SOCIAL SCIENCE 2 – CHRISTIANITY

The Life and Teachings of Jesus

Roman power spread to Judea around 63 BC. At the beginning, the Jewish
kingdom remained independent at least in name. Rome then took control of the Jewish
kingdom in 6 AD and made it a province of the empire. However, some Jews believe
that they will be free again. According to biblical tradition, God promised that a savior
called the Messiah would arrive and restore the Jewish kingdom. About twenty years
after the beginning of Roman rule, many people believed that such a savior had come.

Jesus of Nazareth
Although the exact date is uncertain, historians believe that a Jew named Jesus
was born in the Jewish town of Bethlehem sometime between 6 and 4 BC. Jesus grew
up in the village of Nazareth in northern Palestine. He was baptized by a prophet
named John the Baptist. When he was young, he worked in the woodworking industry.
Jesus started his public ministry when he was 30 years old. For the next three years,
he preached, taught, did well, and reportedly performed miracles. Jesus believed that
his mission was to fulfill God's promise of salvation throughout Israel's history. He said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill them.” According to Jesus, what was important was not strict
adherence to the letter of the law but the transformation of the inner person: “So in
everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law
and the Prophets.” God's command is to love God and each other. Jesus said: "Love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all
your strength. This is the first commandment. The second is: love your neighbors as
you love yourself." Jesus expressed moral concepts, including humility to others,
charity and love, these concepts will later shape the value system of Western
civilization. Jesus' preaching eventually caused controversy. Some people think that
Jesus is a potential revolutionist and may lead to resistance to Rome. The opponents
of Jesus finally handed him over to the Roman authorities. The prosecutor Pilate’s
ordered Jesus to suffer. After Jesus died, his followers declared that he had risen from
the dead and appeared to them. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah (anointed),
the hoped-for savior, who could save the Israelites from enemy attacks.

The Spread of Christianity

Christianity began with the Judaism movement. After reports that Jesus
defeated death, the Christian movement won followers in Jerusalem and throughout
Judea and Galilee. Outstanding apostles or leaders emerged in the early days of
Christianity. One of them was Simon Peter, a Jewish fisherman, who became a follower
of Jesus during his life. Peter is considered the leader of the apostles. Another major
apostle was Paul, a highly educated Jewish and Roman citizen, who later joined the
movement. Paul brought the message of Jesus to Gentiles (non- Jews) and Jews. He
established Christian communities in Asia Minor and the Aegean coast. The core of
Paul's message is to believe that Jesus is the Savior, and he is the Son of God who
came to the world to save mankind. Paul taught that the death of Jesus made up for
the sins of all mankind.
 By accepting Jesus as Christ (from Christos, Messiah in Greek) and Savior,
people can be free from sin and be reconciled to God. The teachings of early
Christianity were passed on orally. But written materials also appeared.

Paul and other followers of Jesus wrote a letter or letter outlining the Christian
faith of the communities they found in the eastern Mediterranean. In addition, some of
Jesus’ disciples or followers may have kept some of Jesus’ words in written form and
conveyed personal memories. Later, between 40 and 100 AD, these narratives became
the basis of the written gospel-the "good news" about Jesus. These works record the
life and teachings of Jesus, and they form the core of the New Testament, the second
part of the Christian Bible.

By 100, Christian churches had been established in most of the major cities of the eastern empire
and some places in the western part of the empire. Most early Christians came from the Jews
and the Greek-speaking populations of the east. In the second and third centuries, however, an
increasing number of followers were Latin-speaking people.

Paul’s Journey map. Downloaded form https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-

maps/en/paul's_journeys_map.htm

Roman Persecution
The basic values of Christianity are significantly different from those of the
 Greco-Roman world. Nevertheless, the Romans paid little attention to Christians at
first, they thought that Christians were just another sect of Judaism. As time passed,
the Romans' attitude towards Christianity began to change. The Romans tolerated the
religions of other peoples unless they threatened public order or public morals. Many
Romans began to think that Christians were harmful to the Roman country because
they refused to worship the gods and emperors of the country. The Romans regarded
Christian rejection as an act of treason and should be sentenced to death. However,
Christians believe that there is only one God. For them, worshiping national gods and
emperors means worshiping false gods and endangering their salvation.

