The document summarizes the development of early Christianity from the life of Jesus to the East-West Schism in 1054 CE. It discusses Jesus' disciples spreading the word and establishing an early Christian community. It then covers topics like the persecution of early Christians, leadership of the church under figures like Peter and Paul, the division from Judaism, Constantine's conversion, and the split between the Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

1. Early Christianity
- The development of early Christian communities

2. Life and Times of Jesus
Homelands

3. A note on dates and sources
• Cross-referencing
– E.g. dating Jesus’ birth
– All Gospels tell us Herod the Great is King during
Jesus’ birth – Roman records=ruler of Judea 37-4
BCE – born near end of reign – the massacre of
infants – Jesus born c. 6-4 BCE
– Gospels tell of a great census – common in
Roman history – question Imperial census or
provincial census? – c. 6-4 BCE

4. • Sources:
– Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles
• Acts written by a doctor-historian “Luke”
– Epistles – Paul and other Catholic Letters (Peter)
• Important for cross-reference to Acts
– Roman sources
• E.g. Tacitus Annals; Diadche (The Teachings of the
Twelve Apostles); Pliny the Younger Letters

5. Leadership• Disciples chosen by Jesus
to spread the Word of God
(Mt 28:16-20)
• Simon Peter  chosen by
Jesus (Mt 16: 17-20) as
Leader of the Early Church
• Pentecost, 30CE, sparks
the first preaching in
Jerusalem
• Forced to flee Jerusalem
for Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)
• Importance: Jesus’ message is
beyond Jerusalem
• James, “the brother
of Jesus”, becomes
leader of the Church
in Jerusalem
(e.g. Acts 15: 13;
Galatians 2: 9-12)
• c.62 CE – put to
death

6. ACTS of the Apostles – The Jewish Origins of Christianity
• The events of Pentecost lead to receiving grace-filled courage to
begin preaching (Acts 2.1-13)
– Referred to as Nazarenes and identified as Jews. They form a SECT of
Judaism
– They still obeyed Mosaic Law: the Commandments, kept the Sabbath
and the food laws and prayed in the same way as the Jews in the
Temple and Synagogues
– Their teachings were Jewish, based on the Hebrew Scriptures
– Maintained the belief in REVELATION – the belief that God is revealed
to people: prophets.
– But they celebrated a Eucharist-type meal after prayers, usually in
someone’s house and practiced baptism (ACT 2.37-42)
– performed miracles (ACTS 3.1-10)
– communal sharing of goods
(ACTS 4: 32-37)

7. Reaction = Persecution
• The Jewish Council (Sanhedrin) in Jerusalem
become frustrated that Jesus’ message has
continued and afraid of Roman repercussions
– ACTS 4 (Peter and John before the Council)
– ACTS 5.17-42 (The Apostles are persecuted – flogging
of Peter and John)
• Stephen
– First Martyr – c. 35 AD – stoned to death by Jews for
teaching Jesus’ words to Jews and Gentiles
(ACTS 7.54-60)
– Results in Stephen’s followers begin to preach the
Gospel to whomever would listen

8. St Paul
– Pharisee educated, Roman citizen, Jew
– Persecuted the Church in Jerusalem – present at
Stephen’s stoning
– Conversion (ACTS 9) (c. 35-36 CE)
– Great Missionary of the Church
– Apostle to the Gentiles
• Importance of Letters
– Gives insight in Paul, into the Christian community,
the spread of Christianity, teachings of the early
Church, issues within the Church

