Topics:From approx. 200 BCE to 400 CEThe emergence of ethical belief-systems

The emergence of Christianity

Questions:What social conditions gave rise to Jesusʼ teaching?How, when, and why did Christianity spread across the Roman empire?What effect did politics have on its origin and later spread?

Lecture 12:Christianity

Jews and Greeks and Romans

MonotheismOne God

One templeJerusalem

One kingdom?

Masada

Maccabean revolt against Seleucids (168 BCE)

Hellenism

Judea conquered by Rome (63 BCE)

Herod “the Great” (37-4 BCE)

Judea under Roman procurator (6 CE)

Pontius Pilate (27-36 CE)

First Jewish Revolt (66-70 CE)

Second Revolt (132-35 CE) = Bar Kochba Rebellion

Destruction of the Temple in 70 CE

Exempt from Roman imperial cult

Scripture

A Jew in the Roman province of Judea

Preached reform among his fellow Jews

Gained followers and worked wonders

Executed by the Roman governor, in Jerusalem, by crucifixion

No writings

Sayings attributed to him and stories about him circulated orallyFour canonical Gospels

written at the end of the 1st century CE

declared canonical in 170 CE

Death and resurrection of spiritual significance

Jesus of NazarethThe Christ = ”Anointed One”

(d. circa 30 CE)

Jesus “the Messiah,” fulfilling Jewish prophecy

Jesus “the Christ,” anointed king

Jesus the “Good Shepherd,” leading & tending the flock

Jesus the “Lamb of God,” who sacrificed himself

Jesus the “Savior,” who redeemed the sins of all humanity

Jesus the “Resurrected,” who died but did not die

Jesus the “Son of God,” himself God

Basic Teachings about Jesus

Basic Teachings of JesusReligious reform w/in Jewish tradition

Social reform?

MORALITY

“Kingdom of God”

Paul of Tarsus (c. 5-67 CE)From Jews to Gentiles

First persecutions under Nero (64 CE)in Rome, scapegoats for fire Jews or Christians?

There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

When Thomas came back to his friends, they asked him, “What did Jesus tell you?” Thomas said to them, “If I tell you even one of the things he told me, you will pick up rocks and stone me. Then fire will come forth from the rocks and devour you.”

Early ChristiansUrbanAll social classesMeet in homes

Pray togetherTalk about Jesus Read Paulʼs lettersEat communal meal

Woman praying Christian sarcophagi

Eucharistic meal

Romans Become Christians

Equality

Individual salvation

Time of crisis

Community

Social reasons

3rd Century CE

Catacombs outside Rome

Martyrs Bishops

ChurchesCharity

A Local Institution

Diocletian Great Persecution (303-11 CE)

Constantine (306-37 CE)First Christian Roman Emperor

Council of Nicaea (325 CE)

Toleration Patronage

Imperial InstitutionUnity

Establish orthodoxyFour “patriarchs”