Spreading the Faith of Christianity

Spreading the Faith of Christianity

Building the Bible

• After the death of Jesus, his teachings were initially passed along by oral tradition.

• Around the year 50 CE, Jesus’s followers wrote down his teachings.

• These writings eventually became part of the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Multiple Choice

Stories of Jesus were passed down by oral tradition until it started getting written down. What does oral tradition mean?

• Unwritten stories passed down from generation to generation

• Stories etched into old caves and taverns

• Bedtime stories, such as old fairy tales

• Stories you would find in a history book

The Old Testament and the New Testament

• The books of the New Testament were combined with the books of the Hebrew Bible.

• These older books became known in Christianity as the Old Testament.

• Over time, many additional pieces of writing were created and added to the Bible.

• Additions: letters, hymns, poetry, parables, and prophesies

Multiple Choice

Which part of the Bible tells us the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?

• Old Testament

• New Testament

Jesus's message to his apostles

 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey all the commands I have laid on you.”

The New Testament tells of the travels and the troubles of his disciples as they attempted to carry out this mission.

Multiple Choice

Who are leaders chosen by Jesus to spread his message?

• clergy

• popes

• monks

• apostles

Multiple Choice

Based on what Jesus said to the Apostles, what would be a good definition of "disciple"?

• a preacher

• a teacher

• a follower of Christ

Problems with the Roman Empire

• Christianity caused tension in the Roman Empire.

• Christians did not conform to all Roman laws or religious ideas.

• Their beliefs kept them from joining in the cult of the emperor, and hurt the unity of the Roman Empire.

• Cult of the Emperor: The belief that the Roman Emperor was one of the Gods.

Problems with Jewish Leadership

• Despite the similarities of the religions, Jewish leadership had disagreements with some common Christian practices.

• Christians did not follow all of the traditional Hebrew laws.

• Christians also interpreted some laws differently than the Hebrew scholars did.

• Example: Christians could eat some foods that Jews thought were "unclean", like pork and shellfish.

Multiple Select

In what ways did Christians differ from the religious practices of Romans and Jewish people? (check all that apply)

• Christians did not join the Cult of the Emperor.

• Christians did not agree with traditional Hebrew laws.

• Christians could eat pork, while Jewish people could not.

• Christians could eat shellfish, while Romans could not.

Rome vs. Christians

• The Roman Empire initially outlawed Christianity.

• Christians often had to meet in secret, like in private homes or in the catacombs. 

• Catacombs: Burial places beneath the streets of Rome.

Open Ended

Why do you think the Roman Empire would outlaw Christianity? Why couldn't they just leave Christians alone?

Punishments for Christians

• Christians were sometimes punished or even put to death.

• Stories of the sufferings of these early martyrs served as a powerful inspiration to their fellow Christians.

• Martyr: Someone who chooses death instead of giving up their beliefs.

• Sometimes these stories won new converts

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Multiple Choice

One who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce his or her beliefs.

• martyr

• disciple

• cult

• emperor