What is perhaps one of the most influential religion to exist in modern day society, Christianity has roots that can be traced back to the early beginnings of the 15th-1st century BCE in the Middle East. At the centre of its origin story is its spiritual homeland, Israel. It is widely thought that Christianity began in Israel, but this is not strictly true. We know that Christianity is based on the beliefs of the Jewish religion, not just the geography of Israel, and so in this sense, its ‘birth’ is much more complicated than some might suggest.
The very earliest that we can trace democratic Christianity is said to have been formed around the life of Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified between 30-33 CE by Pontius Pilate. It has also been suggested that Jesus was a leader of numerous biblical movements of the time— which some believe to have started in the 4th decade of the 1st century CE. Whether or not these movements began in Israel is a matter of personal interpretation and discussion; some suggest it spread from there, while others think history may have taken different routes with the growth of Christianity.
To answer this question, we must turn to the very core of Christianity, its beliefs. We know that Jesus was a Jew, following the ways of the ancient Hebrews. It was through his teachings that disciples and followers of the faith began to create Christianity as we know it today. We know that in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is quoted saying “‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’”. Thus it is widely accepted that this was the point at which Christianity expanded from Israel, from the religion of ‘Judaism’.
In this sense, we can say that Christianity began in whatever form it was before Jesus’ teachings, but in its modern sense, it really started with the teachings of Jesus and the ‘Great Commission’. We know from both the New Testament and Gospels, and from increased scholarly research, that the expansion of Christianity was driven by the leadership of the twelve Apostles. These followers of Jesus, perhaps more than any other, are remembered for the spread of Christianity from its spiritual home in Israel, through their tireless efforts, as they were sent all throughout the ancient East, Syriac, and Coptic traditions.
It is also believed that the early Christian community was greatly influenced by Greek culture, and that this hybridization was part of what contributed to the success of the faith. The relationship between Jewish, Greek, and Christian beliefs is essential in understanding how Christianity began, and flourished in the Middle East, an area of the world with an already long and varied history of spiritual practice.
When looking at how Christianity began, we must also consider how it was received. In some ways, it was largely opposed, as it presented a new set of beliefs to those existing in the area at the time. Fortunately, it would soon become accepted and recognized as widespread religion, slowly spreading to areas of the world such as Europe, then soon reaching further corners of the globe.
So, while we can trace Christianity to “begin” in Israel, we must remember that the religious tradition as a whole is a unique hybrid evolution of aspects of Judaism, Greek culture, and Jesus’ teachings, which spread to many different parts of the world over time and space.
Early Precedents for Christianity
The roots of Christianity date back much further than the teachings of Jesus – the religion is a product of great minds and civilizations which existed beforehand. For example, Jewish beliefs of the time contained many of the same spiritual themes that would become associated with Christianity.
For instance, Jewish ideas of resurrection, a messiah, and other aspects of the afterlife can be traced back to ancient times, such as the texts found within the Dead Sea Scrolls. These texts have been seen as the first real examples of pre-Christian religious thought, containing prophecies and ideas of a messiah.
The heavily mythicized tale of Adam and Eve within Jewish accounts of creation also had a great impact on Christian thought, which served to reinforce the notion of original sin and the redemption of humankind. This concept was subsequently adopted into Christianity and was central to its beliefs.
The Jews were also heavily influenced by the Greeks, which was evident in many of their customs and beliefs. For example, concepts of stoicism, politics and physics had infiltrated much of the culture. This influence can also be seen in early Christian spiritual texts, especially in the narrative of Jesus which was largely based on allegories, symbols and themes that were fundamental to the Greek vocabulary.
These early precursor societies, in particular the Jews and Greeks, had created the groundwork for much of the spiritual and philosophical ideas which form the basis for Christianity, such as the notion of an afterlife and the idea of divine power.
