Christianity Depth Study

Judaism: Historical context

• Christianity began as a sect of Judaism

• Jesus was born a Jew in 6 BCE, in Bethlehem where Judaism had reigned for centuries

  • Born in the Holy Land, in the centre of the Jewish world

• Jews were oppressed under the Romans since 63 BCE

• Judaism was at a low point in their history

• This gave rise to many divisions within the Jewish community

• As a result there was no central Jewish leadership

Judaism: Cultural context

• Jurasalem was the centre of Jewish power in the 1st century CE, but it was far from unified: instead, the culture was viciously split into opposing sects including the Sadducees, the Pharisees and the Zealots.

The Pharisees

• The pharisees were a reform group of lay Jews: aimed to observe the law strictly

The Sadducees

• Highly conservative: intent on preserving traditional Judaism

The Zealots

• Radical Jews who violently opposed Roman rule in Palestine

Jewish Sects' Reception of Jesus

• Despite these sectarian conflict, all three sects held Messianic Beliefs

• However, all three sects disagreed with Jesus’ message: It was the Roman Empire that accepted Christianity

The Roman Empire: Historical context

• While Christianity grew out of Judaism, it was not accepted widely and instead found success in the Hellenistic (Greek) and Roman world

• The Holy Land was under Roman control

• The region of Judea was placed under the leadership of the Roman Prefect Pontious Pilate

• Christinaity was persecuted by the Romans for centuries, and existed underground

• Constantine legalised Christianity in 313 CE, ending persecution

The Roman Empire: Cultural context

• Culturally, the Romans followed a polytheistic spirituality as their official religion, however many mystery cults existed to serve the need for personal religion

Official polytheistic religion - The Roman Empire

• Mythology surrounding pantheon of gods e.g. Jupiter, Minerva, Apollo

  • Incompatible with monotheistic Christianity

• Official state religion designed to ensure success of the Empire 

Informal Mystery cults - The Roman Empire

• Secret societies which gave people access to their gods

• Felt like gods were intervening directly in their lives

  • Set the stage for the successful transition to Christianity

Principal events of Jesus’ life

1. Birth of Jesus and Early Life

2. Baptism

3. 40 Days in the Desert

4. Ministry

5. Final Days in Jerusalem

6. Crucifixion

7. Resurrection

1. Birth of Jesus and Early Life

• Jesus was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary, around 4BCE

• Raised in Nazareth, Galilee, in a Jewish household; Joseph, his father, worked as a carpenter

• “...and she gave birth to her first son… This very day in the town of David your Saviour has been born to you: Christ your Lord!” (Luke 2:7-12)

2. Baptism

• Jesus' public career (his ministry) began when he was baptised by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, at around age 30

• “As soon as Jesus was baptised, he came out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

3. 40 Days in the Desert

• After his baptism, Jesus withdrew to the desert to pray and fast for 40 days

• During this time, he was tempted by the Devil three times — to turn stones into bread, to gain worldly power and to test God by throwing himself from the Temple

• Jesus' resistance to temptation is seen by Christians as a demonstration of his obedience to God and his full humanity, since he faced real temptation as a man

• “Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days…” (Luke 4:1-2)

4. Ministry

• Jesus' ministry lasted roughly three years and took place mainly in Galilee and Judea

• His central message was the coming of the "Kingdom of God" — a call to repentance, love, and right relationship with God and others

• He taught largely through parables (simple stories with moral or spiritual lessons), performed many miracles and selected 12 apostles as his closest followers

• Parable the Good Shepard: “The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow someone else… I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep.” (John 10:4-11)

• Jesus miracles:

  • Walking on water

  • Turning water into wine

  • Feeding 5000 people

5. Final Days in Jerusalem

• Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover to large, welcoming crowds, an event now known as Palm Sunday, and this rising popularity heightened tensions with the religious authorities.

• His final days were marked by the Last Supper with his disciples — a Passover meal at which he instituted the Eucharist — followed by his betrayal by Judas and his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane

• “Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and gave it to them, saying ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19)

• The disciple Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish High Priest, who passed him onto the Romans for arrest

6. Crucifixion 

• Jesus was crucified by Roman prefect Pontius Pilate for claiming to be the king of the Jews

7. Resurrection

• Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his death; his tomb was found empty by female followers, including Mary Magdalene

• He then appeared to his disciples on multiple occasions over 40 days, eating with them and showing his wounds to prove it was truly him, before ascending to heaven

• The Resurrection is the central event of Christian faith, understood as proof of Jesus' divinity and the promise of eternal life for believers

• “Last of all, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating. He scolded them, because they did not have faith and because they were too stubborn to believe those who had seen him alive.” (Mark 16:14-15) 

Why is Jesus a model for Christian life?

