The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity

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The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity
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Religion in Ancient Rome

• Important role in peoples lives
• Worship was impersonal-little emotion
• observed rituals
• Sacrifice
• Public gods/goddesses
• Whole family worshipped household lares (gods)
  every day

Emperor Marcus Aurelius offering a sacrifice
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Religion in Ancient Rome

• Temples
• Family alters/shrines

The Pantheon
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Religious Diversity in Ancient Rome

• Diverse tolerant
• Required to honor Roman gods
• acknowledge divine spirit of emperor
• Most conquered people were polytheistic

Temple Sacrifice of Animals
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Mystery Religions - Emphasized secret rituals and
promised special rewards
Mithra- Persian god who championed good over evil
and offered life after death. Favored by Roman
soldiers
Cult of Isis-Very popular w/ women Originated in
Egypt
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Judea Birthplace of Christianity

• Remote east end of Mediterranean Sea
• Once been kingdom of Israel (King David Solomon)

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Judea, 4 BCE

• Rome appointed military governor
• Judea forced to pay tribute
• Left local affairs to the Jews
• Peaceful period, but Jews hated Romans

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Divisions in Judea

• During Hellenistic age, many Jews had absorbed
  Greek customs ideas
• Many Jewish conservatives rejected these
  influences - called for strict obedience to
  Jewish laws traditions

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Who were the Zealots?

• Jews who believed a Messiah, a savior, would be
  sent as king to lead Jewish people to freedom
• frequent revolts destruction of Temple of
  Solomon DIASPORA (dispersal) of the Jews in the
  2nd century

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How did Rome deal with Jews?

• Jews were monotheistic
• Roman battle standards and shields were offensive
  to them
• displayed Caesar as emperor-god
• Jews protested
• Romans repressive
• Diaspora-dispersed Jews into exile after revolt

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What sources provide information about
Christianity?

• Jesus life was reconstructed from events as seen
  through a lens of faith
• At his death, Jesus followers thought the end of
  world was imminent
• when it didnt happen, they had to reconstruct
  his life
• Accounts vary
• These writings are the New Testament of the
  Christian Bible
• Four gospels (good news) written in Greek

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The Gospels (Good News)

• Oral and Written sources 30 -70 years after
  Jesus death
• Worked miracles
• Message to love one another

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Jesus

• Born in about 7 BCE in Judea
• Began his teachings at about age 33
• Believed to be a Messiah foretold in Jewish
  traditions
• Challenged religious civil authorities
• Tried and executed
• Teachings spread by his disciples, especially
  Paul
• Challenged the Roman Empire

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Jesus Birth

• Difficult to pinpoint exact time
• Not until middle of 6th century that Christians
  began to use Christs birth as reference point
• Thought to be about 4 BCE, in Bethlehem

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Birth of Jesus

• And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the
  city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David,
  which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
  house of lineage of David, to be enrolled with
  Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And
  while they were there, the time came for her to
  be delivered. And she gave birth to her
  first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling
  cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there
  was not place for them in the inn. (Luke 24-7)

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Jesus Teachings

• Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountains,
  and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
  And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying
  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is
  the kingdom of heaven.
• (Matthew 51-3)

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The Crucifixion and Resurrection

• So they took Jesus, and he went our, bearing
  his own cross, to the place called the place of
  the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
  There they crucified him, and with him two
  others, one on either side, with Jesus between
  them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on
  the cross it read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King
  of the Jews.
• (John 1917-19)

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Missionary Work of Paul

• And he lived there two whole years in his own
  hired dwelling, and welcomed all who came to him,
  preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about
  the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and
  unhindered.
• (Acts 2830-31)

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Pauls Missionary Journeys
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Persecutions of the Christians

• Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous
  for what is right? But even if you do suffer for
  righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have
  no fear of them, nor be troubles, but in your
  hearts reverence Christ as Lord.
• (1 Peter 313-15)

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Why was Christianity so appealing?

• Jesus welcomed all people esp. humble, poor,
  oppressed
• Message of love, equality, human dignity, promise
  of a better life after death
• Paul included ideas from Plato, Stoics, etc.
• Educated Romans attracted by discipline and
  moderation

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How did Christianity Spread?

• Missionaries traveled all over the empire
• Provided unity to the weakening empire
• Early writings were in Greek or Latin
• Persecution and martyrs brought new converts

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Emperor Constantine I(280-337 CE)

• He had a powerful religious experience- converted
  in 312 CE
• gave primacy of church rule over the west

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Edict of Milan

• Constantine
• Declaration issued in 313 CE
• Christianity an approved religion
• Theodoscius - 395 CE made Christianity official
  state religion of Roman Empire

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How did Christianity become the official religion
of Imperial Rome?

• Despite brutal persecutions, Christianity
  continued to spread
• By 300 CE, 5 million Christian followers
• Adopted by lower economic classes
• Offered community salvation
• Over time, all classes converted
• Many tired of continual warfare- sought peace and
  security

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The Early Christian Church

• Common faith in the teachings of Jesus
• Common way of worship
• Baptism offered forgiveness of sin
• Members were equals-brother sister
• Sunday-gathered for ceremony of thanksgiving to
  God
• Ate bread and drank wine in sacred supper

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What was the role of women?

• attracted by the message of equality
• Teachers administrators
• Worked to win converts

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Structure of the Church

• Each community had its own priest
• Only men
• Bishop a Church official responsible for all
  Christians in an area called a diocese
• Bishops traced their authority back to the
  original apostles and then back to Jesus
• Bishops of the important cities called patriarch
  most were in the east
• Developed into a hierarchy with officials
  arranged according to rank

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Church Divisions

• Rivalry among the patriarchs
• Latin-speaking popes claimed greater authority
• Greek-speaking patriarchs believed that spiritual
  authority should be shared
• Heresies beliefs contrary to official Church
  teachings-emerged
• Councils were formed to resolve disputes
• Missionaries sent out to convert beyond the Roman
  Empire

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What are the Central Beliefs of Christianity?

• Jesus is the Son of God and came to earth to
  teach love fellowship and to redeem the sins of
  man
• Model for all Christians
• Bible is the teachings and expectations for
  Christians
• 39 books from the Old Testament and 27 books of
  the New Testament