History Paper
Aanand
HISTLec4.pptOrigins of Christianity
- Christianity & Islam
Both world historical religions w/universal claims
Christianity & Islam multi-cultural societies
i.e., multiple ethnic & linguistic groups in both societies
Both had religious minorities in their midst
Both agreed religious minorities deserved second class status
Islam
Arabic language of God, religion, gov’t
Christianity
Latin the language of religion & gov’t in the West
- Palestine/Judea
Ruled by Romans thru King Herod
Judaism complicated relations with Rome
Judaism very traditional and conservative at the time
Romans religiously conservative as well
Jews refusal to worship Roman gods problematic
But generally got along okay
Sadducees
Priests who ruled over Temple cult in Jerusalem
Very traditional, very conservative
Didn’t believe soul survived bodily death, no afterlife, no angels & demons, no day of judgment
Pharisees
Lay population of Jews
Pharisees relied on The Torah
Torah = law
Tried to apply law of Torah to everyday life
Built large body of case law
Believed soul survived bodily death, believed in an afterlife, & angels and demons & coming day of judgment, etc.
Thought how you lived life in this world influenced your afterlife
Could say Jesus @thing of a Pharisee
Essenes/Qumran Covenanters
Small male group of Jews
Saw themselves as Godly elite
Withdrew from society, moved to desert to await the end of days
No women, no marriage, no sexual activity
Impossible to maintain movement w/out constant recruiting
Zealots
Small group of Jews dedicated to fighting power of Rome
Rejected Rome politically and culturally
Philosophical Jews
Small # of highly educated & wealthy Jews
Educated in Greek, i.e., Hellenistic thought
Never attracted large # of people--most Jews to poor & uneducated
Mystery Religions
When Jesus was born many “mystery” religions floating thru the region
Many promised an afterlife but it was pretty rotten for everyone, regardless of how you lived life in this world
- Jews Outside Jerusalem
Worshipped at Synagogues
No access to Temple Cult
Jewish communities scattered through Mediterranean
Jews allowed to govern themselves
Had schools, synagogues (led by a rabbi), financial institutions, etc.
- Life of Jesus
Born to a world of social-religious ferment
What do we know of his life?
From The Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Used similar as well as different sources
All written after crucifixion
A little contentious
Repent the Kingdom of God is near at hand
Not at all clear he claimed to be Son of God but clear he claimed a special, unique relationship with God
Put to death as a trouble-making revolutionary by Pontius Pilate
- Paul of Tarsus
Born Saul, Greek-speaking, Roman citizen of Tarsus
Was a Pharisee, participated in persecution of early Christians till conversion on Road to Damascus (circa 35 C.E.)
James, the “brother” of Jesus
Claimed early leadership of Jesus cult
Had to be a Jew
Had to follow Jewish Law
Dietary restrictions, circumcision, etc.
Struggle b/t James & Paul
Paul Victorious
Paul claimed message of Jesus universal
No need to follow the Torah! Why?
Because Jesus had fulfilled God’s law
- Paul, the “first” Christian
Established theology of Christianity
Jesus, the Son of God
Fulfilled God’s Law
Redeemed humanity of its sinfulness
- Christianity’s Spread
Grew slowly first 3 centuries of common era
Most attractive to urban poor
Early Church rejected everything, return of Messiah near at hand, day of judgment near at hand
- Structure of Early Church
Five Patriarchates
Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem
Church led by Bishops in these cities
Apostles appointed first Bishops
These Bishops had “charismatic” link to Jesus thru the Apostles
Doctrine of the “Apostolic Succession”
Local Churches
Governed by Presbyters, i.e., Elders and Deacons (“those who serve”)
The Petrine Doctrine
Used to establish Bishop of Rome’s authority
Matthew 16: 18: “I say you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
- Spread of Christianity
Why the Success?
Leadership of Christianity community
Bishops, elders, deacons communicated with and disciplined local Christians
Orthodoxy = Old Testament, Gospels, Epistles of Paul
Christian leaders rallied around these sacred writings
Many apocrypha excluded from the canon
Christian Communities
Provided sense of belonging & purpose: a sense of community
Once Paul won over James Christianity became universal
No need to be circumcised, no need to break ties to friends and family
Salvation & immortality linked to this world
