Early Christianity

Rome Was Religiously Tolerant

Jesus Preached Forgiveness & Eternal Life

What Do We Know About The Historical Jesus? How Do We Know It?

Jesus Did Not Leave Any Writings

There Is No Archeological Evidence Of Jesus

There Are No Writings From Anyone Who Says He Knew Jesus

Our Best Source Is The Bible (The New Testament)

• 27 BCE – 14 CE: Reign of Emperor Augustus• ~4 BCE: Jesus of Nazareth is born• ~30 CE: Death of Jesus• ~50-56 CE: Paul writes letters to early Christian

congregations• ~70-100 CE: Gospels of Matthew, Mark & Luke

written• ~90-110 CE: Gospel of John written

Communities Of The Gospels

The Letters Of Paul (50-56 CE)

• Advice to young Christian communities

• Very little about Jesus as a person

Gospel Of Mark (~70 CE)

• The first gospel • Begins the gospel tradition• Jesus is mysterious and had

doubts

Gospel of Matthew (~80 CE)

• Draws on Mark and other sources

• Written for Jewish Christians who live near Jerusalem

• Attacks the Pharisees

Gospel of Luke (~80 CE)

• Draws on Mark and other sources

• Written for a Gentile, Roman audience

• Jesus is a very powerful figure, calm and rational

Gospel of John (~100 CE)

• Clearly later than and separate from the other gospels

• A “spiritual” gospel. Jesus is the embodiment of divine wisdom.

• Christians are now separate from Jews