FC37 THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (c.30-330 C.E.) Christ’s appealing message of love, salvation, & forgiveness

FC37 THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (c.30-330 C.E.)Christ’s appealing message of love, salvation, & forgiveness


St. Paul spreads Christianity to Gentiles (non-Jews)



Pax Romana People feel safe & secure (FC.

33)


33)



Christianity spreads slowly during Pax Romana


33)


33)




Only mild & sporadic persecution of Chr’s during Pax Romana since they will not worship state gods Seen as treason


33)


33)






33)


33)

3rd cent. anarchy(FC. 34)






People question pagan gods that seem to have abandoned them


33)


33)








Turn to more emotionally satisfying salvation religions, including Chr.,


33)


33)









Pagans blame anarchy on Chr’s for abandoning state gods


33)


33)










Intense persecutions (c.250-305) Publicity & popularity


33)


33)











Constantine legalizes & actively supports Christianity (312)


33)


33)



FC37 THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (c.30-330 C.E.)

Christianity becomes the dominant religion in the Empire because:

Chr. excluded idea that other relig’s

could Salvation

Organiz. parallel to Emp’s: archbishops in provincial

Capitals & bishops in cities

Christians went out & actively

sought converts

Christ’s appealing message of love, salvation, & forgiveness




Growing state support after 312 Shut down all

pagan temples in 382







33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts













33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts













33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts













33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts













33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts







Rome becomes the most influential of the Emp’s 5 patriarchates because:

Pope was only patriarch in W.

Emp. No compet.

It had the prestige of being the capital of

the Empire

St. Peter founded his congregation

there

After 600, no secular rulers to interfere with

popes







33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts









Emp. No compet.


the Empire


there


popes







33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts









Emp. No compet.


the Empire


there


popes







33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts









Emp. No compet.


the Empire


there


popes







33)


33)






could Salvation




sought converts









Emp. No compet.


the Empire


there


popes







33)


33)




Rise of an independent medieval papacy in High Middle Ages (FC.66)



could Salvation




sought converts









Emp. No compet.


the Empire


there


popes







33)


33)



FC38 THE IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY’S TRIUMPH (c.330-500)

Rapid spread of Arab Muslims in 600s

(FC.46)

More pagan intellectuals convert to Christianity &

graft different pagan (esp. Greek) Philosophies onto it

Decentralized Church with a bishop in each city

Isolated congregations Different ideas on nature

of Christ’s divinity & humanity evolve

Christianity becomes state religion by 400

Many people join for less than spiritual reasons (e.g. to gain favor at

imperial court

Heavy persecution of the Church (FC.37)

Rome persecutes or exiles heretics to avoid divine wrath & civil

turmoil Bad results:

Exiled Arians convert Germanic tribes who

later conquer & persecute Roman

subjects

Heresies & rifts in Church as these different ideas surface when Christianity is legalized

Monophysite heretics in Syria, Egypt, &

Palestine willing to welcome more

tolerant invaders

Revive Roman Civ. during Renaissance

(FC.76)

Benedictine monasteries’ moderate rule preserves & spreads Roman

Civ. in 2 ways:

Missionary & charitable work to

convert Ger. tribes & found monasteries

among them

Many devout Christians become hermits Followers Organize into monasteries

Intellectuals flee to monasteries & copy books Preserves Roman civ. during

Middle Ages

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FC37 THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (c.30-330 C.E.) Christ’s appealing message of love, salvation, & forgiveness