Origins of ChristianityOrigins of Christianity

Words to KnowWords to Know YeshuaYeshua SimonSimon JamesJames PaulPaul ProtestantProtestant PurgatoryPurgatory

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic TrinityTrinity

There are on the order of 1,500 There are on the order of 1,500 different Christian faith groups different Christian faith groups in North America which promote in North America which promote many different and conflicting many different and conflicting beliefsbeliefs. Further, many groups . Further, many groups believe that they alone are the "true" believe that they alone are the "true" Christian church and that all of the Christian church and that all of the others are in error. As a result, one others are in error. As a result, one cannot write an introduction or a cannot write an introduction or a history of Christianity that is history of Christianity that is acceptable to all faith groups. acceptable to all faith groups.

About Yeshua (Jesus):About Yeshua (Jesus):

Christians follow the teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth, Christians follow the teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ. commonly referred to as Jesus Christ. (Jesus is the Greek form (Jesus is the Greek form of  Yeshua which is normally translated as Joshua; Christ is Greek of  Yeshua which is normally translated as Joshua; Christ is Greek for "for "the Messiahthe Messiah" or the "" or the "anointed oneanointed one.") Yeshua was a Jewish .") Yeshua was a Jewish preacher who was born probably between 7 and 4 BCE. preacher who was born probably between 7 and 4 BCE. He was He was executed by the Roman occupying authorities in Palestineexecuted by the Roman occupying authorities in Palestine, , perhaps on a Friday, in the spring of the year 30 CE. Most perhaps on a Friday, in the spring of the year 30 CE. Most Christians regard him as the son of God. They further believe that Christians regard him as the son of God. They further believe that he is God, the second person in the Trinity. (he is God, the second person in the Trinity. (The Trinity consists The Trinity consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; three separate persons, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; three separate persons, all eternal, all omnipresent, all omnipotent, all all eternal, all omnipresent, all omnipotent, all omnibeneficient, who form a single, unified deityomnibeneficient, who form a single, unified deity.) Most .) Most Christians believe that Jesus co-existed with God before the Christians believe that Jesus co-existed with God before the creation of the world, was born of a virgin, was bodily resurrected creation of the world, was born of a virgin, was bodily resurrected about a day and a half after his death, and later ascended to about a day and a half after his death, and later ascended to Heaven. Most conservative Christians believe that the underworld Heaven. Most conservative Christians believe that the underworld awaits anyone who has not repented of their sins and trusted awaits anyone who has not repented of their sins and trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior.Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Jesus

Holy Trinity

Church history:Church history:After Jesus' death, his After Jesus' death, his followers formed the followers formed the Jewish Jewish ChristianChristian movement movement, centered , centered in Jerusalem. One of Jesus' in Jerusalem. One of Jesus' followers, Simon Peter, may have followers, Simon Peter, may have headed the group. James, who headed the group. James, who was either Jesus' brother, cousin, was either Jesus' brother, cousin, or friend, took over leadership or friend, took over leadership later. later. They regarded They regarded themselves as a reform themselves as a reform movement within Judaismmovement within Judaism; ; they continued to sacrifice at the they continued to sacrifice at the temple, follow Jewish kosher food temple, follow Jewish kosher food laws, etc. laws, etc.

Jesus

Simon James

Holy Trinity

Interactive Notebook Interactive Notebook QuestionQuestion

1’s and 2’s work together:1’s and 2’s work together: What religion did Jesus practice?What religion did Jesus practice?

Saul of Tarsus, originally a persecutor of the Saul of Tarsus, originally a persecutor of the Jewish Christians, reported having a vision of Jewish Christians, reported having a vision of the risen Christ, in 34 CE. Adopting the new the risen Christ, in 34 CE. Adopting the new name of name of Paul, he became the greatest Paul, he became the greatest theologian of the early Christian theologian of the early Christian movemenmovement. His writings, along with those of t. His writings, along with those of the Gospel of John, provided much of the the Gospel of John, provided much of the theological foundation for what has been theological foundation for what has been called Pauline Christianity, a movement that called Pauline Christianity, a movement that he spread throughout the northern and he spread throughout the northern and eastern Mediterranean basin. eastern Mediterranean basin. Paul's ministry Paul's ministry was directed mainly to Gentiles -- non-was directed mainly to Gentiles -- non-JewsJews. Another belief system was Gnostic . Another belief system was Gnostic Christianity. They taught that Jesus was a Christianity. They taught that Jesus was a spirit being sent by God to impart knowledge spirit being sent by God to impart knowledge to humans so that they could escape the to humans so that they could escape the miseries of life on earth. They regarded the miseries of life on earth. They regarded the Yahweh of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Yahweh of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to be an inferior, short tempered, Testament) to be an inferior, short tempered, vicious creator deity who performed many vicious creator deity who performed many genocides, and other evil acts.  In addition to genocides, and other evil acts.  In addition to Gnostic, Jewish, and Pauline Christianity, there Gnostic, Jewish, and Pauline Christianity, there were many other versions of Christianity being were many other versions of Christianity being taught. Often, there would be a number of taught. Often, there would be a number of conflicting Christianities being propagated conflicting Christianities being propagated within a single city. within a single city.

