UNIT 4: DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY

Jesus: History vs Mythology

  • No real physical description of Jesus exists.

  • Modern image (long hair, beard) comes from Roman god-style art (Zeus-like depiction).

  • This image was popularized during the reign of Emperor Constantine.

  • Overall, the image of Jesus is symbolic rather than historical.

Who Was Jesus

  • Jesus is described as a Jewish man from Nazareth, born in Bethlehem according to the Gospels.

  • He was raised by Mary and Joseph, who were identified as a carpenter family.

  • His preaching focused on:
      - God
      - Morality
      - Change/Repentance

  • His followers believed he was the Messiah, which translates to “the anointed one.”

Gospels as Historical Sources

  • The Gospels were authored by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

  • These texts were written after Jesus’ death with the intention of spreading belief in him.

  • Therefore, while they are useful for information, they are also biased and not fully reliable as historical sources.

Historical Context (Roman Rule)

  • The Jews were under Roman control starting in 63 BCE.

  • Life for the Jews included:
      - Heavy taxes
      - Limited freedom
      - Political tension

Messianic Expectations

  • The Messiah is envisioned as:
      - A descendant of King David
      - A political leader who would free the Jews from oppression.

  • This expectation explains why many people chose to follow Jesus during his ministry.

Matthew’s Genealogy

  • Matthew's genealogy establishes that Jesus is a descendant of King David.

  • This is significant because, according to Jewish belief, the Messiah must come from David's line.

  • This genealogy was particularly important for a Jewish audience.

Death of Jesus

  • Jesus was perceived as a political threat by the authorities of the time.

  • He faced opposition from some Jewish leaders and was ultimately executed by the Romans through crucifixion.

  • Important nuance:
      - The Romans executed Jesus,
      - The opposition came from Jewish leaders.

  • In Christian belief, Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion.

Paul (MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPT)

  • Before Paul’s influence, Christianity was primarily viewed as a movement within Judaism.

  • Followers of Jesus adhered to Jewish laws and practices.

Paul’s Changes

  • Paul played a fundamental role in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities:   - He spread the message to Gentiles (non-Jews).   - He advocated for the removal of certain Jewish laws, including the requirement for circumcision.   - He taught that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior for all humanity.

  • This shift resulted in Christianity evolving into a universal religion, no longer solely tied to Judaism.

Split from Judaism

  • Paul’s removal of specific laws opened up the religion to a broader audience.

  • In response, Jewish authorities created the Birkat Haminim, a prayer that rejected heretics, specifically targeting Christians.

  • The creation of this prayer illustrated a clear separation between Christianity and Judaism.

Roman Treatment of Christians (KNOW ORDER)

  • The treatment of Christians can be summarized in three stages:   1. Ignored
         - Initially, Christians were a small group and not perceived as a threat.   2. Blamed
         - An example is Emperor Nero, who blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome.   3. Persecuted
         - Under emperors like Decius, Christians were forced to worship Roman gods.

  • Christians firmly refused to comply due to their monotheistic beliefs, which led to:   - Executions of many believers.
      - Destruction of churches.

Why Persecution Failed

  • The persecution ultimately backfired because those Christians who died became martyrs.

  • Martyrs:   - Inspired others around them.   - Demonstrated profound faith, which fueled the growth of Christianity rather than its disappearance.

Constantine (TURNING POINT)

  • Constantine became the first emperor to support Christianity, marking a significant change in its status.

  • The Edict of Milan, issued in 313 CE, legalized Christianity and allowed for religious tolerance.

  • Under his rule, churches were built and Christianity received imperial support.

  • This marked a shift from being persecuted to being accepted as a legitimate religion.

Spread of Christianity

  • The spread of Christianity was facilitated by several key factors:   - The Roman road system allowed for fast travel.   - The period of Pax Romana provided safe travel across the empire.   - Missionaries, such as Paul, were actively spreading the message.   - The Christian message of hope and inclusion appealed to many people.

Final Stage

  • Theodosius I later made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

UNIT 6: JEWS IN CHRISTIAN SPAIN

KEY PATTERN (MEMORIZE EXACTLY)

  • A historical pattern can be identified as follows:   - Rise
      - Success
      - Jealousy
      - Violence
      - Forced Conversion
      - Inquisition

Reconquista (GOOD PERIOD)

  • During the Reconquista, Christians retook control of Spain.

  • Jews held significant positions during this period, such as:   - Tax collectors
      - Advisors to rulers

  • This was largely due to their education and usefulness to the reigning authorities.

Decline

  • As the fortunes of Jewish individuals improved, jealousy and resentment grew among non-Jewish populations.

Church Belief

  • The prevailing church belief was that Jews should:   - Exist but remain inferior and suffer within society.

Supersessionism

  • Supersessionism is a theological belief where Christianity is understood to have replaced Judaism.

  • In this context:   - Christians claim to be the “true Israel.”
      - Jews are viewed as rejected or weak.

  • This belief has historically been used to justify discrimination against Jews.

Missionaries

  • Missionaries actively tried to convert Jews to Christianity.

  • They engaged in the study of Jewish texts and held forced debates (for example, between Nachmanides and Pablo Christiani).

  • The goal of these efforts was to prove the veracity of Christianity and to pressure Jewish converts.

Riots of 1391 (CRITICAL EVENT)

  • The riots, led by Ferrand Martinez, resulted in catastrophic consequences:   - Thousands of Jews were killed.   - Many synagogues were destroyed.   - A significant number of Jews were forced to convert to Christianity, becoming known as Conversos.

Conversos (New Christians)

  • Conversos are individuals who converted from Judaism to Christianity:   - Types of Conversos include:     - Sincere converts who genuinely adopted Christianity.     - Crypto-Jews, who secretly maintained Jewish practices.

  • Terms associated with these groups include:   - Marranos - a derogatory term used for Conversos.   - Anusim - meaning “forced ones.”

Spanish Inquisition

  • The Spanish Inquisition was established as a church court aimed at finding heresy.

  • Its primary target was:   - Conversos suspected of still practicing Judaism.

  • Methods employed by the Inquisition often included:   - Torture to extract confessions.
      - Trials to determine the adherence to Christian doctrine.

  • Punishments for heretics, particularly those deemed still Jewish, included execution.