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Christianity Unit6SG3Part1

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I.IntroductiontoChristianity• A.WhatisaChristian?

– 1.Jesus:thesonofGod(themessiah)

• B.TheLife&TeachingsofJesus– 1.Birth-Bethlehem(GospelsLuke&Matthewbothsupportvirginbirth)

– 2.EarlyLife-GospelofMark– 3.Ministry-allGospelsprecedeministrywithstoryofJohntheBaptist;theSynopticGospels(Matthew,Mark,&LukeconveytemptationindesertbySatan;appointingof12apostles

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• 4.TheSermonontheMount(Christianprinciples,values,&ethics)– “turningtheothercheek”comparedto“eyeforaneye” – “goodworks(almsprayer,fasting)mustbefromheartnotforrecognition”

– “seekGod’skingdominsteadofmaterialitems” – “condemnsthosewhojudgeothersbeforefirstjudgingthemselves”

– “warnsagainstfalseprophets” – “treatpeopleasyouwishtobetreatedbythem”

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Partial Egyptian Greek papyrus of the Gospel of Matthew, circa 250 C.E.

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• 4.Condemnation&Crucifixion(all4Gospels)-fulfillmentofprophecy(bookofZechariah;cleansingoftheTempleofmoneychangers;theLastSupper&predictionofbetrayal&denialbyPeter;thegardenofGethsemane;carryingthecrossuptheViaDolorosa;piercingwiththelance

• 5.Resurrection&Ascension-Tombisemptyafter3days;Jesusmakesseveralappearancestoapostles&theDoubtingThomasepisode;Jesusdirectsapostlestospreadthewordtoallnationsoftheworld;ascendsintoheaventoberighthandofGod.

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The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

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The Garden Tomb

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• C.TheHistoryofChristianity– 1.AncientTimes(~4A.D.-500A.D.)

• a.thespreadofChristianity– (1)TheApostolicChurch-theperiodofthe12apostles(~33A.D.~100A.D.)-consideredtobethepurestformofChristianity

– (2)LeadershipofPeter-Jewishsectofthelate2ndTempleAgeofthe1stcentury;law-observant

– (3)ChristianJews-theologicalconflictbetweenC.J.&C.G.;dailyTempleattendance;homeprayer;reverenceforTorah;observanceofJewishholydays

– (4)LeadershipofPaul-beganbypersecutingChristianJewsthenconverted&adoptedthetitle“ApostleoftheGentiles”;advocatedfreedomfromthelaw

– (5)ChristianGentilesby2ndcenturyA.D.,ChristianitypredominantlyGentiles

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• b.TheCouncilofJerusalem(A.D.50)– (1)Atthetime,mostfollowersofJesuswereJewish– (2)CalledtodebatewhetherChristianGentilesshouldfollowJewishlawandbecircumcisedanactconsideredrepulsiveatthetimeoutsideofJewishcommunity

– (3)ShouldthechurchobservetheTorahandothertraditionalrulesofJudaism(Paulbelievingitwasnotnecessary)

– (4)James,theleaderoftheJerusalemchurchproposedwritingalettertotheGentiles“andwhateverthingsyewouldnothavedonetoyourselves,donotdotoanother(savedbyfaith,notlaw)

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• c.PersecutionofChristians– (1)UnderRomanlawnothing“otherthanaprosecutor,achargeofChristianity,&agovernorwillingtopunish”wasrequired.

– (2)Why?LocalgovernorswantingtocooperatewithlocalanimosityagainstChristians-persecutedto“keepthepeace.”;politicalleadersofRomewerepubliccultleadersofRomanreligion&sawChristiansspreadingthewordasanathema,asuperstition

– (3)CentralthemeofChristianityaswellasmartyrdom– (4)AttheirheightunderemperorsDiocletian&Galeriusattheendofthe3rdct(200’s)

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• d.ConstantineI-TheEdictofMilan(313A.D.)endedpersecutionofChristiansaftervision;motherHelenawasChristian;builtConstantinople(Christianarchitecture);baptizedondeathbed

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• e. The Council of Nicaea, the first “Ecumenical Council” (325 A.D.) means “worldwide” – (1) Resulted in first uniform Christian doctrine

called the Creed of Nicaea – (2) Attempted to settle debate w/in early Christian

communities regarding the divinity of Christ - affirmed teachings of Apostles: Christ is the one true God in deity with the Father

– (3) St. Alexander of the Alexandria church took the position that “the Son had been ‘begotten’ by the Father from his own being; upheld at council

– (4) Arias the Presbyter took the position that “the Son was created out of nothing, a more human characteristic; Arianism; was decided against

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What Christians Believe - Nicene Creed• Jesus Christ is “God from God, Light from

Light, true God from true God,” proclaiming his divinity

• Jesus Christ was “begotten, not made,” brought forth from the substance of God

• He is “one being with the Father.” This causes significant controversy throughout Christian history and is the cause of many future ecumenical councils.

• Refusal to endorse creed meant exile & excommunication; works of Arias burned

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