9. Divisions between Judaism and Christianity
• Council of Jerusalem 49 AD
– The missionary work of Peter, Paul and the other disciples spreads Christianity beyond
Palestine to the Gentiles (non-Jews)
– PROBLEM: did the new converts, the Gentiles, need to be Jewish first and thus
circumcised and follow the dietary laws of the Torah, before baptism?
• DIVISION: converted-scribes and Pharisees claimed that circumcision was necessary and
crucial to the law of Moses VERSUS Peter, Paul and other missionaries
• DECISION: As long as the new converts abandoned pagan idols, followed God’s
commandments and were committed to Jesus’ teachings and ministry, Gentiles could
be baptised and receive salvation
• SIGNIFICANCE: The decision to preach to BOTH GENTILES AND JEWS signals
separation from Judaism
• SIGNIFICANCE: Made it easier for Gentiles to convert to Christianity and for
Christianity to spread
• Reactions:
• Jews – disbelief that the Law of Moses was being ignored. Increased hostility to Christianity
• Gentiles – gained a sense of equality with Jewish converts
• Reinforced by the failed revolt (66-70), destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans
70 AD and the Diaspora (dispersion) of the Jews
• ESTIMATES: By 100 CE , there were 500, 000 Christians spread throughout the
empire, representing 1% of the Roman population

10. Spreading the Word
• St Paul’s Journeys
Well
established
and
maintained
road and
sea
networks
Common
Language:
Greek
The Roman Empire was peaceful at this time –
enabling safe and secure travelling
Christians were preaching a simpler and more
personal message that attracted many people
Christians cared for the sick during
epidemics as well as the poor and
widows
Women
were treated
with more
respect in
Christian
communities
– marriage
and family
life was
more stable

11. The Persecutions
• Two directions: Jewish
and Roman
– Jewish examples: Saul of
Tarsus and the Stoning of
Stephen
• Roman:
– Emperor Nero - Blamed
the burning of Rome on
the Christians in 64 CE –
martyred in the streets
and in gladiatorial
combats

13. Constantine
• Emperor Constantine’s Conversion (312 AD)
– Emperor of the entire Roman Empire
– Legitimised Christianity – and became the state
religion (Edict of Milan 313 AD)
• Council of Nicaea 325 AD
– In response to theological arguments within the
Church
– Affirmed the teaching of the trinity: three Persons
in the One God: FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT

14. • Moves the Roman capital to Byzantium in the
East – renamed Constantinople – modern
Istanbul
– Two centres of Christianity emerge:
Constantinople and Rome
– According to tradition:
• the leader of the Church was the Bishop of Rome –
Peter had been the first
• Followed by the Bishop of Constantinople
• Followed by Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandra
• These were the Patriarchs of the Church
Constantine

15. From Outlaws to the State Religion
• Many rushed to be baptised
• Building of public churches
– Basilica of St Peter in
Rome – Sancta Sophia in
Constantinople
• Increased power and
influence of the Bishops
and local clergy
• In the East: richer and more
powerful
• In the West: The bishop of
Rome was the recognised
successor of St Peter

17. Fall of Rome
• Barbarian Hordes
• 410: Sacking of Rome

18. East-West Schism 1054 CE
• Political Causes
– In the West, the Bishop of Rome (now referred to
as the Pope) took on more leadership duties
– In the East, the Patriarch of Constantinople was
intricately linked with the Emperor
formal separation
from the unity of the
Church

19. Cause West East
Language Latin Greek
Authority Claimed authority based on their
decedent from St Peter, the first
Bishop and leader of the Apostles
Claimed authority as the Patriarchs of
the capital of the Roman Empire
Or at least equal authority
Eucharist
and
Sacramen
ts
-Hymns were translated into Latin
-Altar remained out the front and
visible to all
- Emphasised the mystery of the
Eucharist concealing the altar behind
decorated screens: “iconostasis”
Holy
Images
- Portraying holy images remained
allowable
-Debate arose
-Periods were depicting holy images was
banned
-Re-emerged as flat images, paintings,
mosaics, or shallow carvings – called
icons
-NO STATUES
Ministers - Increasingly insisted on celibacy -Ordained married deacons into the
priesthood
Nicene
Creed
-Debate about the status of the Holy
Spirit
-Originally, the creed stated “who
proceeds from the Father” but later
added “and the Son”
- Fiercely opposed the addition of “and
the Son” and refused to include it

20. Doctrine of Papal Jurisdiction
• The Catholic Doctrine that the Pope and the
Church of Rome (Apostolic See) retained
overall authority due to their unique position
as heirs to St Peter

21. East-West Schism 1054
• Mutual Excommunication
• East: Orthodox Christianity
• West: Catholicism
being cut off
from the
sacraments
and the life
of the
Church