Global Studies I

 The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

 Christianity was founded
on his life and teachings
 Jesus’ birth and early life
 Born of a virgin, Mary and
a carpenter from
Bethlehem named Joseph
(Mt 1:18; Lk 1:26-38)
 The Message of
Jesus
 Begins ministry
around age 30
 Baptized by his
cousin, John the
Baptist, a
charismatic and
ascetic figure
(Mt 3:13-17;Mk 1:9-11; Lk
3:21-23; Jn 1:29-39)
 The Message of Jesus
 Jesus selected a group of
12 men who became
disciples to travel with
him as he taught
 Jesus then spent from
one to three years
teaching and working
miracles among his
disciples and before
large crowds.
 The Message of Jesus
 Jesus’ teachings focused primarily on the "the
kingdom of God" and were usually relayed
through parables.
 rebuked the hypocrisy of some Jewish leaders
 taught the importance of humility, charity,
love and kindness, even to one's enemies
 The Message of Jesus
 Jesus' popularity grew quickly, but so did
opposition from local leaders.
 Roman rulers were uncomfortable with the
common perception that he was the Messiah
who would liberate the Jews from Roman rule.
 Jewish leaders were disturbed by Jesus' shocking
interpretations of Jewish law, his power with the
people, and the rumor that he had been alluding
to his own divinity.
 Betrayal and
Execution
 Judas Iscariot, one of
his disciples and
possibly the group's
treasurer, led Roman
soldiers to Jesus for
30 pieces of silver.
 Jesus was turned
over to procurator
Pontius Pilate, who
sentenced Jesus to
death by crucifixion.
 The Resurrection
 Jesus’ followers
proclaimed that He had
risen from death and had
appeared to them. (Mt
28:1-10; Mk 16:1-8; Lk
24:1-12; Jn 20:1-10)
 This belief is central to the
Christian church as well as
a major source of courage
shown by early Christian
martyrs
 Apostles
 Apostle – Greek; “one
who is sent out”
 Formed churches for
worship, fellowship,
and instruction
 Simon Peter
 Previously a Jewish
fisherman
 Leader of the apostles
 Paul of Tarsus
 Highly educated
Roman citizen
 Once known as Saul
and persecuted
Christians
 Converted to
Christianity
 Spread the gospel
(“good news”) to
Gentiles and Jews
 Founded Christian
communities
throughout Asia Minor
and along the shores
of the Aegean Sea
 Between AD 40 and 100, written
accounts and personal memoirs giving a
record of Jesus’ life and teachings
became the basis of the written Gospels
and form the core of the New Testament,
the second part of the Christian Bible.
 Many Romans viewed
Christians as harmful to
the Roman state:
 Christians refused to
worship state gods and
emperors
 Romans saw this as
treason, punishable by
death
 Official persecution
(harassing to cause
suffering) began during
the reign of Nero.
 Roman persecution forced Christians to
become more organized.
 Only the most committed individuals would
choose to follow
 Why was Christianity able to attract so
many followers?
 Christianity was personal and offered
salvation and eternal life to individuals.
 Christianity seemed familiar.
 Christianity filled the human need to belong
 Christianity developed from a persecuted
religion to the state religion of Rome.
 The last great persecution of Christians took
place under emperor Diocletian
 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which
proclaimed official tolerance of Christianity.
 Under Theodosius the Great, the Romans
adopted Christianity as their official religion.