Chapter 5- Christianity

Origins of Christianity

Jesus of Nazareth was the man many people believed was the Messiah—a great leader the ancient Jews predicted would come to restore the greatness of Israel. Jesus was a great leader and one of the most influential figures in world history. Jesus’ life and teachings form the basis of a religion called Christianity. However, we know relatively little about his life. Everything we do know is contained in the Bible, the holy book of Christianity.

​The Christian Bible is made up of two parts. The first part, the Old Testament, is largely the same as the Hebrew Bible. The second part, the New Testament, is an account of the life and teachings of Jesus and of the early history of Christianity.

Multiple Choice

A savior who many Jews believe had been promised to them by God

• Messiah

• Christianity

• Gospel

• emphasis

Multiple Choice

The Bible is the sacred text (book) for which religion?

• Christianity ✝️

• Judaism ✡️

• Islam ☪️

​The Birth of Jesus

​According to the Bible, Jesus was born in a small town called Bethlehem at the end of the first century BC. Jesus’ mother, Mary, was married to a carpenter named Joseph. But Christians believe God, not Joseph, was Jesus’ father.

Multiple Choice

Where was Jesus born?

• Rome

• London

• Bethlehem

• Mecca

​The Crucfixion

​As a teacher, Jesus drew many followers with his ideas. But at the same time, his teachings challenged the authority of political and religious leaders. According to the New Testament, they arrested Jesus while he was in Jerusalem in or around AD 30.

​Shortly after his arrest, the Romans tried and executed Jesus. He was killed by crucifixion, a type of execution in which a person was nailed to a cross.

Multiple Choice

Near what city was Jesus crucified?

• Galilee

• Jerusalem

• Nazareth

• Samaria

Multiple Choice

Jesus was killed by

• crucifixion
  

• beatings

• jail

• weapons

​The Resurrection

According to Christian beliefs, Jesus rose from the dead and vanished from his tomb three days after he was crucified. Now, Christians refer to Jesus’ rise from the dead as the Resurrection.

Christians further believe that after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to some groups of his disciples , or followers. Jesus stayed with these disciples for the next 40 days, teaching them and giving them instructions about how to pass on his teachings. Then Jesus rose up into heaven.​

​

​Early Christians believed that the Resurrection was a sign that Jesus was the Messiah and the son of God. Some people began to call him Jesus Christ, from the Greek word for Messiah, Christos. It is from this word that the words Christian and Christianity eventually developed.

Multiple Choice

The term for someone who is a follower of a teacher is a

• miracle

• rabbi

• teacher

• disciple

Multiple Choice

Jesus resurrected, which means

• float up to heaven

• came back to life

• disappeared

​The Apostles

​The Apostles were 12 men whom Jesus chose to receive special teaching. During Jesus’ lifetime, they were among his closest followers and knew him very well. Jesus frequently sent the Apostles to spread his teachings. After the Resurrection, the Apostles continued this task.

​The Gospels

​Some of Jesus’ disciples wrote accounts of his life and teachings. These accounts are called the Gospels. Four Gospels are found in the New Testament of the Bible.

The Gospels were written by men known as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All the men’s accounts differ slightly from one another, but together they make up the best source we have on Jesus’ life.

Multiple Choice

Jesus life story is found in the ...

• Old Testament

• Qu'ran

• The Gospels

• 4 Noble Truths