Early Christianity

Origins

• Judaism broke into 24 factions during first 60 yrs AD

• Early Christians were Jewish

Jesus:

• Born in Palestine (modern day Israel); Jewish

• Carpenter by trade

Life of Jesus:

• Conducted 3 years of ministry

• Deciples were his group, most of which were Jewish.

• Used stories with moral lessons (parables)

• Some Jews saw him as the promised messiah

• Most saw him as a rabbi (regular human)

Teachings of Jesus:

• Preached: Monotheism, 10 commandments, love & compassion, mercy, selflessness, humility, and fatherly loving God (conflicts with Judism)

Arrest of Jesus:

• Attacked merchants/money changers in a temple

• Seen as insurrection/threat to status quo

• arrested for trying to overthrow government

Death of Jesus

• Crucified around 30 AD

• Treason

Early Christian Movements

• Martyr: Someone who dies for their beliefs

Paul

• Converted to Christianity, attracted Gentiles (non-Jewish)

• Rejected Jewish laws and was executed in 65 CE by Romans

Peter

• Spread Christianity across Roman Empire

• Most teachings of Christianity passed orally

• Picks up where Paul leaves off

Roman Catholicism

Acceptance

• Roman Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity in 313 AD

• Result in making Christianity the offical religion of the Roman Empire - Moves capital to Constantinpole

• 5 Bishops elected to lead the church

Council of Nicea

• Ecumenical Council

• Nicean Creed adopted - statement of belief

• Jesus’s divinity settled

Later Council

• Formalized the Trininty - God takes different forms to do what he needs to

• Decided which books to put in the Bible

The Great Schism

• Bishop of Rome claimed authority of the church - became Pope

• Disupte split the church in 1054 AD

• Followers - Roman Catholic

• Opposers - Christian Orthodox

Trininty

• Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God, but they are not the same

Nicaean Creed: Statement of faith accepted by all Christian churches

Filioque Controversy

• Roman Catholics added “and the son” to Nicaean Creed

• Resulted in a riff between churches

• Changed the trinity

• Holy Spirit dervied from Father and Son, Father and Son are equal

Basic Christian Beliefs

The Bible

• Old testament - Essentially the same as Jewish Torah

• New testament - made of 27 books (including an apocalyptic work - Revelations)

Nearly all Christians regard it as divinely inspired but some view it literally, while other view it figuratively

Major Holidays

Easter

• Spring

• Preceded by 40 days of repentance and fastings (Lent)

• Celebrated the resurrection of Christ

Christmas

• December 25th

• Not originally celebrated by early Christians

• Celebrates birth of Jesus

• Days get longer of 25th, overlaps with Pagan holiday, festival of the rising son becomes festival of the risen son

Orthodox vs Roman Catholic

Orthodox

Leader: More decentralized, most power lies with the Bishops

Communion: Bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ

Clergy: A body of ordained ministers in Christian Church. Bishop, Priest, Deacon. Can marry.

Trinity: Father over Son and Holy Spirit

Basis of Belief: The Bible, Holy Trinity, Church Tradition

View of Salvation: Based solely on faith

Saints: Persons in heaven who lived heroically, and was a martyr for their faith. Gave up their lives for others.

Sacraments: 7 sacraments

• Believe sin is blurring between man and God

• Do not believe in Purgatory

Roman Catholic

Leader: Very centralized, power lies with the Pope

Communion: Bread and wine physically becomes body and blood of Jesus Christ

Clergy: Have rules seperate from normal people. Can not marry nor get a divorce

Trinity: Father and Son are equal, Holy Spirit is derived from them

Basis of Belief: Scripture, traditions, Pope, council meetings

View of Salvation: Based on works (actions) as well as faith

Saints: God reveals saints through answered prayers or other miracles

Sacraments: 7 Sacraments

• Sin is a man messing up

• Purgatory - Purification before entering heaven