Chapter 4, Lesson 1 Early Christianity It Matters Because… Christianity is one of the world’s...
-
Upload
amanda-robbins -
Category
Documents
-
view
223 -
download
2
Transcript of Chapter 4, Lesson 1 Early Christianity It Matters Because… Christianity is one of the world’s...
Chapter 4, Lesson 1Early Christianity
It Matters Because…Christianity is one of the world’s major religions and continues to influence people around the globe.
Judaism and the Roman Empire
• Roman Empire allowed Jews to practice their religion
• Rome ruled Jews with “iron hand”• Jews hoped God would rescue them from
Roman rule
Control by Romans• Rome controlled Judah, but allowed
Jewish kings to rule it• In A.D. 6, Rome renamed Judah “Judea”
and replaced the Jewish king with a Roman governor (procurator)
• Jerusalem remained the Jewish Holy City
Jewish Revolts
• Zealots – group of Jews who believed they should fight for their freedom
• Zealots rebelled, were crushed, A.D. 66• Romans destroyed Temple in Jerusalem,
center of Jewish worship
Jewish Revolts• After Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, about 1000
Jews held the Masada fortress for almost 2 years
• When Masada fell, only 2 women and 5 children remained inside
• Rest of the Jewish defenders committed suicide rather than surrender
• Masada now a symbol of Jewish heroism
• Another unsuccessful rebellion in 132 led Rome to force all Jews to leave Jerusalem
• By 700, Jews had settled across Europe and into central Asia
• Judaism as a faith remained alive even though Jews were scattered across the world
Jewish Revolts
Jesus of Nazareth• Grew up in small town called Nazareth• About A.D. 30, Jesus traveled around Judea
teaching people his ideas about God’s love• 12 men traveled with Jesus, called his disciples• Jesus performed many miracles of healing and
taught a message of love, unselfishness, and forgiveness
• Taught using parables, telling stories about how God wanted his people to live
How Did Christianity Begin?• People reacted strongly to Jesus’
message• Positively and negatively• Stories about Jesus, his teachings, and
miracles spread• Jewish religious leaders and Roman
officials feared Jesus and his influence• Together, Jewish and Roman leaders
plotted Jesus’ betrayal and death
Jesus’ Betrayal• On the Jewish holiday Passover, Jesus
and his disciples shared a meal now known as The Last Supper
• Jesus then went to a garden to pray• He was betrayed by one of his disciples
and arrested by Roman officials
Jesus’ Death & Resurrection• Jesus was put on trial and the Jewish leaders
and people ordered his execution• Jesus was crucified, nailed to a wooden cross,
where he hung until he died• Crucifixion was a common way Romans
executed criminals and political rebels• Three days after his death, Jesus rose back to
life• Roman guards and many of his followers
found an empty tomb
Who Were the Apostles?• Early Christian leaders who spread Jesus’ message• Performed miracles in Jesus’ name, converted
many to the faith• Started churches across the Mediterranean• Began calling Jesus “Christ” – the Anointed One• Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, started the
church in Rome• Peter was also crucified, upside down
Paul of Tarsus• Jewish leader who persecuted Christians• Paul was converted to Christianity after a miracle
encounter with Jesus• Paul traveled throughout the Mediterranean and
Asia minor• Started churches and wrote letters that became
more than half of the New Testament• Many of his letters written from prison• Executed in Rome, believed to be stoned to death
Basic Christian Beliefs• One God and His Son is Jesus• People can gain salvation from sin and Hell by
accepting Jesus and the sacrifice of His life• Salvation means eternal life in Heaven, a place with
no sadness or problems• Christianity spread quickly after Jesus’ death because
of the message of love, peace and eternal life• The Pax Romana and Roman roads made it easier to
spread Jesus’ message