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Ch. 7 Sec. 5Ch. 7 Sec. 5The Rise of ChristianityThe Rise of Christianity

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The Beginnings of ChristianityThe Beginnings of Christianity The Romans allowed The Romans allowed

the provinces to the provinces to practice their own practice their own religionsreligions

Still, they had to honor Still, they had to honor the Roman gods & the the Roman gods & the “divine spirit” of the “divine spirit” of the emperor (for most emperor (for most people, adding another people, adding another god wasn’t a problem)god wasn’t a problem)

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Jews & the Roman EmpireJews & the Roman Empire Jews in the province of Judaea Jews in the province of Judaea

believed in only one Godbelieved in only one God Some Jews favored rebellion & Some Jews favored rebellion &

others hoped that God would send others hoped that God would send a Messiah, or savior, to free the a Messiah, or savior, to free the JewsJews

In A.D. 66 the Jews revolted & the In A.D. 66 the Jews revolted & the Romans destroyed Jerusalem & all Romans destroyed Jerusalem & all but the western wall of the temple, but the western wall of the temple, which became a sacred Jewish which became a sacred Jewish site (Wailing Wall)site (Wailing Wall)

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With the temple gone, the priests’ role weakenedWith the temple gone, the priests’ role weakened RabbisRabbis - Jewish scholars who interpreted scripture & - Jewish scholars who interpreted scripture &

Jewish Law – began to lead Jewish congregationsJewish Law – began to lead Jewish congregations In A.D. 135 the Romans crushed the last Jewish revolt In A.D. 135 the Romans crushed the last Jewish revolt

& banned all Jews from Jerusalem& banned all Jews from Jerusalem

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Jews built Jews built communities communities outside outside Jerusalem, Jerusalem, where they where they carried on their carried on their faith & culturefaith & culture

In this setting In this setting Christianity Christianity arosearose

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The Teachings of JesusThe Teachings of Jesus

Around A.D. 27 Around A.D. 27 JesusJesus of of Nazareth began wandering the Nazareth began wandering the countryside w/ his disciples, or countryside w/ his disciples, or followers, teaching & performing followers, teaching & performing miraclesmiracles

His teachings, which greatly His teachings, which greatly influenced the Western world, influenced the Western world, were grounded in Jewish were grounded in Jewish traditionstraditions

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He taught that there is one He taught that there is one true God, who cares more true God, who cares more for people than for laws or for people than for laws or ritualsrituals

His teachings were for all His teachings were for all people, including the poorpeople, including the poor

The Romans feared that The Romans feared that Jesus would lead an Jesus would lead an uprisinguprising

He was arrested, put on He was arrested, put on trial, & crucifiedtrial, & crucified

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According to the Gospels, Jesus According to the Gospels, Jesus arose from the dead & remained arose from the dead & remained on Earth for 40 dayson Earth for 40 days

Then he ascended into heaven Then he ascended into heaven His followers called him Christ, His followers called him Christ,

after the Greek word for Messiah, after the Greek word for Messiah, ChristosChristos

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They believed that through his They believed that through his death & resurrection all people death & resurrection all people could be redeemed, or saved, could be redeemed, or saved, from God’s final judgmentfrom God’s final judgment

A new religion was born - A new religion was born - ChristianityChristianity

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The Spread of ChristianityThe Spread of Christianity Jesus’s disciples set out to spread the word that the Jesus’s disciples set out to spread the word that the

day of judgment was comingday of judgment was coming At first Christianity spread slowlyAt first Christianity spread slowly It expanded as life in the empire became more difficultIt expanded as life in the empire became more difficult

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At first the Roman gov’t ignored At first the Roman gov’t ignored Christians as a Jewish offshootChristians as a Jewish offshoot

But Christians began converting But Christians began converting others & speaking out against the others & speaking out against the worship of other godsworship of other gods

The Romans viewed these actions The Romans viewed these actions as attacks on Roman religionas attacks on Roman religion

They outlawed Christianity, seized They outlawed Christianity, seized Christian property, & executed Christian property, & executed ChristiansChristians

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Many Christians became Many Christians became martyrsmartyrs, , meaning they were put to death meaning they were put to death for their beliefsfor their beliefs

Still, the religion spreadStill, the religion spread

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The Romans Adopt The Romans Adopt ChristianityChristianity

In the A.D. 300s the Roman In the A.D. 300s the Roman emperor Constantine began emperor Constantine began promoting Christianitypromoting Christianity

He was baptized on his He was baptized on his deathbeddeathbed

The emperor Theodosius The emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official made Christianity the official religion of the empirereligion of the empire

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The Christian church became well organizedThe Christian church became well organized Priests conducted local servicesPriests conducted local services BishopsBishops headed the church in each city headed the church in each city Rome & other major cities became church Rome & other major cities became church

centers, & bishops of these cities were called centers, & bishops of these cities were called patriarchspatriarchs

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Later the patriarch of Rome to the title of Later the patriarch of Rome to the title of popepope (from the Latin word for “father”) (from the Latin word for “father”)

The pope & bishops traced their authority The pope & bishops traced their authority to Jesus’s disciple Peter, whose authority to Jesus’s disciple Peter, whose authority came straight from Jesuscame straight from Jesus

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Church councils also helped Church councils also helped strengthen the churchstrengthen the church

In A.D. 325 a council wrote In A.D. 325 a council wrote down the main beliefs of the down the main beliefs of the churchchurch