The Early Church

THE EARLY CHURCH

CHRISTIANITY GROWS

CHRISTIANITY SPREADS

HOW DID IT SPREAD

• Because it was created in ROME

• Areas controlled by Rome were peaceful, generally, and this it made it easy to travel the words spreading their teachings

• Most people spoke Latin or Greek (easy communication)

• The message of Christianity gave comfort to people because it allowed people to believe that they would have a better life after death

• Christianity also promoted taking care of your neighbor so the Christian communities took care of each other and this meant better security

• Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 324 C.E.

“It was the nineteenth year of the reign of Diocletian and the month of Dystrus, called by the Romans March, in which the festival of our Saviour’s passion [Easter] was at hand, when the imperial edicts [laws] were everywhere published, to tear down the churches to the foundation, and to destroy the sacred Scriptures [the holy writings] by fire, and which commanded, also, that those who were in honourable stations should be degraded, but those who were freedmen [not enslaved] should be deprived of their liberty, if they persevered in their adherence [loyalty] to Chirstianity. The first edict against us was of this nature; but it was not long before other edicts were also issued, in which it was ordered that all the prelates [church leaders] in every place should first be committed to prison, and then, by every artifice [trickery], constrained to sacrifice to the gods.”

Open Ended

According to the quote, what was happening to the Christians? (The quote can be found on page 36)

Multiple Choice

What is thew name for someone that gives their lives for their beliefs rather than give them up? (Answer on Page 36)

• Martyrs

• God

• Emperor

• Bishop

The Emperor Constantine has a dream that leads him to victory.

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The Empire Accepts Christianity

• Eusebius, The Life of Constantine, c. 339 C.E.

“And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty [passionate plea], a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven… he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription [writing], CONQUER BY THIS… The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation [the act of being saved from sin] as a safeguard against every adverse [opposing] and hostile power and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.”

Open Ended

What did Constantine see in his dream that led him to Christianity? (Quote can be found on page 36)

The Empire Accepts Christianity

What did Constantine change

• Before the battle began, he ordered his soldiers to paint a cross on their shields

• Constantine became a strong believer and issued the Edict of Milan in 313 C.E. 

• This erased all the other edicts and allowed for Christianity to be practiced freely and free from persecution

• He felt that Christianity was the key to bringing the Roman Empire together again.

• Christians, for the first time, were allowed to serve in government and they did not have to pay taxes $$$$

• Emperor Theodosius banned Greek and Roman religions making Christianity the official religion in 392 C.E.

Poll

If you saw the changes that Constantine was promising for becoming a Christian, Would you forget everything you had ever know and become Christian?

• Yes

• No

Reorder

Study the Chart on Page 39: Reorder the following in the church from the bottom (weakest) to the top (strongest).

• Laity

• Priest

• Bishops

• Archbishops

• Patriarchs

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

What does Gospel mean? (found on Page 39)

• Bad news

• Good News

• Holy News

• A Book

Multiple Choice

The clergy are the leaders of the church. (Found on Page 38)

• True

• False

Fill in the Blanks

A _ is an organization with different levels of authority. (found on page 38)

• Claimed that he had the right to rule over all bishops 

• Was given this power by the Apostle Peter.

• His diocese was in Rome and that was the capital of the Roman Empire so he should lead

• By 600 C.E., the bishop of Rome was give a special name, POPE.

• Pope comes from the latin word papa, which means “father”

• Western Roman Empire followed him and became Roman Catholic Church

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The Bishop of Rome

Open Ended

The Early Church ends up being taken over by the Bishop of Rome (Pope), Would you have continued to follow the church after this change in power? (Read pages 38-40 for more information) Must answer in at least 4 sentences.