• Jesus promoted personal prayer with God

• Jesus committed himself to the service of others

• Jesus’ commandment of love continues to inspire

Jesus promoted personal prayer with God - Jesus as a model for Christian life

• Jesus taught his disciples the importance of communicating with God through personal prayer, which has become a cornerstone of the Christian experience up to the present

• Jesus prays throughout key moments in his ministry, in personal crisis, in the face of the needs of others, and teaches his disciples how to pray

• “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)

Jesus committed himself to the service of others - Jesus as a model for Christian life

• Jesus’ ministry centred on helping the sick, poor and marginalised

• “Jesus healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases and drove out many demons.” (Mark 1:34)

• Jesus’ selflessness inspires Christians to dedicate their own lives to the service of the needy.

• The Beatitudes and many of his parables — such as the Good Samaritan — reinforce the importance of service, alongside Jesus' own acts of charity and healing throughout his ministry

• For example, Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church's international aid agency, models Jesus' commitment to the poor and marginalised today by running programs that combat poverty, provide disaster relief and support Indigenous communities, showing how his example of service continues to shape institutional Christian mission on a global scale.

1. Jesus’ commandment of love continues to inspire

• Jesus preached unconditional love and forgiveness, which continues to define the Christian message and mission

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ (Matthew 22:37)

• Jesus’ commandment of love extends to his message of universal forgiveness: that any person who confesses his sins can be absolved of them through the power of the Lord’s love. 

  • Part of the formal practice of many churches including the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Catholicism and the Holy Confession in Orthodoxy

Paul of Tarsus - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

• Paul was responsible for converting the Gentiles

• Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee (religious Jews) involved in the persecution of Christians

• He experienced a powerful conversion when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus

• “As Saul was approaching the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?’” (Acts 9:37-39)

• Paul travelled across Asia-Minor (Turkey) and Greece converting the masses and wrote letters to different communities

• He also began baptising gentiles into the Christian faith

Peter “Apostle of Apostles" - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

• Peter is known as the “Apostle of Apostles” as he acted on the spokesperson for the Jesus movement in Judea, and led the community of the Apostolic Church

• Peter was Apostle of the Jews

• He centered his missionary efforts in Jerusalem, where he established the Apostolic Church by spreading the gift of the Holy Spirit

• “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message…he ordered them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 10:44-48)

33-70 CE (Initial Wave) - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

• Begins with the Pentecost soon after Jesus’ death. Disciples begin preaching in Jerusalem after being commissioned by Jesus.

• Church leader is Simon Peter

• Message spreads beyond after Peter is forced to flee to Antioch. James becomes leader in Jerusalem

• Christianity remains a sect of Judaism.

• Christians (Nazarenes) follow Mosaic Law and teachings are based on Hebrew Scripture. However, a Eucharist meal is celebrated and Baptism is practiced

• St Paul’s preaching happens simultaneously throughout the Mediterranean

• Little importance put on formalisation, as the belief was that Christ’s second coming was imminent 

Council of Jerusalem (49 CE) - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

• The Council occurred to discuss whether new Gentile Christian converts (reached through Paul’s work) were required to follow Jewish law?

• The council of Jerusalem ruled that Christians did not need to abide by Jewish Mosaic law

• Opened Christianity to the wider world, marking the official start of Christianity as a religion distinct and separate from Judaism 

• “...God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. He made no difference between us and them…” (Acts 15:8-9)

What role did the failed Jewish Revolt (66-73 CE) play in the split between Christianity and Judaism?

• Failed Jewish Revolt of 66-73 CE forced mass migration from Judea and led to the destruction of temple of Jerusalem

• Spurred a requirement for formalisation of belief 

• Until around 100CE, Christianity split from Judaism due to the death of the Apostles and the delay of the second coming. Formalisation was required, which made the split necessary 

Persecution - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

•  Early Christians faced persecution from Jews and Romans

• Jews: Angered by the results of Council of Jerusalem. Pharisees fearful of Roman repercussions of continuations of Jesus’ teachings.

• Romans: Scapegoat persecution, blamed Christians because they were hated by society (EG- Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero, 64CE) 

• First martyr (witness to faith) was Stephen, who was stoned in c. 35 CE

• Persecution was often on local levels by Jewish groups

• Grander persecution occurred under Roman authorities 

Official Religion - early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

• Edict of Milan (313) granted by Constantine legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire and ordered the end of persecutions • Nicene Creed created at the Council of Nicaea (325), the official beginning of Christianity

• Became state church of Roman Empire in 380 CE

Orthodoxy history

• Through the Great Schism in 1054 CE, Christianity broke into two major strands of Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism, as a result of differences in theological interpretation

Orthodoxy beliefs

• Orthodoxy has unique views on authority. They hold that God is above Jesus in importance, and their leaders, Patriarchs, are the first among equals.

