” proclaimed
official tolerance of Christianity.
• Under Theodosius the Great,
Christianity was proclaimed the
official religion of the Roman
Empire.
The Early Christian Church
• The Christian church
organized Bishops (leaders)
to guide the major cities.
• Soon one of them, the
bishop of Rome, claimed that
he was the leader of the
entire western Christian
Church.
• The later bishops of Rome
came to be known as
“popes”.
– “Papa” in Latin means father.
Pope Francis
The Early Christian Church
• Although people
accepted the pope as
the head of the church,
people did not agree on
how much power the
pope should have.
• Pope Gregory I
strengthened the
papacy – how it related
to other Christians and
the government.
The Early Christian Church
• Monks and traveling
missionaries were
essential to spreading
Christianity and
converting nonChristians to the faith.
– Monks are men who cut
off their life from
ordinary society and live
in total dedication and
purity to God.
• Monks were required to:
–
–
–
–
–
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Meditate and pray
Read the scriptures
Worship
Make schools for the young
Housing for travelers
Care for the sick