2. Roman Religion
■ Borrowed religion
from the Greeks
■ Roman gods had
similar traits as the
Greek gods with
different names.
▪ Example: Zeus was the
king of the Greek gods,
while Jupiter was king
of the Roman gods
3. Roman Religion
■ Revival of State Religion
through festivals &
ceremonies
■ Rituals = Peace &
Prosperity
■ The empire was
successful due to the
favor of the gods.
■ Allowed gods and
goddesses of conquered
peoples as well as
eastern religions
4. Roman Religion
■ Augustus became the
first official “god” of
Rome
■ Subsequent emperors
were made gods by the
Senate
■ This practice led to later
problems with the
Christians
5. Jews
■ By AD 6, the Roman Empire
had expanded into Judaea.
■ Ruled by Procurator
■ Political groups:
– Sadducees: desired
cooperation with the
Romans;
– Pharisees: closely
followed religious law to
protect Jews;
– Essenes: waiting for
the Messiah to save
Israel from the
oppressive Romans
– Zealots: overthrow
Roman rule.
6. Jews
Jews rebelled against the Roman
government and their regulations.
– In 70 A.D., Romans stormed Jerusalem and
destroyed the temple complex.
▪ 500,000 Jews were killed
– Then in 132, another half-million Jews died in
three years of fighting.
– Most Jews were driven from their homeland
into exile after this.
▪ This dispersal of the Jews is called the Diaspora.
7. Jews
YHWH
-Hebrew designation for the name of God Yahweh or
Jehovah: English translation from Hebrew
“Only God is God”
-Creation is not God, Man is not God, and kings are
not divine
Stressed moral behavior over ritual
8. Jews
The Faith of Judaism
● Self-restraint
● Family
● Value of Human Life
● Formal Worship
● Monotheistic
● Stresses moral & ethical behavior
Christianity grew from the beliefs of the Jews
which sought the Messiah, who would free them
from Roman persecution.
9. Jesus
■ Jewish Prophet
■ Mission: to complete God’
s work to save Israel “Do
not think that I have
come to abolish the Law
and the Prophets; I have
come not to abolish them
but to fulfill them”.
■ Voice ethical concepts of
humility, charity, and love
toward others
10. Jesus
• Jesus preached justice,
compassion, coming of
Godʼs kingdom
• Jesusʼ Sermon on the
Mount included
Beatitudes
• Asked people to love and
pray for enemies; to live
simply, humbly
● Jewish leaders angered
by Jesusʼ teachings
● Were upset that some
followers claimed Jesus
was the Messiah
11. Jesus
■ Feared by Romans to be
a revolutionary who
would lead a Jewish
revolt against the Romans
■ Arrested, tried by the
Pharisees, for heresy then
turned over to Romans
■ Procurator Pontius Pilate
had him crucified
■ Followers believe he
arose from death
12. Early Years of Christianity
■The resurrection of Jesus spread
Christianity quickly, teachings passed on
orally then written – New Testament
■Two disciples, Peter & Paul, continued
teachings of Jesus.
■Spread message to communities
throughout Asia Minor and along Aegean
sea.
13. Spread of Christianity
■ Spread to major cities throughout Eastern
Empire.
■ Initially, ignored by Romans, as
considered a Jewish sect.
■ Soon changed because Christians:
▪ Refused to worship state gods & emperors
▪ Considered to be treasonist punishable by death
▪ Roman began persecuting Christians
14. Spread of Christianity
■ Thrived regardless of persecution, strengthened as it
began to become organized and assume control over
Christian communities.
■ Christianity spread as a result of:
▪ Embracing all people- men, women, slaves, poor,
and nobles.
▪ Gave hope to the powerless
▪ Appealed to those who were repelled by imperial
Rome.
▪ Offered a personal relationship with a loving God.
▪ Promised eternal life after death.
15. Constantine and Christianity
■ A critical moment in Christianity occurred
in 312 when the Roman emperor
Constantine was fighting 3 rivals for his
life.
– On the day before the battle at Milvian Bridge,
Constantine prayed for divine help
▪ He then saw a cross of light in the heavens
bearing the description, “In this sign, conquer.”
– Constantine won the battle and gave credit
for his success to the Christian God.
16.
17. The Official Religion
■ In 313, Constantine ordered an end to all
persecution of the Christians.
■ In the Edict of Milan, he declared
Christianity to be one of the religions
approved by the emperor.
■ Finally in 380, the emperor Theodosius
made it empire’s official religion.
