Origins of Christianity

• Christianity arose amidst a mix of cultures, languages, and traditions in the early Roman Empire, facilitated by easy travel and communication.
• It originated in Judaea, a Roman province, among Jews who opposed Roman rule and anticipated a Messiah to bring salvation.

Jesus of Nazareth

• Jesus was born to devout Jewish parents, according to Christian scripture.
• His ministry commenced around the age of thirty, focusing on preaching and storytelling; he left no written works.
• Accounts of his teachings circulated orally and were later compiled into the Gospels, aiming to foster a community of faith.
• Followers believed Jesus preached about eternal happiness after death, emphasizing devotion to God and love for others, rooted in Hebrew Scripture.
• Jesus identified himself as the Son of God and the Messiah, advocating for a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one.
• Roman authorities, concerned about maintaining order, arrested and executed Jesus, but his followers claimed he rose from the dead three days later, a pivotal belief for Christians.

Religious Ideas and Practices

• The memory of Jesus and his teachings persisted and flourished among believers who gathered in small groups, often in homes.
• They celebrated the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper to commemorate Jesus' last meal with his disciples and anticipated his return.
• Early Christians addressed each other as "brother" and "sister," a novel familial metaphor in the Roman Empire.
• Paul of Tarsus, a well-educated Jew, spread Jesus' teachings, transforming them into specific moral instructions through his letters, which later became part of Christian scripture.
• Early converts came from diverse social classes attracted by the promise of blissful afterlife, striving for goals, concern for the poor, and a sense of community and spiritual kinship.
• By the second century CE, Christianity evolved, with the expectation of Jesus' imminent return diminishing.
• Permanent institutions, such as large worship buildings and a hierarchy of officials (priests, bishops, archbishops), were established, often modeled on Roman Empire structures, marking a shift towards formality and centralization.
• Educated Christian men developed complex theological interpretations, drawing on Greek philosophy to understand issues like the divinity and humanity of Jesus, and the concept of the Trinity, which became official doctrine through church councils.
• Disagreements over these doctrines led to the formation of different branches of Christianity.
• Rituals, like the veneration of saints (including Mary, Jesus’ mother), became central in transmitting Christian teachings due to widespread illiteracy.
• Saints were considered protectors, and relics associated with them were believed to have special powers, making churches housing these relics pilgrimage sites.

Society and Family Life

• Early Christians often regarded earthly life as unimportant, expecting Jesus to return soon.
• Some advocated abandoning marriage for a spiritual family of believers.
• Some men and women chose to consecrate their lives to worship.
• Monasteries and convents were built, usually in remote locations.
• Romans viewed abandoning marriage as dangerous.
• Male church leaders restricted women in the church, forbidding them to preach or hold official positions outside of convents, although Jesus considered women equal to men.
• Celibacy became increasingly expected of church leaders, seen as spiritually superior, influenced by concerns about temptation and misogyny.
• The Christian Church acquired significant wealth as an institution, owning land, buildings, and operating agricultural and commercial ventures, despite Jesus' teachings against wealth.

Political Developments and the Spread of Christianity

• Early Christians faced occasional persecution, with accounts of martyrs serving as models for later believers.
• Emperor Constantine supported Christianity financially and legally, hoping it would unify the troubled Empire.
• Christians adapted practices, worship became elaborate, churches grew grand, and clergy wore ornate clothing to align with the emperor's wishes.
• Christianity expanded through missionaries and travelers beyond Roman borders into Kush, Aksum (Ethiopia), where King Ezana adopted it as the state religion.
• Christian teachings spread eastward into the Parthian Empire (Persia) and northward to Celtic and Germanic peoples.
• The fusion of local customs with Christian teachings led to diverse rituals, practices, and doctrines.
• By 400 CE, the estimated Christian population was 10 million; today, it exceeds 2 billion.

Primary source: The Gospel of Matthew

• Do not store earthly treasures.
• Place your treasures in heaven.
• You cannot love God and riches.
• Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Explore the birth of Christianity in the Roman Empire's diverse environment. Learn about Jesus of Nazareth's ministry, teachings, and impact on his followers. Understand the core beliefs and circumstances surrounding his life and death.