The Life of Jesus Christ

Study Notes

Jesus, the founder of Christianity, was born in Bethlehem around 6 BCE and grew up in Nazareth, a town in modern-day Israel.
Jesus was born to Mary and followed Jewish laws and teachings written in the Torah, but rejected the Oral Torah and Roman Empire's excessive greed and control.
Jesus' teachings were considered radical, arguing for different ways to interpret Jewish teachings and interact with the Roman Empire.
Jesus' teachings upset many Roman and Jewish leaders, leading to his execution by crucifixion around 30 CE.
According to the New Testament, Jesus conquered death, raising himself from the dead and ascending to heaven.

The origin of Christianity is difficult to determine because early Christianity was a fringe movement of Judaism.
The term "Christian" was first used to describe those who followed Jesus' teachings in the 1st century CE.
Around 50 CE, the Jerusalem Council marked the beginning of Christianity as an organized religion.
Within 100 years of Jesus' death and resurrection, Christians of both Jewish and non-Jewish origin spread across the Roman Empire.

Core beliefs common across most Christian denominations include:
- Jesus was God embodied and born of a virgin.
- Jesus was the Christ/Messiah and lived a sinless life.
- Jesus died for the sins of humanity and was resurrected.
- Eternal life can be gained through belief in God and repentance of sins.
Jesus' core teachings included:
- Loving one's neighbor as oneself.
- Humility and treating others with respect.
- Forgiving enemies.
- Loving God before all else.

Although Christianity is the largest world religion today, it began as a fringe movement with a small following.
By the mid-1st century CE, Christianity had gained popularity, leading to the formation of house churches.
The 1st and oldest Christian church on record was built in Dura-Europos, modern-day Syria, before the mid-3rd century CE.
By the 2nd century CE, Christianity had formed church structures and hierarchies, and by the 3rd century CE, it accounted for about 2% of the Roman Empire's population.
In 313 CE, Constantine the Great made Christianity legal, and in 380 CE, it was deemed the official religion of Rome.