christianity through the centuries

Bren White

Minister/Missionary

Laurel Church of Christ

CHRISTIANITY OVER THE

CENTURIES

FIRST CENTURY

LORD JESUS CHRIST

“Let everyone know in Israel for certain that God has made

this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and

Messiah!”-Peter

ACTS 2:36

“Those who believed (pistis) what Peter said

were baptized (immersed) and added to

the church that day-about 3000 in all.”

ACTS 2:41

“…and they were continuing steadfastly in the teaching of

the Apostles and in the koinonia, in the breaking of

bread and in prayer.”

(Interlinear New Testament)

ACTS 2:42

“…the Apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead…many who heard the message

believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

ACTS 4:2

“We cannot help speaking about what

we have seen and heard.”

ACTS 4:20

“They did what Your power and will had decided

beforehand should happen…Enable Your servants to speak

Your Word with great boldness.”

ACTS 4:28

“The Christian learns from God Himself that all things are

arranged by His Providence…”

Theophilus of Antioch (c. 180 A.D.)

“…He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the

whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live…In

Him we live and move and have our being.”-Paul

ACTS 17:24-28

“I am the TRUTH…”“If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son of God sets you free, you will be free

indeed.”-John 8:31, 36

THE WORDS OF JESUS

“I honor My Father…I am not seeking glory for Myself…I tell you the truth…”-John 8:49-51

JESUS

“The Christian is interested solely in the truth, not in vain glory; nor does

the Christian allow a variety of conflicting beliefs…The Christian’s

sole interest is in obeying the commands of God and following the law of the Father of immortality, for what comes from God surpasses all

earthly gifts.”

Tatian (c. 170 A.D.)

“The true God is without beginning, unchangeable in nature, the Ruler and Creator of the universe; He is known by His works and be beheld through them.

From observing a ship sailing into a harbor, we infer that a pilot is steering it; likewise, we can perceive that God is the pilot, the governor of the universe, when God will be seen in all His glory.”

Theophilus of Antioch

“…since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has

made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible

qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been

made, so that men are without excuse.”

ROMANS 1:19-20

“Those who accept salvation in Christ become spiritual men, but

they are not such by nature but by Christ’s gift of the Spirit to them. By

the Spirit dwelling in them, believers are joined to Christ and to each other in the Church. The Spirit

also makes them partakers of eternal life…”

Irenaeus (c. 182 A.D.)

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and

godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness…so through them you may participate in the

divine nature…”

2 Peter 1:3-4

“They (Christians) love one another. They do not overlook the widow, and they save the orphan.

He who has ministers ungrudgingly to him who does not

have.”

ARISTIDES

GRECO-ROMAN WORLD

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

Reign of Augustus Caesar 27 B.C.-14 A.D.Death of Herod the Great 4 A.D.Reign of Tiberius 14-37 A.D.Anointing of Caiaphas as high priest 18 A.D.Appointment of Pilate as procurator over Judea 26 Reign of Herod Agrippa 37-44 A.D.Reign of Claudius 41-54 A.D.Reign of Nero 54-68 A.D.Reign of Titus 79-81 A.D.Reign of Domitian 81-96 A.D.Reign of Trajan 98-117 A.D.

OVERVIEW

CHRIST & PILATE

PONTIUS PILATE INSCRIPTION

“THIS IS JESUS, KING OF THE JEWS”

MATTHEW 27:37

TIBERIUS

TIBERIUS COIN

AGRIPPA COIN

NERO & AGRIPPINA

TRAJAN (98-117 A.D.)

TRAJAN

“…I have never been present at the examination of the Christians…Whether the bare name (Christian), without any crimes besides…to be punished?

-Pliny the Younger (Governor of the Roman Province of Bythinia (modern day Turkey) 112 A.D.

“…Christians…these people are not to be sought after…”

-Emperor Trajan

EMPEROR TRAJAN

PLINY THE YOUNGER

“At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many among the Jews and the other

nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had

become his disciples did not abdandon him.” (18:63)

“Christos” (20:200)

-The Antiquities (books 18-20)

FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS

“So great was the persecution against us in many places that Pliny the

Younger, one of the most distinguished governors, was alarmed at the number of martyrs, which he reported to the

emperor.”

EUSEBIUS

LIFE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE(First Century)

“World Government” “World Language”

“Borderless World” Great Entertainment

Incredible Infrastructure Beautiful Public Parks

Magnificent Architecture Public Restrooms

Much Tourism/Travel Playgrounds/Gymnasiums

Disposable Income Women’s Lib Movement

Many Slaves Divorce Rate High

Welfare System Birth Rate Low

Plentiful Water Supply Children disrespect parents

Elaborate Sewer System Prostitution & Abortion rampant

Wealthy have clocks, glass windows

Much drinking, gambling, adultery

Crowded Public Housing Emperor worshipped

ROMAN CITY STREETS

ROMAN ROAD

TRAJAN’S BATHS

ROMAN AQUEDUCT

AWESOME ENGINEERING

ROMAN AMPITHEATER

ROMAN PUBLIC TOILETS

SPREADING GOOD NEWS

CHRISTIANITY’S REACH

EARLY GREEK MANUSCRIPT OF NEW TESTAMENT

THE APOSTLE PAUL?

