Setting the Stage: Religion in Rome • The worship of Roman ______ was impersonal, practiced without a great deal of _________. Priests used sacred ____________ to intercede on behalf of worshippers.

• The religion ______________, was born in _________ times as a movement (or sect) within ________, emphasized the personal relationship between _____ and people.

• It would attract many Romans seeking “___________” during __________ times in the Roman Empire’s latter 3 ______________.

During those difficult ________, this new “________” would spread like ________________!

Setting the Stage: Jews Come Under Roman Rule• Roman power spread to ______, the homeland of the _________, around _____ B.C. when Judea became a province of _________.

• The ruler _____, in Jesus’ day, for example, was a “Romanized” Jew.

• Jewish ___________ were allowed to rule as representatives of _________. Some Jews allied with the Romans and accepted their plans to “_____________” Jerusalem - Jerusalem was the Jewish ________ city.

• His loyalties were ________ between ________ and the Jewish ________, but he ruled with an iron hand and ___________ many Jews.

• There were many Jewish resistors fighting against ________ occupation – particularly violent and militant were the “__________.”

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

• Jewish ______________ against Roman occupation was strong and a constant nuisance to the Romans. The ___________ were a militant group of Jews who wished to ____ their homeland of Roman _______________.

• Many devout Jews believed that the __________, or Savior sent by _____, would be coming soon to ___________ them from this Western Empire that was defiling their ___________________.

According to their Biblical tradition, God had promised such a Messiah would come to _______ the ___________ of the Jews.

Setting the Stage: Jews Come Under Roman Rule

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” which means: God is with us.”

(Isaiah 7:14)

• He was a _____. Became a rabbi, or _______________, at 30.

• During his 3 year ministry, he:• Preached a message emphasizing a personal

_________________ to God• Did ______________• Purportedly performed _______________• Gained a large _____________ because his message

appealed to the _________ and outcasts in Roman society• Gathered around him 12 special ____________, or students.• Many began to suspect he was the long-awaited

“___________” (savior).

• His ideas contained __________ teachings – ___________, emphasized the __________________ and other ethical guidelines to living one’s life.

• Jesus sought to __________ the Judaism of his day - which he believed to be too legalistic - he never indicated a desire to ________________________________.

6 B.C. – 30 A.D.

“Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth…”

Jesus of Nazareth

• Jesus’ growing popularity _____________ both Roman and Jewish leaders.

• They said his teachings were _____________, or contempt for ______.

• In a day when Roman Caesars were demanding “emperor-worship,” Jesus’ message appealed to ____________ in the cities to which he traveled and spoke.

• Those in power were _____________ the type of “discontented” crowds Jesus _______________ might be easily incited to mob behavior or _____________…leading to a brutal response from Rome.

• For this reason, it was believed he needed to be ________________.

Pontius Pilate• Pontius Pilate was the Roman __________ to whom

________ was brought and accused of _______________.

• Pontius Pilate, after questioning Jesus, decided that, indeed, Jesus was challenging the ____________ of Rome.

• Pilate sentenced Jesus to _____________ – a form of capital punishment in Roman times where an individual was nailed to a cross.

• After Jesus’ death his _____ was removed from the cross and placed in a _________.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

• According to the Gospels, _____ days later his body was ________, and rumors spread that a _____________ Jesus was _____________ to his followers. •Today, Christians believe he was “resurrected” – or, ______________________________.

• The apostles were more than ever convinced that __________ was the ______________.

• “______________” is the Greek word meaning “Messiah”or “savior.”

• So, they began to call him Jesus “_________”

• The name “______________________” was derived from this Greek title given to Jesus.

•The ______ on which Jesus had been crucified became a _________ of this new religious sect as well as the sign of the _________.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

REASONS FOR CHRISTIANITY’S WIDE APPEAL

• Embraced all _____________ (universal) – Men, women, and slaves, the poor, and nobles.

• Gave ___________ to the powerless.

• Appealed to those who were repelled by the extravagances of ____________________________.

• Offered a personal _____________ with a ____________ God.

• Promised a ______ after _________ – a promise that gave much ___________ to those living under ____________ circumstances in Rome at the time

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Jewish Rebellion• In 66 A.D., a band of Zealots

___________ against Rome. • In 70 A.D., the Romans stormed

_________ and destroyed the __________ complex.

• All that remained was a western portion of the _____, which today is the holiest Jewish shrine.

• The Jewish fortress near Masada held out until 73 A.D.

• About a ____________ Jews were killed in the course of this rebellion.

• Most Jews were driven from their homeland into _________.

• This dispersal of the Jews is called the _______________.

Persecution of the Christians

• ___________ also posed a problem for Roman rulers because Christians __________ to worship Roman gods.

• This refusal was seen as opposition to Roman _________.

• In A.D. 64, for example, when the emperor ______ was blamed for a disastrous ______ in Rome, he said ______________ were responsible and ordered them to be persecuted.

• Both the apostles Peter and Paul were put to __________ in Rome some time after A.D. 60.

Emperor Nero

Persecution of the Christians

• Thousands were ________, burned, or killed by wild animals in the circus _________.

• Other Christians and even some non-Christians regarded persecuted Christians as _________. – Martyrs were people willing to sacrifice

their ___________ for the sake of a ________ or a _________.

• Despite persecution, Christianity became a powerful __________________.

• By the late third century A.D., there were millions of __________ in the Roman ____________.

CHURCH HIERARCHY

Lay people (Laity)

Pope

Archbishop

Bishops

Priests

Constantine Accepts Christianity

• The Roman emperor _________________ was fighting three rivals for his title.

• On the day before a major battle

Constantine ___________ for divine help.

• He reported that he then saw

a _______ of light in the ____________

bearing the inscription:

“In this sign, ___________”

• Constantine and his troops were ______________ in battle.

• In the next year, A.D. 313, Constantine announced an end to the ___________ of

______________. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.