1. 1. The Coming of Christ
2. 2. Jesus of Nazareth Most important human who has ever lived Mary was a descendant of King David
3. 3. Jesus was Lord, Christ & Savior Lord because Jesus would fulfill the Davidic Covenant Christ because he was the Messiah Savior because he would save his people from their sad condition
4. 4. The New Covenant Jesus death would mark the beginning of the New Covenant The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the most important turning point in history The gospel Jesus dies for the sins of humans and has been raised again to save them forever
5. 5. Spread of Christianity Jesus told his disciples to tell all nations about the Gospel (Matt. 28: 18-19) He gave the holy spirit to his people at Pentecost and the Christian church was born
6. 6. Saul of Tarsus He practiced Judaism which is the religion of the Jews He tried to wipe out the Christian church
7. 7. Jesus confronted him and he was converted He became a leader in the spread of Christianity Spread Christianity into Asia Minor, Greece, Rome and perhaps even Spain
8. 8. Paul taught two truths: 1. no one could be saved from sin by obeying the conditions of the Mosiac Covenant 2. Jesus was the promised seed of Abraham who would bring a blessing to all nations
9. 9. Growth of Christianity Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple burned by Romans This actually helped Christianity 1. Ended the persecuting of Christians from Judaism 2. Drove Christians out of Judea
10. 10. Roman Persecutions Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the fire that swept through Rome in AD 64
11. 11. Violent persecutions were recorded by the historian Tacitus
12. 12. Emperor Diocletian
13. 13. The Great Persecution occurred under Diocletian Had to offer sacrifices to pagan gods or be tortured and killed
14. 14. Jean-Leon Gerome Oil painting French painter 1883
15. 15. Romans hoped that these persecutions would put an end to Christianity Christianity was purified through the opposition, not destroyed
16. 16. Emperor Constantine He converted to Christianity Issued the Edit of Milan which put an end to almost 300 years of persecution Moved capitol of Rome to Byzantium. The people called it Constantinople. (Constantines City)
17. 17. Emperor Constantine
18. 18. Istanbul not Constantinople by the Four Lads
19. 19. Council of Nicaea Organized by Constantine, They met to consider the deity of Christ They concluded there was only one God They affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity
20. 20. The Trinity
21. 21. Theodosius I Made Christianity the only recognized religion in the empire. All others were illegal. Divided Rome into two empires: Roman empire and Byzantine Empire The Roman empire was conquered by barbarians and Christianity was blamed
22. 22. Theodosius I
23. 23. The City of God A book written by Augustine (North Africa) after Rome fell Said that Christians should not fear Romes fall. Empires come and go, but Gods city is forever.
24. 24. Augustine