Impact of Roman Political and Cultural Eye
Much of the early growth of Christianity was due to the favorable political climate of the Roman Empire in which it was founded. During this period, Christianity was given special privileges by the Roman government which had resulted in concessions such as allowing it to spread quickly across the Empire. This helped to solidify Christianity as the predominant religion in the region.
Since the Roman Empire was such a culturally diverse society, it also had a great influence on Christianity. There were a number of religious concepts, beliefs and philosophies which were readily accepted by the imperial citizens, including Christianity. This allowed the faith to spread further, as it was being embraced in more places than just its birthplace in Israel.
Even the language of Christianity was shaped by the Roman Empire. The Bible was composed in Greek and Latin, both of which were semi-official languages of the Roman Empire, and both of which are still in use today. Additionally, Latin was the language of Christianity for centuries and was used in many of its religious texts, such as the Vulgate, or Latin Bible.
The Roman Empire was absolutely fundamental to the spread of Christianity, even further than the teachings of Jesus. This is not to say that it did not have its own followers, but the presence of the Roman Empire certainly helped it become more accepted and facilitated the accelerated growth of the religion beyond its birthplace.
Jesus’ Teachings Guiding Christianity
The teachings of Jesus himself were also significant to the beginnings of Christianity. The life and works of Jesus provided the template for the beliefs of early Christians, and he was venerated as a religious leader and spiritual figure. His claims of divinity were common knowledge and were seen as particularly controversial given the social structure of the day.
Jesus’ teachings, known as the Sermon on the Mount, provided instructions and ideals for Christian life, such as love of thy neighbor and forgiveness of sins. The notion of a Messiah was also closely tied to Jesus, and he was often referred to as the Savior or Redeemer. His miracles, including the turning of water into wine and raising of Lazarus, communicated to the people an understanding of the power of God. This idea was a central tenet of Christianity, as well as other beliefs shared between Judaism and early Christianity.
The importance of Jesus’ messages and deeds in the founding of Christianity is not to be underestimated, as they provided the framework through which people began to understand and embrace the religion. His sermons, miracles, and dedication to his mission (as believed by the early Christians) were inspirational and influential, providing the Christian faith with the support and foundation it needed to spread beyond its birthplace in Israel.
The Disciples’ Persecution And Sufferings
Another important factor in the founding of Christianity was the persecution of Jesus’ disciples by the Roman authorities at the time. This suffering was seen by many as a sign that Jesus was truly the divine being they believed him to be, as they were willing to face death in his name. This persistent and often violent persecution of the early followers of Christianity kept them in the public eye, even if they were not always seen in a positive light.
The perseverance of the early Christians was seen as a testament to their faith, and this enthusiasm was infectious, encouraging more people to accept their teachings. Not only did it give the Christian faith visibility, but it also allowed those who had a change of heart to understand that their belief was stood for something and had a place in the larger world.
The persecution and suffering of the early Christians provided the fuel for a spiritual fire, not only encouraging those already invested to continue, but also helping to spread their message further. It is for this reason that the Disciples’ persecution is credited for playing such an important role in the early stages of Christianity’s growth.
Old Testament Comparison
Finally, we cannot ignore the similarities between the Old Testament and the evangelism promoted by the early Christians. This was not, for the most part, deliberate, but rather a result of the fact that early Christianity was rooted in Judaism, and so shared many of its themes and values.
In particular, the messages found within the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus were very similar to that of the Old Testament, although they differed in some important ways. For example, the idea of an afterlife and the promise of salvation was something that the people of Israel would have been familiar with. This was seen as a direct and more accessible path to God than that which had been taught by the Old Testament, and therefore it appealed to many who were seeking a closer relationship with their Creator.
These parallels between the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus were key in the formation of Christianity, as it allowed those who had been brought up in the Judeo-Christian faith to understand the new messiah and his mission in a more familiar way. This helped to make Christianity accessible to more people, thus facilitating the spread of the religion to those living both inside and outside of Israel.
