6-5 – The Rise of Christianity
Setting the Scene – During the last century B.C., the Roman Empire was dividing among many religions as
influences of the Hellenistic Greeks (after Alexander the Great), Persians, Egyptians, and other peoples spread.
Christianity began in Judea (Palestine). Judea became a Roman province in 63 B.C. Judea was till ruled by its own
kings during this period, and one of them, King Herod the Great, promoted wealth and power of the region and
brought some political independence to its people from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C. Jesus of Nazareth was born near the end
of Herod’s reign.
Christianity - During Roman rule of Judea, many Jews there believed that a Messiah (savior) would come
to liberate them from the Romans. Jesus of Nazareth was born during the reign of Augustus Caesar in the
province of Judea. Relations among the groups of Jews in Judea were tense. Jesus acquired many followers that
believed him to be the messiah, and their liberator. However, Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and asked the
Romans to punish him. Pontius Pilate, a Roman official, had Jesus crucified near Jerusalem. After Jesus’ death the
Jewish people that believed him to be the messiah, and Son of God, would be known as Christians. It is important
to understand that Jesus was Jewish, and that Christianity, as a religion, did not develop until after his death.
The teachings of Jesus spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire. After the Romans squashed the
Jewish rebellion of 66 A.D., enslaved Christians and Jews were taken to the far reaches of the Roman Empire along
with their beliefs. Those Christians who were not enslaved fled in fear, since their religion had been outlawed,
also taking with them the words of Jesus.
The belief in one God, the belief that Jesus was the Son of God, the belief in life after death, and the
equality of all people before God – these were fundamental Christian teachings. Many Romans that were
introduced to Christianity liked the idea of a loving and forgiving God. Romans liked the idea that everyone had a
chance to go to a “better” place (Heaven) when they died. In order to reach Heaven Christians just had to follow
a few simple rules, and if they broke those rules and asked God for forgiveness, he would grant it. Christianity
was more appealing than the multitude of spiteful, moody, deceiving, vengeful and sacrifice seeking Roman gods
that needed to be keep happy all the time.
The intense dedication of the early Christians to their beliefs led to challenges of Roman authority.
Roman soldiers who converted to the new religion refused to honor the emperor as a god, for example. For many
years, the Roman response was frightful, especially under the emperor Nero. Christians really were eaten by lions
in front of crowds of spectators; they were crucified and lit on fire and used as torches to light up the night.
Over the years and because of its mass appeal Christianity became too big to punish. More than half of
the population of the Roman Empire had converted to, or been raised Christian. Even the Roman Emperor
believed in the Christian faith. In 313 A.D., Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and outlawed state
persecution of the faith. However, he did not “officially” become a Christian until he was baptized shortly before
his death.