I.

Jesus Proclaims His Teachings a. Turmoil engulfed Jew in Palestine b. Christianity rose i. Followers of Jew, Jesus 1. Info in Gospels a. 1st 4 books of the New Testament of the Christian Bible b. By followers of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John c. Jesus Begins Preaching i. 4 B.C.- born in Bethlehem 1. Descendant of King David of Israel 2. Angel Mary (mother) she would give birth to messiah a. Called Son of the Most High God ii. Grew up in Nazareth 1. Followed Jewish law, carpenter iii. 30- preaching near Sea of Galilee 1. Performs miracles of healing 2. Used parables, short stories w/ simple lessons, to communicate ideas 3. Recruited 12 of his disciples, close followers, to help in mission a. = apostles i. Greek for a person sent forth iv. Jerusalem d. Jesus Teaches New Beliefs i. Rooted in Jewish tradition 1. 1 god 2. 10 Commandments 3. Laws of Moses 4. Defended teachings of Jewish prophets 5. Emphasized Gods love and taught need for justice, morality, and service to others ii. New beliefs 1. Called himself Son of God 2. Many thought =messiah 3. Mission= spiritual salvation and eternal life believers 4. Emphasized forgiveness e. Condemned to Death i. Jerusalem near Passover (celebration of Exodus) 1. Roman authorities viewed as threat b/c speeches could inflame those eager to end Roman power ii. Betrayed by one of disciples 1. Arrested by Romans, tried, condemned to death by crucifixion a. Nailed/bound to cross and left to die

II.

2. Rises from dead, talks to disciples a. Commands to spread teachings to people, then ascends into heaven The Message of Christianity Spreads a. Disciples spread message , @ first only preached among the Jews of Judea i. Some accepted Jesus was messiah/Christ (Greek for anointed one) 1. =Christian b. world i. Apostle Peter established Christianity in Rome ii. Paul (Jew from Asia Minor)= influential c. Paul Spreads Christianity i. Paul never met Jesus 1. Persecuted followers ii. Had vision of Jesus speaking to him 1. Joined Christians 2. Spread word to gentiles (non-Jews) iii. Until then, Christianity =sect w/i Judaism 1. Missionaries like Paul religion 2. Mediterranean a. Explained difficult doctrines, emphasized Jesus sacrificed himself out of love for humankind 3. If believe Jesus=son of god a. Eternal life = compiled 4. Letters = part of New Testament d. Christians Are Oppressed i. Romes did not tolerate Christianity 1. Thought= disloyal b/c did not honor emperor w/ sacrifices or pray to traditional Gods 2. When Christians met in secret, believed to =evil ii. Persecution 1. Nero blamed for social/economic ills 2. Christians killed in periods of persecution =martyrs a. Peter and Paul= martyred during reign of Nero e. The Message Appeals to Many i. Christianity spreads through Roman world 1. Jesus welcomed all 2. People found comfort in message of equality, dignity, and promise of better life after death ii. Missionaries used ideas from Greek philosophers to explain Jesus message 1. Religion w/ discipline and moderation of Greek philosophy appealed to certain Romans 2. Unity of Roman empire eased work of missionaries a. Everywhere= protected by Romans

b. Universal language (Greek/Latin) iii. Persecution new followers 1. See willingness of Christians to die for their religion, impressed by strength of belief f. Rome Accepts New Christianity i. Persecution ends in A.D. 313 1. Emperor Constantinople issued Edict of Milan a. Granted freedom of worship to all citizens of Roman empire 2. Emperor Theodosius made Christianity official religion of Roman empire and repressed other faiths