Jesus

Simon James

PaulHoly Trinity

The Roman Empire recognized Pauline Christianity The Roman Empire recognized Pauline Christianity as as a valid religion in 313 CE. Later in that century, a valid religion in 313 CE. Later in that century, it became it became the official religion of the Empirethe official religion of the Empire. Church authority . Church authority became concentrated among the five bishops located in became concentrated among the five bishops located in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome. Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome. Gnostic Christianity was severely persecuted, both by the Gnostic Christianity was severely persecuted, both by the Roman Empire and the Pauline Christian churches. It was Roman Empire and the Pauline Christian churches. It was almost exterminated, but is experiencing rapid growth almost exterminated, but is experiencing rapid growth today. With the expansion of Islam throughout the Middle today. With the expansion of Islam throughout the Middle East during the seventh century CE, power became East during the seventh century CE, power became concentrated in Constantinople and Rome. These two concentrated in Constantinople and Rome. These two Christian centers gradually grew apart in belief, and Christian centers gradually grew apart in belief, and practice. In 1054 CE, a split was formalized between the practice. In 1054 CE, a split was formalized between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; their Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches; their leaders excommunicated each others. The split remains in leaders excommunicated each others. The split remains in effect today. effect today. 

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to a split within the western century led to a split within the western church. The Protestant movement further church. The Protestant movement further fragmented into what is now thousands of fragmented into what is now thousands of individual denominations and groups of individual denominations and groups of

denominations.denominations.  

Interactive QuestionsInteractive Questions

1’s ask:1’s ask: What did What did

Saul/Paul do for Saul/Paul do for Christianity?Christianity?

2’s ask:2’s ask: Which empire Which empire

was responsible was responsible for the death of for the death of Jesus yet became Jesus yet became followers of him followers of him later?later?

A prime belief: life after A prime belief: life after death:death:

Christian beliefs about one's destination after death vary Christian beliefs about one's destination after death vary greatlygreatly::Many conservative Protestant Christians believe that people are Many conservative Protestant Christians believe that people are born and remain sinful. They will end up after death being born and remain sinful. They will end up after death being eternally tortured in the underworld unless they were "saved" eternally tortured in the underworld unless they were "saved" during their life on earth. Salvation is a gift of God and is attained during their life on earth. Salvation is a gift of God and is attained by repenting of sin and trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Roman by repenting of sin and trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Roman Catholics also believe that salvation comes from God. But they Catholics also believe that salvation comes from God. But they believe that it is channeled through church sacraments to sinful believe that it is channeled through church sacraments to sinful but repentant persons. Most people, at death, enter Purgatory, but repentant persons. Most people, at death, enter Purgatory, which is a type of temporary H***; a few go directly to Heaven; which is a type of temporary H***; a few go directly to Heaven; others go permanently to the underworld. Their destination others go permanently to the underworld. Their destination depends on the good and evil deeds that they have performed depends on the good and evil deeds that they have performed during life, and their exact status with regard to the sacraments at during life, and their exact status with regard to the sacraments at the time of their death. Religious liberals generally interpret the the time of their death. Religious liberals generally interpret the underworld symbolically, not as an actual place. They reject the underworld symbolically, not as an actual place. They reject the concept of a loving God creating a place of eternal torment for the concept of a loving God creating a place of eternal torment for the vast majority of humans.vast majority of humans.

Learning LogLearning Log

On the left side of your paper, On the left side of your paper, answer these questions:answer these questions: 1. Today I learned…1. Today I learned… 2. What part of Christianity did you 2. What part of Christianity did you

struggle with?struggle with?

BibliographyBibliography

Robinson, B.A. Excerpts from : A BRIEF OVERVIEW TO CHRISTIANITY. Robinson, B.A. Excerpts from : A BRIEF OVERVIEW TO CHRISTIANITY. Religious Tollerance.orgReligious Tollerance.org