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Church History

Christianity began in the 1st century CE in Judea, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who was seen as the Messiah by his followers. After his crucifixion, apostles like Peter and Paul spread Christianity, facing persecution until it gained acceptance under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Early Christians were persecuted for refusing to worship Roman gods, with notable instances of brutality occurring under emperors like Nero and Diocletian, but this persecution ultimately contributed to the growth of the religion.

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43 views2 pages

Church History

Christianity began in the 1st century CE in Judea, based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who was seen as the Messiah by his followers. After his crucifixion, apostles like Peter and Paul spread Christianity, facing persecution until it gained acceptance under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Early Christians were persecuted for refusing to worship Roman gods, with notable instances of brutality occurring under emperors like Nero and Diocletian, but this persecution ultimately contributed to the growth of the religion.

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martinsbenedict15
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Origin of early Christianity

Christianity originated in the 1st century CE in the Roman province of Judea,


rooted in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, a Jewish teacher and
healer, preached about love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God. His
followers believed he was the Messiah (Christ) prophesied in Jewish
scriptures.
After Jesus was crucified by the Romans around 30-33 CE, his followers, led
by apostles like Peter and Paul, spread his teachings. Paul played a key role
in expanding Christianity beyond Jewish communities, making it a faith open
to Gentiles (non-Jews). The early Christians faced persecution but continued
to grow, eventually gaining acceptance under Emperor Constantine in the
4th century with the Edict of Milan (313 CE). Christianity later became the
dominant religion of the Roman Empire and evolved into various
denominations over time. Its roots are deeply connected to Judaism, and its
teachings were recorded in the New Testament of the Bible.
Persecution of the Early Christians
The persecution of early Christians occurred in waves across the Roman
Empire, primarily due to their refusal to worship Roman gods and the
emperor. Under Emperor Nero in 64 CE, Christians were blamed for the Great
Fire of Rome and subjected to brutal executions, including being burned alive
and thrown to wild animals. Emperor Domitian (81–96 CE) targeted
Christians who refused to worship him, leading to executions and the exile of
the Apostle John. Under Emperor Trajan (98–117 CE), Christians were not
actively hunted, but those who refused to renounce their faith were
executed, including Ignatius of Antioch. Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE)
intensified persecution, especially in Lyon, where Christians were tortured
and killed, including Justin Martyr. Emperor Decius (249–251 CE) required
citizens to sacrifice to Roman gods, leading to mass imprisonments and
executions, including Bishop Fabian of Rome. The Great Persecution under
Diocletian (303–311 CE) was the most severe, involving the destruction of
churches, burning of scriptures, and widespread executions. Persecution
ended in 313 CE when Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan,
granting religious tolerance to Christians. Despite suffering, persecution
strengthened Christian communities and contributed to the religion’s
expansion.
The growth and spread of the new religion caused anxiety among the
authorities. Traditionalist pagans blamed economic problems and disasters
upon infidelity to the concerns gods and the Christian were convenient
scapegoats. The first incident was a fire in Rome, which brined for six days
until a large part of the city was destroyed and thousands made homeless.
The emperor Nero a vain and silly man, may have been responsible for
setting the fire himself. The Roman historian Tacitus said “Nero fixed the guilt
on a class of people hated for their abomination, commonly called Christians,
and an immense numbers were arrested” . Among those who died were
Peter and Paul in 64AD.

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