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.