•  Rejects Catholic belief in transubstantiation (bread and wine in Eucharist are body and blood of Christ)

Orthodoxy practices

• The expression of Orthodoxy differs across geographical and cultural variants

  • E.g. Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox

• Practice seven sacraments: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, Ordination, Penance

• Heads of Church are known as Patriarchs

• Holy icons are used in public and private devotion

Orthodoxy hierarchy

• Patriarchs

• Bishops

• Priests

Catholicism history

• Catholicism cemented itself in Rome after the Great Schism and remains hugely powerful, structured by a strict hierarchical system with the Pope as Christ-appointed supreme leader

• The Catholic hierarchy traces itself back to the community of the Apostle Peter, who is seen as the first Pope

Catholicism beliefs

• Catholic theology is evident in the Nicene Creed, which emphasises belief in One God, one Holy and apostolistic Church, and one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

• Believes in ‘transubstantiation’ whereby the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ

• Believes salvation is achieved at Baptism - can be lost by committing a mortal sin and regained through the sacrament of Reconciliation and penance

• Scripture and Tradition are the 2 most important aspects of the Church

Catholicism practices

• Practice seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, Holy Orders

Catholicism Hierarchy

• Pope

• Archbishops

• Bishops

• Priests

• Deacon

•  Laity

Protestantism history

• The German monk Martin Luther criticised the Catholic Church heavily, laying out a number of reforms which sparked The Reformation and became the basis of the new Protestant strand.

• Protestantantism = a protest against the Catholic church

• In 1517, Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Church, publicly challenging Catholic practices such as the selling of indulgences, which is widely regarded as the event that ignited the Reformation.

• It was also shaped by other reformers such as John Calvin, and today there are numerous variants of Protestantism including Baptists, Lutherans and Presbyterian

Protestantism beliefs

• Protestantism emphasises the importance of Scripture and a direct relationship with God, over Church hierarchy

• Believe salvation is achieved by faith alone

• Rejects praying to Mary and Saints to intercede

Protestantism practices

• Includes variants such as Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran

• Practice only two sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist

• Allows married men and women as part of the clergy 

Protestantism hierarchy

• Protestantism largely rejects the hierarchical structure of Catholicism, with no Pope or centralised authority governing all denominations

• Most Protestant churches instead have a much flatter structure, typically consisting of:

  • Pastors/Ministers – lead individual congregations

  • Elders/Deacons – assist in church governance and pastoral care

  • Congregation/Laity – hold greater authority and involvement in church decisions compared to Catholicism

Anglicanism history

• Anglicanism emerged when King Henry VIII of England broke away from the Catholic Church in the English Reformation and established his own state version of Christianity in 1534, so he could annul his marriage and remarry

• The Act of Supremacy (1534) formally made the English monarch, not the Pope, the head of the Church in England

Anglicanism beliefs

• Anglicanism is evangelical, meaning it focuses on the authority of Scripture and salvation granted through Jesus’ sacrifice.

• Sits as a "middle way" between Catholicism and Protestantism, retaining some Catholic tradition and structure while embracing core Protestant beliefs

Anglicanism practices

• Recognises two sacraments as essential (Baptism and Eucharist), similar to Protestantism, though some Anglicans also observe the remaining five sacraments as valid, but not essential to salvation

Anglicanism hierarchy

• The principal leader of the Anglican Church is the Archbishop of Canterbury

• Below him sit bishops, priests and deacons — a structure that closely mirrors the Catholic hierarchy, unlike most other Protestant denominations

Pentecostalism history

• Pentecostal churches emerged in the 20th century as a way to make Christianity relevant to modern times, and is often associated with ‘mega churches’ and a youth demographic, though it is also popular in Latin American and African American communities

• Pentecostalism is exponentially growing all across the world

Pentecostalism beliefs

• Main teachings focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Pentecostalism practices

• Worship is exuberant, often centred around music, healing and “speaking in tongues”, a reference to the Holy Spirit entering the body of a follower and calling them to speak

• 2 main sacraments: Baptism and anointing of the sick

• Pentecostalism has many different expressions

  • E.g. Hillsong

Pentecostalism hierarchy

• Pastor 

• Elder 

• Deacon