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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”