History of Christianity - Lesson 2 by Don Noenoehitoe

History of Christianity - Lesson 2

Don Noenoehitoe

1. How do we know that Jesus Christ is a historical person and what are the historical evidences?

The name "Christus" was associated with the  beginning of Christianity by Roman historian Tacitus (AD55 - AD117),

who in the Emperor Tiberius reign was crucified under the judgment of Pontius Pilate, a Roman Governor & Procurator in Judea.

Pliny, propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus of Asia Minor, wrote letter to Emperor Trajan around AD112 seeking advice concerning

the Christians, Pliny's letter to Trajan provides insights about Christ. 

Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Vita Claudius mentioned"Chrestos" (i.e. Christ) as the cause that the Jews were thrown

out of Rome by Claudius.  Lucian, around A.D. 170 wrote about the Christians & crucified Jesus.

The Pagans sources are important historical evidences that came from cultured-Romans who generally mocked Christianity.

With these historical evidences, in addition to the Cannonical writings & the Gospels, Christ did in fact historically exist.

2. What makes the personality and character of Jesus Christ special?

Holy Scriptures & the Gospels offers some insights on the personality and character of Jesus Christ with a profound originality & authority.

When Jewish and other authorities quote others in their testimonials, Jesus, on the other hand, gave the phrase "I say."

These occurrences in the Gospels show Jesus' originality, creativity & authority which amazed the people of His day (Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32).

Jesus' genuineness is very apparent in the scriptural records - Jesus was was true to others & could be completely Himself (John 8:46).

The Gospels - from the parables to the Sermon on the Mount - also bear witness to Jesus' balanced character. There was no excess in Jesus' character.

This unworldly personality & characters can only be sufficiently explained by the historical account of Jesus' Virgin Birth.

3. How does Christ's person and work constitute the beginning of Christianity?

The death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Living God, along with His character, works, and teachings, constitute the beginning of Christianity. Despite the existence of numerous religions that exist without their human founders, Christ are inseparable from Christianity.

Christ provided to His church the two sacramental ordinances, the Apostles, its fundamental messages of the kingdom of God, its paramount discipline (Matthew 16:16-19; 18:15-20), and the Holy Spirit to be the One to work through the Christian church in the spread of the Good News to all the world. Christ left no fundamental organizational structure, no clearly defined systematic theology, nor personally authored sacred books and writings. All of these things would be sorted out by the Apostles under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

History of Christianity - Lesson 1 by Rev. Noenoehitoe

History of Christianity - Lesson 1

Don Noenoehitoe

1. How did the Roman Empire help Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean world of the 1st century A.D.?

The early Greco-Roman believed in strong, centralized government where the Emperor's reign were supreme, which advocated
a single and uniformity in its philosophy, codes of law, political and religious belief.

Furthermore, the paramount importance of Rome's citizenship, legions supremacy, provincial auxiliaries, and vast road networks; 

in which all greatly contributed to spread the Christian Gospel - Salvation for the sinners only come from Jesus Christ - a universal

idea that Rome helped spread and institutionalized within its realm.

Interestingly, even Alexander the Great had failed to constitute the sense of unity within his vast empire - prior to the era of Pax Romana

2. What were the effects of Greek language and philosophy upon the rise of Christianity?

Greek language & philosophy were flourished under Rome's reign, especially within the trade routes throughout the ancient world.
It became the vessel for the spread of Christianity, whereas most educated Romans were fluent in both Latin & Greek during Rome's infancy.
Koine Greek: "Street Greek" was the language widely used to by the early Christians.  The language was modified from Classical Greek, deeply
rooted in Hellenistic world & Roman Empire, in which greatly contributed to the rise of early Christianity

The Greek Philosophy were in decline during the rise of early Christianity.  "The Fall" of Greek Philosophy & Greco Romans beliefs were
stemmed from dissatisfaction toward classical deities & mystery cults within the Roman Empire; the human reasons cannot reach the Divine,
whereas Christianity spiritual approach to life were slowly accepted & filling the void

3. In what ways did the Jews and Judaism impact the birth of Christianity?

Judaism & Christianity were closely related; the early Christianity were deeply rooted in Judaism, in which Monotheism (One True God)
was universal belief.  The Jews spiritual approach were different than the Greeks, whereas the Greeks emphasis on human reasoning has its questionable limits. The Jews, as God's chosen people, derived their belief from the Ten Commandments & their sacred history, where God revealed to them -
through Abraham, Jacob, Moses & their other great leaders - the only source of Salvation ( John 4:22)

The expectations of Messianic figure were popular in the Roman world because of the constant preaching of the Jews.  This hope of the coming
righteousness was unlike what Virgil's poems were written about: an ideal Roman ruler, Augustus' son, will come into being

Judaism moral philosophy - through the prevalence of synagogues, the supremacy of Ten Commandments & the Old Testament - were favorably
timed & accepted within the Roman Empire.  Furthermore, the central location of the land of Palestine greatly helped the spread of Judaism
cultures & belief in the Ancient Near East & Mediterranean world.