Emergence of Christianity

I. Roman Deities

a. Polytheism

b. Early Influences – Etruscans

c. Faith for the Privileged – Stoicism

i. Greeks Stoics and Marcus Tullius Cicero

d. Faith for the Masses - Religions of Salvation

i. Mithraism

ii. Cult of Isis

II. Judaism

a. Yahweh, a Jealous but Good God.

b. Abraham and the Covenant

c. Moses and the Ten Commandments

d. Jews and the Empire – State Cults

e. Jewish War (66-70 AD)

III. Early Christianity

a. Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6 BC – c. 29 AD)

b. Reforming Judaism – Jesus’ Teachings

i. Devotion to God

ii. Love for Fellow Human Beings

iii. Sermon of the Mount

c. Threat to Romans? “The Kingdom of God is at Hand”

d. Jesus’ Death the birth of a new Faith

i. “Christ” – “The Anointed One”

ii. New Testament

iii. Paul of Tarsus (c. 5 – c. 67 AD)

IV. Triumph of Christianity

a. Roman Persecution and Growth

b. Social Appeal

c. Constantine and the Edict of Milan (313 AD)

d. Theodosius the Great (reigned 378-395 AD)