Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Rome and Early Christianity
Section 4
MAIN IDEA
A new religion called Christianity developed within the Roman Empire and
gradually spread throughout the Roman world.
Key Terms and People
Christianity a religion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
Messiah a spiritual leader who, according to prophecy, would restore the ancient
Kingdom of David
Jesus of Nazareth a spiritual leader who taught people to seek forgiveness for their sins
disciples followers
Apostles twelve disciples chosen by Jesus
martyrs people who suffer death for the sake of their faith, inspiring others to believe
Paul Jewish apostle who helped spread Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean region,
formerly called Saul
Eucharist a religious ceremony that commemorated Jesus's last supper
bishop a priestly official who oversaw church affairs in a particular city, had authority
over other priests in the region
pope bishop of Rome
Taking Notes
As you read the summary, take notes about key events and ideas in the
early history of Christianity. Use a graphic organizer like the one below to
list key points.
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Rome and Early Christianity
Section 4
Section Summary
CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM
Over time, the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
developed into a new religion called Christianity.
Many of those teachings were rooted in the beliefs and
customs of Judaism. Unlike many conquered peoples
living in the Roman Empire, the people living in the
kingdom of Judea strived to keep their monotheistic
religion as it was. They did not want it mixed with
Rome’s polytheistic state religion. Most Roman
emperors allowed the Jews religious freedom.
Judaism, however, had many different branches. One
group, the Zealots, wanted to overthrow Roman
rule. Others preferred to wait for the coming of a
spiritual leader known as the Messiah, who they
believed would restore the ancient Kingdom of David.
When the Zealots rebelled in AD 66–70, the Romans
killed thousands of Jews and destroyed Jerusalem,
including most of the Second Temple, leaving only
the western wall.
JESUS OF NAZARETH
From the chaos in Judea, a spiritual leader named
Jesus of Nazareth emerged. Our knowledge of Jesus
comes almost entirely from the Gospels, or the first
four books of the New Testament. The New
Testament together with the books of the Hebrew
Bible make up the Christian Bible.
According to the Gospels, Jesus was born in
Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and grew up in the town
of Nazareth. In time, Jesus began to preach. He
gathered a group of disciples, or followers. According
to the Bible, Jesus performed miracles of healing and
defended the poor and the oppressed.
Jesus instructed people to repent for their sins, seek
God’s forgiveness, and love God and all people.
Jesus's teachings and the crowds he drew alarmed
authorities. He was arrested and put to death.
According to the New Testament, after being
executed, Jesus rose from the dead, then spent another
40 days teaching his disciples before ascending into
heaven. His followers believed that Jesus was the
Messiah and the Son of God. They began calling
How did the people of
Judea differ from other
peoples in the empire?
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the spiritual texts
that make up the Bible.
What messages did Jesus
spread to his followers?
_______________________
_______________________
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Rome and Early Christianity
Section 4
him Jesus Christ, after Christos, the Greek word
for Messiah.
THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
After Jesus's death, 12 of the disciples he had chosen
specifically—known as the Apostles—began to
spread Jesus’ message. They taught that all people
could receive salvation, or the forgiveness of sins and
the promise of everlasting life. The disciples were
persecuted and some were killed. Those killed were
seen as martyrs, people who suffer death for their
faith’s sake, and thus inspire others to believe.
Had it not been for the work of a man named Paul,
Christianity might have remained a branch of
Judaism. Paul convinced the disciples that Jesus had
given him a special mission to convert non-Jews, or
Gentiles. Paul changed some rules for non-Jews and
wrote epistles that would later be placed in the New
Testament. Many new followers joined the church.
Christianity spread quickly through the Roman
world. Its message of love and life after death
appealed to many. The emperor Constantine joined
the religion and made Christianity legal within the
empire, which helped the religion flourish in the 300s.
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The earliest Christian congregations were spiritual
organizations that were like close-knit families. As
Christianity grew, however, its organization became
more complex. Part of the church's early success came
from the development of special ceremonies and
rituals. One such ceremony was the Eucharist, which
commemorated Jesus's last supper with his disciples.
In this ceremony, Christians ate bread and drank wine
in memory of Jesus's death.
Over time, those who organized and performed
church ceremonies became known as priests. Soon a
single priestly official, called a bishop, emerged to
oversee church affairs in most cities. Bishops had
authority over the other priests in an area. Many
bishops believed that the pope, or bishop of Rome,
had authority as the head of the entire church.
How did Paul help spread
Christianity?
_______________________
_______________________
Circle the titles of officials
within the early Christian
church.
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