Day 5

The Rise of Christianity

      I.        The Life and Teachings of Jesus

1.    Jesus of Nazareth

·     Jesus- born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea- raised in the village of Nazareth in northern Palestine. 

·     At age of 30, Jesus began to his public ministry, for the next 3 years he preached, taught, did good works, and reportedly performed miracles. 

·     He stressed the importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and even themselves. 

2.    A Growing Movement

·     Apostles- 12 men who followed Jesus. 

3.    Jesus’ Death 

·     Roman and Jewish leaders were concerned about the crowds who greeted Jesus as the Messiah or king.

·     The leaders accused Jesus’ teaching to be blasphemy, or contempt for God.

·     Jesus’ was arrested and crucified. 

·     After his death his body was placed in a tomb, three days later his body was gone, and started appearing to his followers. 

     II.        Christianity Spreads Through the Empire

1.    Paul’s Mission

·     Paul- an apostle of Jesus; had a large influence on Christianity’s development; a Jew who had never met Jesus and was an enemy of Christianity. 

2.    Jewish Rebellion

·     Diaspora- the dispersal of the Jews.

3.    Persecution of the Christians

   III.        A World Religion 

1.    Constantine Accepts Christianity

·     Constantine- emperor who was fighting three rivals for leadership of Rome. 

2.    Early Christian Church

·     Bishop- was also a priest, supervised several local churches.

·     Peter- an apostle of Jesus who had traveled to Rome from Jerusalem and became the first bishop there; Jesus referred to Peter as the “rock” on which the Christian Church would be built. 

·     Pope- the father or head of the Christian Church. 

3.    A Single Voice

4.    The Fathers of the Church

Questions 1, 3, 4, and 5 on page 172 

1.  Jesus- born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea- raised in the village of Nazareth in northern Palestine.

Apostles- 12 men who followed Jesus.

Paul- an apostle of Jesus; had a large influence on Christianity’s development; a Jew who had never met Jesus and was an enemy of Christianity.

Diaspora- the dispersal of the Jews.

Constantine- emperor who was fighting three rivals for leadership of Rome

Bishop- was also a priest, supervised several local churches.

Peter- an apostle of Jesus who had traveled to Rome from Jerusalem and became the first bishop there; Jesus referred to Peter as the “rock” on which the Christian Church would be built

Pope- the father or head of the Christian Church. 

3.  Jesus emphasized God’s personal relationship to each human being. 

4.  They refused to worship Roman gods. 

5.  It defined the basic beliefs of the Church.