The Roman government began persecuting Christians during the reign of Nero
(A.D.54– 68). The emperor blamed the Christians for the fire that destroyed much of
Rome and subjected them to cruel deaths. In contrast, in the second century,
persecution of Christians diminished. By the end of the reigns of the five good
emperors, Christians still represented a small minority, but one of considerable
strength.

The Triumph of Christianity

The Romans persecuted Christians in the first and second centuries, but this
did not prevent the development of Christianity. It was the opposite, by forcing
Christianity to become more organized, strengthening Christianity in the second and
third centuries. Fear of persecution means that only the most determined people will
choose to follow illegal beliefs.
Crucial to this change is the role of bishops, who are beginning to assume more
control over the church community. The Christian church is creating a new structure
in which clergy (church leaders) have different functions from the laity (ordinary
church members).Christianity grew quickly in the first century, took root in the second,
and by the third had spread widely. Why was Christianity able to attract so many
followers?

First, the Christian message brought a lot of things to the Roman world. The
state religion of Rome is impersonal and exists for the benefit of Rome. Christianity is
personal and provides salvation and eternal life for individuals. Christianity gives
meaning and purpose to life. Secondly, Christianity seems familiar. Some people
believe that it is similar to other religions and is immortal due to the sacrifice of the Savior
God. Finally, Christianity satisfies the need for human belonging. Christians form a
bound community. In these communities, people can express their love by helping
each other and providing help to the poor and sick. Christianity satisfies the need to
belong in a way that the vast Roman Empire could never provide.

Facts have proved that Christianity is attractive to all classes, but especially to
the poor and the powerless. All people, rich people, poor people, nobles, slaves, men
and women deserve eternal life. In his letters to Colossians and Galatians, Paul said:
"[You] put on a new self... There are no Greeks, no Jews here... Barbarians, Scythian,
slaves or free men. , But Christ is everything and belongs to everything.” Although
Christianity does not require revolution, Christianity emphasizes the spiritual equality
of all people, which is a revolutionary idea.

Some emperors began to persecute Christians in the third century, but their
 plans failed. The last persecution was Diocletian in the early fourth century. But even
he had to admit that in the third century, Christianity became too powerful to be wiped
out by force. In the fourth century, Christianity prospered unprecedentedly when
Constantine became the first Christian emperor. Although Constantine was not
baptized until the end of his life, Constantine issued the "Milan Edict Order" in 313,
declaring his official tolerance of Christianity. Then, under Theodosius the Great, the
Romans adopted Christianity as their official religion

A World Religion
Despite the persecution of believers, Christianity is still a powerful force. By
the end of the third century AD, millions of Christians in the Roman Empire and
beyond. The wide appeal of Christianity is due to many reasons. Christianity grew
because of
• Embrace everyone-men and women, enslaved people, poor and nobles;
• Bring hope to the powerless;
• Appeal to those who were excluded because of the luxury of imperial Rome;
• Build a personal relationship with a loving God; and
• Promise eternal life.

Rome Spreads Christian Ideas

Initially, the Roman Empire was hostile to the Christian faith. However, it was
the Empire that helped spread these religious ideas in two ways. The first method is
indirect. After the Jews began to rebel against the Romans in the first century, they
were exiled from their hometown in 70 AD. The Jews then fled to many parts of the
world. They shared their belief that all people have the right to be treated with justice
and dignity.

The second way the empire spread Judeo-Christian thought was more direct.
Although the Romans persecuted Christians, Christianity became a powerful religion
throughout the entire empire and even the entire empire. By 380, it had become the
official religion of the empire. Ultimately, it took root in Europe, the Near East, and North
Africa.