PAUL?

WHERE PAUL TRAVELED

WHERE PAUL WALKED

PAUL’S FIRST TRIP

ANTIOCH, SYRIA

PAPHOS

ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA

PERGA

ICONIUM

LYSTRA

DERBE

PAUL’S SECOND TRIP

PHILIPPI

PHILIP OF MACEDON

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

AMPHIPOLIS

APOLLONIA

MACEDONIA

THESSALONICA

THESSALONICA

SALONIKI

SALONIKI

GREECE

ATHENS

ATHINAI

PARTHENON

ATHENS AEREOPAGUS

ARISTOTLE

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road

through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.”

ACTS 19:1

CORINTH

CORINTH

CORINTH

Dionysius

CORINTHIAN RUINS

CORINTH TODAY

CENCHREA

EPHESUS

EPHESUS PUBLIC LIBRARY

EPHESUS BANK

EPHESUS AMPITHEATRE

PAGAN GODESS ARTEMIS

“Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Soon the whole

city was in an uproar…”

ACTS 19:23-41

TROASSSOSMITYLENEKIOSSAMOSMILETUS

ACTS 20

TROAS

COS

COS

HIPPOCRATES

“I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from

harming or wronging any man by it…”

(5th Century B.C.)

‘HIPPOCRATIC OATH’

FIRST HOSPITAL

RHODOS

RHODES

TYRE

PTOLEMAIS

CAESAREA

CYPRUS

“After this we got up and went to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from

Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the house of Mnason, a

man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.”

ACTS 21:15-16

JERUSALEM GATE

DAMASCUS

AGEAN SEA

CRETE

CRETE MAP

MINOAN CIVILIZATION

KNOSSOS PALACE

KNOSSOS

TAURUS THE BULL

MINOAN VASE

PHAESTOS DISK

“Once safely on shore, we found out the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness…”-Acts

28:1-2

MALTA

MALTA

MALTA

“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy…”

ACTS 27

ROME

“After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia

and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

ACTS 18:23

WHAT JOHN WROTE ABOUT

PATMOS

PERGAMON

THYATIRA

SARDIS

MELITO OF SARDIS

Select WritingsPassover

On Christian LifeThe Church

The Lord’s DaySoul and Body

Baptism, Truth, FaithHospitality

MELITO OF SARDIS

SMYRNA (IZMIR)

PHILADELPHIA

EPHESUS

LAODICEA

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one

or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need anything. But you do

not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

REVELATION 3:15

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if

anyone takes words away…God will take away from him his share in the

tree of life and in the holy city…”

REVELATION 22:18

POST-APOSTOLIC PERIOD

CLEMENT OF ROME (d. 101 A.D.)

POLYCARP (80-167 A.D.)

“the fruit of faith in Christ is a life of love and purity; Christ Himself provides the example which all

Christians should imitate. Christians are citizens of a

heavenly kingdom and will reign with Christ if they are obedient to

His commandments.”

POLYCARP

JUSTIN MARTYR (100-165 A.D.)

“The Christian has no fear of death, for death is but the

beginning of eternal life, free from pain and want.”

JUSTIN MARTYR

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH(50-107 A.D.)

“Wherever the bishop appears let the congregation be present; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there

is the universal church…do nothing without the bishop.”

IGNATIUS

IRENAEUS (150-202 A.D.)

“All those who wish to see the truth can clearly contemplate, in every church, the tradition of the Apostles manifested through the

world.”

IRENAEUS

TATIAN (120-180 A.D.)

CYPRIAN (200-258 A.D.)

In 253 A.D. Cyprian, Bishop at Carthage, held a council of sixty-six bishops, who decided that an infant should be baptized on the second or third day after birth.

CYPRIAN

PAPIAS of Hierapolis 70-163 A. D.‘THE DIDACHE’ 110 A.D.

ORIGEN of Alexandria 185-253 A.D.TERTULLIAN of Carthage 196

Clement of Alexandria 215Hippolytus 235Athanasius 367

Cyril of Jerusalem 374Ambrose 385

Augustine 387

OTHER WRITINGS

“The will of God is the measure of all things.”

AMBROSE

“Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued

above all.”

AUGUSTINE

“Baptism is…rebirth unto God, that we be no more children of mortal men, but of the eternal and

everlasting God.”

IRENAEUS

PHILLIPI BAPTISTRY 5th Century

NAPLES BAPTISTRY

CROSS-SHAPED BAPTISTRY

(Of Christians) “…their habits of faith, of zeal, and of union, seemed to multiply their numbers…As the

humble faith of Christ diffused itself throughout the world…Their errors

are derived from the abuse of the arts and sciences of the infidels, and they

corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel…”-Edward Gibbon, Historian

‘THE FALL & DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE’

“Let this be your one joy and delight: to go from one act of kindness to another with your mind fixed on

God.”

MARCUS AURELIUS (121-180 A.D.)