How Christianity Rose to Dominate Europe Humble Beginnings Amongst the Roman-Ruled Jews Christianity would grow to dominate Europe by the 5th century AD, but its humble beginnings can be traced to the adjacent continent of Asia, in a backwater of the Roman Empire known as Judea. It began as a small Jewish movement in and around Jerusalem, which purported that the Son of God (Jesus Christ - the 'anointed one') had lived and preached among them during the early 1st century. Followers claimed that his new 'gospel' (a.k.a.
1 I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul. Jun 18, 2017. Murder By Death Bitter Drink Bitter Moon Download Blogspot. Essay Writing Service - Essay. We value excellent academic writing and strive to provide outstanding essay writing services each and every time you place an order. We write essays, research papers, term papers, course works,.
'the way') corrected the corruptions which had infiltrated Judaism throughout the previous centuries, showing the true way to salvation (by believing in and following the teachings of Jesus). Christianity first materialized as an offshoot of Judaism (i.e. 'reformed Judaism'), centered around the Hebrew prophesies of a Jewish messiah.
Just as Judaism was viewed primarily as a religion for the Israelites, Christianity was also initially viewed as a religion for 'God's chosen people' (as the Israelites viewed themselves). This original understanding is reflected by various passages in the New Testament which ascribe to Jesus instruction that prohibits Jewish followers from introducing the gospel among the 'gentiles' (i.e. The prevailing viewpoint among the earliest Christians was that the gospel was God's gift to the Jews, to help perfect them as a people, to escape their captors (the Romans in this case), and to help usher the Kingdom of Heaven to the earth, which was to be located in Jerusalem with Jesus at its throne. According to New Testament writings, the apostle Peter understood that the gospel was to be confined to the Jews. However, Paul of Tarsus would enter the scene, and successfully challenge this notion, marking an important transitional point for Christianity. (Continued Below) Spread Beyond Jerusalem to the 'Gentiles' The earliest-dated writings of the New Testament are the Pauline Epistles, as agreed upon by most secular and Christian scholars.