the christian church in ancient rome - the...

The Christian Church in Ancient Rome

Friday, November 1, 13

• Church - a building where Christians gather to worship.

• Church - a group of Christians who belong to a particular denomination or sect

• Early Christian history

• church was a small number of people who believed in and followed the teachings of Jesus

• no denomination

• did not meet in any designated business


• 313 AD - Roman Emperor, Constantine, made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire


The Beginnings

• Some Christians associated the beginning of the church with Pentecost

• Pentecost - “fifty”

• Christians believe that 50 days after Jesus was resurrected (origin of Easter), the Holy Spirit descended on the eleven apostles.

• On that occasion, the apostles spoke different languages and were filled with a strange power.

• Peter preached the first Christian sermon

• Persuaded 3,000 people to be baptized (Acts 2:41)


The Apostle Paul


• 13th Disciple or the Apostle of the Gentiles (non-Jews)

• He was born Saul

• Wealthy Jewish family in Tarsus (Asia Minor)

• Grew up with strict views about Judaism and did not like the early Christians

• Became a member of the Sanhedrin and worked arrested both men and women who followed Christianity

• Went to Damascus (City in Syria)

• On his way to the city received a message from above (blinding light)

• Became blind

• Baptized and regained his sight

• Started preaching

• Changed his name to Paulus


• 45 AD - 55 AD - Traveled throughout the Roman world

• Christian Churches spread up where ever he visited

• Faced many dangers

• Paul wrote a number of epistles (letters) to the churches he helped start

• Explained the teachings of Jesus

• Offered advice and encouragement to the members of the church

• New Testament book - Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.


The Persecution of the Christians

• Roman government had been tolerant of other religions as long as recognized the Roman emperor as a god.

• Christians did not accept the emperor as a god, and they refused to worship him, serve in the Roman army.

• Christians became a scapegoat for all of Rome’s problems.

• famine

• flood

• plague


• Emperor Nero (54 AD - 68 AD)

• Hatred against Christians increased

• persecuted against

• Nailed to crosses

• Burned alive

• Devoured by hungry dogs

• Used as torches for games and other activities

• All depended on the whim of the emperor


• Diocletian 284 AD - 305 AD

• Punished Christians

• Beheaded, torn apart by wild beasts, eyes gouged out, sharp needles put under fingernails, hot lead poured down throats

• Bishops and early popes were put to death for their beliefs

• Christians hid in the catacombs (underground passages used as burial places)

• Hid and worshiped in safety

• Christians were persecuted until 313 AD when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and made it the official religion of the empire.


Church Organization

• Hierarchy - chain of command

• Head of the Church - Pope (“Father”)

• Originally was no more than the Bishop of Rome

• Rome was the center of the empire - and the bishop of the city was recognized as the head of the Church

• Apostle Peter is regarded as the first pope (Matthew 16:18)


Pope Joan


• Served for two years

• Disguised herself as a man and occupied the papacy (office of the Pope) from 855 AD - 858 AD

• Identity was discovered and she was stoned to death


• Below the pope in the Church’s chain of command

• Archbishops (in charge of Church affairs in a particular Roman province)

• Bishops (highest Church officials in cities and their outlaying areas)

• Eventually gained control over dioceses (large, beautiful church (cathedral))

• Priest (guided the religious life of Christians in the communities throughout the empire (parishes)


the christian church in ancient rome - the...

Documents