6-2.6: Compare the polytheistic belief systems of the Greeks and

the Romans with the origins, foundational beliefs, and spread

of Christianity

Like most cultures throughout the ancient world, the Greeks and Romans were polytheistic:

They believed the gods & goddess ruled and lived in the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.

Although they were very powerful, they looked & acted just like humans

They had human emotions (like love, hate, jealousy, compassion, and vengeance), played games, had families, and fought wars

The Romans adopted the Greek belief in deities, but gave them Roman names

Both cultures sought to appease the gods, built temples, offered sacrifices, and prayed for assistance in their lives

Both believed in the Afterlife, but more attention was given to living in this world than preparing for the next, like the Egyptians did.

10:05- Rome: Worship in Rome (HBO)

• As the Roman Empire

grew, the people they

conquered were

allowed to keep their

own religious beliefs,

as long as those

beliefs did not

threaten Roman rule.

• One religion seen as a

threat was

Christianity.

Christianity is an extension of Judaism

Unlike other religions of the ancient Mediterranean & eastern worlds, Judaism and Christianity were monotheistic: believing in a single divine being that both both religions referred to as Yahweh (God)

During the time of the Roman Empire, followers of Judaism believed that God would send a Messiah or Savior to restore the nation of Israel The Romans had conquered this area during their

expansion

Christianity grew from this belief that Jesus Christ was this Messiah

3 Differences, Judaism & Christianity 5:58

Video Question:What are the three man

similarities and three main differences in Judaism and

Christianity?

A carpenter by trade, he left his home in Nazareth to become an itinerant minister

Twelve disciples come with him on his journeys

He was recognized as a healer & a prophet by some and hailed the Son of God, the Messiah, by others

His message of love & devotion to God & all mankind is central to all of his teachings, which formed the foundation of Christianity

Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God (God in the bodily form)

Jesus died on the cross

He was resurrected from the dead in order that mankind could be forgiven of their sins

He remains among mankind as the Holy Spirit

God loves man & wants a relationship with him, so Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice to provide a way of forgiveness

Jesus was resurrected to provide a way for mankind to enter a relationship with God

Salvation is a gift through grace & mankind can do nothing to earn it

Jesus Resurrection Appearances 14:14

A life of good works (good actions like with karma in Hinduism) is a reflection of a relationship with God, not a way of earning merit

The Bible contains the sacred writings of Christianity

The Bible is considered the word of God and a guide to how Christians should live

The Bible in 5 minutes video

Christianity was first spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea as Christians moved to other areas due to persecution for their beliefs

The religion flourished throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean world due to the preaching/ teaching of followers of Jesus:

Peter, John the Apostle, and Paul

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous

for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body

but made alive in the Spirit

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever

believes in him shall not perish but have eternal

life.

Not one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus

Paul was also known as Saul before he converted to Christianity

He founded many churches in Asia Minor & Europe during the first century

He used his status as a Jew and Roman citizen to spread the message of Christianity to both groups

Despite early persecution by Roman authorities, Christianity was eventually adopted as the official religion of the roman Empire & became entrenched in western civilization.