Christianity

Historical Context of Jesus

* Palestine was ruled by the Romans- very multicultural, hostility but coexisted
* There were harsh taxes
* Jews were unhappy because it was their “Promised Land”

Judaism at the time of Jesus

* Hard to be Jewish- oppressed by Babylonians, Greeks, Assyrians
* No Jewish authority- just different sects
* The huge temple in Jerusalem was very important

Jesus birth

* Born in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem) because census had to be taken
* Circumcised at 8 days old

Jesus childhood

* Grew up in Nazareth
* Travelled back to Jerusalem for Passover and left at Temple for 3 days and declared he was in the house of his father

Jesus Adulthood

* Became relevant around 30
* Baptised by John the Baptist- realised Jesus son of God
* Taught in a ministry and performed miracles for the poor
* Ends up in Jerusalem while preaching

Jesus arrest and crucifixion

* Threatening to the Romans because he empowered the poor
* Arrested on Holy Thursday
* During the Last Supper- showed servant leadership by washing feet
* Killed on Good Friday age 33 and put in tomb

Jesus resurrection

* On Easter Sunday women went to the tomb to prepare body
* Tomb was empty and angel told them Jesus had risen
* 40 days after he rose he ascended to heaven

Jesus as a role model

* Jesus modelled Christian life
* Universal love for humanity and faithfulness to God
* Emphasised we are all part of the Kingdom of God

First 3 Centuries post Jesus

* Pentecost- the Holy Spirit came and that marked the beginning of Christianity
* At first it was just a variant of Judaism- took some time to become its own thing

Early Christian Controversy

* Could non ethnic Jews join Christianity? Jews said no, Paul said yes- that’s when Christianity fully separated and began recruiting not just Jewish people

Paul

* Really started Christianity- reformed himself
* Became a traveller- wrote down letter about Jesus and spread the gospel

Principal Beliefs

1. Jesus is human and divine
2. God and the trinity
3. Death and resurrection
4. Revelation
5. Salvation

Jesus is human and divine

* Jesus being a human was an act of love from God for humanity


* His humanity showed the connection between God and humans

Nature of God and the Trinity

* God is the one creator but is expressed in 3 natures- the father, the son and the holy spirit
* However- this still controversial

Death and resurrection

* Death and resurrection provides hope
* Jesus defeated death- atoned for human sin- so we can have eternal life
* Jesus a sacrificial lamb

Revelation

* The transmission of knowledge from God to people is an invitation to join with God

Salvation

* Humans require deliverance away from sin so God can save us

The Bible is divided into

* Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
* Christian Scriptures (New Testament)

Bible contains

* Nature of God and teachings of Jesus
* Beliefs
* Rituals

Is divinely inspired but written by humans

Importance of the Bible

Integral to the lives of believer- making ethical decisions, daily rituals, finding meaning. Especially important for Protestants

Ethical teachings

* 10 commandments (Old T)
* Beatitudes (New T)
* Jesus’s Commandment of Love (New T)

Ten Commandments

* Given to Moses
* A summations of relationship between people and God

Beatitudes

* Blessings in latin
* Blessed are..
* The teachings of Jesus and a Christian way of living
* e.g. Blessed are those who are forgotton
* Come from Sermon on the Mount and Sermon on the Plane

Jesus’s Commandment of Love

* Most important commandments
* “Love God, Love thy neighbour”
* The love isnt romantic- it is AGAPE= mutual admiration and respect

What is prayer

A communion with God

What can prayer be

* Vocal
* Contemplative
* Meditative
* Mental

Why pray

* Celebrate
* Recollecting with God
* Reflection
* Jesus prayed to help make decisions