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Chapter6Section3

�  RomanpowerspreadtoJudeaC.63BCE

�  RometookcontrolC.6CE

�  Jewsbelievedthesavior,knownastheMessiah,wouldrestorethekingdomoftheJews

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�  Exactdateisunknown�  C.4-6BCEJesuswasborn

�  LivedinNazareth,northofPalestine

� Workedasacarpenter

�  30Jesusbeganpublicministry

�  PreachedmanyidealsofJudaism�  Monotheism�  TenCommandments

�  EmphasizedpersonalrelationshipwithGod

�  Eternalkingdomafterdeath

� MainsourceofinformationonJesuscomesfromtheGospels�  FirstfourbooksoftheNewTestamentoftheBible

�  BelievedtobewrittenbyJesus’disciples�  Laterknowasthe12apostles

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� Wentfromtowntotownpreachinghismessage

�  Ignoredwealthandstatus�  Messageappealedtothepoor

�  JesusgrowingpopularityscaredRomanandJewishleaders

�  ChiefJewishprieststatedthatJesus’teachingwereblasphemy-Profanity

�  PontiusPilateaccusedJesusofdefyingRomanauthority�  ArrestedJesusandsentencedhimtocrucifixion

�  Jesuswasplacedinatombafterhisdeath

�  AccordingtotheGospels�  Threedayslaterhisbodywasgone�  Jesusbeganappearingtohisfollowers�  HethenascendedintoHeaven

�  Apostle’sweremoreconvincedtheneverJesuswastheMessiah

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�  AtthistimeJesusbegantobecalledJesusChrist

�  ChristosisaGreekworkmeaning“messiah”or“savior”

�  ChristianitywasarosefromChrist

�  FollowersofJesuscontinuetospreadhisteachings

�  Religiousandpoliticalopposition

�  SpreadslowlythroughouttheEmpire

�  PaxRomanamadethetravelandexchangeofideaseasy

�  Apostle

�  NevermetJesus

�  HadavisioninDamascus,spenttherestofhislifespreadingandinterpretingJesus’teachings

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� WroteinfluentiallettersknownasEpistles

�  StressedJesuswasthesonofGodanddiedforpeople’ssins

�  DeclaredChristianitywouldwelcomeallconverts�  Jews�  Gentiles-NonJews

�  In66CEagroupofJewsrebelledagainstRome

�  In70CERomestormedJerusalemanddestroyedtheTemplecomplex�  TodaytheholistJewishshrine

�  HalfmillionJewswerekilledintherebellion

�  In132CEJewsmadeanotherattempttobreakfree

�  Jewishpoliticalstateceasedtoexistedfor1,800years

�  Jewsweredrivenfromtheirhomelandintoexile

�  KnowastheDiasporaordispersaloftheJews

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�  ChristiansalsowereaproblemforRomanofficials

�  RefusedtoworshipRomangods

�  SeenasoppositiontoRome

�  AsPaxRomanaendedpersecutionincreased�  Persecution-persistentannoyanceorharassment.

�  Exiled,imprisoned,orexecutedChristiansfornotworshippingRomandeities

�  Thousandswerecrucified,burned,orkilledbywildanimals

�  SawtheseChristiansasmartyrs�  Peoplewillingtosacrificetheirlifeforacauseorbelief

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�  Grewformanyreasons�  Embracedallpeople�  Gavehopetothepowerless�  AppealedtothosewhorepelledRome�  OfferedpersonalrelationshipwithGod�  Promiseofeternallife

�  Fighting3rivalsforcontrolofRomein312CE

�  Daybeforebattleprayedfordivinehelp

�  Thensawimageofacross

�  Imagewasplacedonshields

�  Aftervictory-gavecredittotheChristianGod

�  In313CEConstantineorderedtheendofChristianprosecution

�  EdictofMilandeclaredChristianitytobeareligionapprovedbytheEmperor

�  In380CE-Theodosiusmadeittheofficialreligion

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�  Hierarchy�  Priest-Locallevel�  Bishop-supervisedseverallocalchurches

�  PeterwasthefirstBishop�  JesusreferredtoPeterasthe“rock”

�  Pope-fatherorheadofChristianchurch

�  Disputesoverbeliefswereintense

�  FourGospels,EdictofPaul,andotherdocuments

�  AddedtotheOldTestament

�  ConstantinecalledleaderstogetherinNicaea�  WrotetheNiceneCreed�  Definedbasicbeliefsofthechurch