Early Christianity

Judaism

Broke into 24 factions during the first 60 years AD.

Early Christians

Were originally Jewish.

Jesus

Born in Palestine, worked as a carpenter, and conducted 3 years of ministry.

Disciples

Jesus's followers, most of whom were Jewish.

Parables

Stories with moral lessons used by Jesus in his teachings.

Promised Messiah

Some Jews viewed Jesus as this, while most saw him as a rabbi.

Teachings of Jesus

Included monotheism, the 10 commandments, love, compassion, mercy, selflessness, humility, and a fatherly loving God.

Arrest of Jesus

Arrested for attacking merchants in the temple and seen as a threat to the status quo.

Death of Jesus

Crucified around 30 AD for treason.

Martyr

Someone who dies for their beliefs.

Paul

Converted to Christianity, attracted Gentiles, rejected Jewish laws, executed in 65 CE.

Peter

Spread Christianity across the Roman Empire and continued Paul's teachings.

Roman Emperor Constantine

Converted to Christianity in 313 AD, making it the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Council of Nicea

An ecumenical council that adopted the Nicene Creed and settled Jesus's divinity.

Trinity

Concept that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God but distinct.

Nicene Creed

Statement of faith accepted by all Christian churches.

Filioque Controversy

Dispute over the phrase "and the Son" added to the Nicene Creed by Roman Catholics.

The Bible

Composed of the Old Testament (similar to Jewish Torah) and New Testament (27 books).

Easter

Celebrates the resurrection of Christ, preceded by Lent.

Christmas

Celebrates the birth of Jesus, originally not celebrated by early Christians.

Orthodox Christianity

More decentralized leadership, with power lying with bishops.

Roman Catholicism

Centralized leadership under the Pope.

Communion

In Orthodox, bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ; in Roman Catholicism, they physically become it.

Clergy

In Orthodox, can marry; in Roman Catholicism, cannot marry or divorce.

Basis of Belief

Orthodox relies on the Bible, Holy Trinity, and Church Tradition; Roman Catholicism includes Scripture, traditions, and the Pope.

View of Salvation

Orthodox believes it is based solely on faith; Roman Catholicism believes it is based on works and faith.

Saints

In Orthodox, martyrs who lived heroically; in Roman Catholicism, revealed through miracles.

Sacraments

Both traditions recognize 7 sacraments.

Purgatory

Believed in by Roman Catholics as purification before entering heaven; not accepted by Orthodox.