The Religions Book

202

C

hristianity takes its
name from the Greek word
christós, a translation of
the Hebrew word for messiah, or
anointed one. This title was given
to Jesus by a Jewish sect who
considered him to be the Messiah
—the savior prophesied in the
Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible—and
the Son of God in human form.
Christians believe that Jesus’s
arrival on earth heralded a New
Covenant or New Testament
with God that followed the Old
Testament covenants between
God and the Jewish people.
The main beliefs of Christianity
are based on the life and teachings
of Jesus as recorded by his
followers in the 1st century CE
in the Gospels (meaning “good
news”) and the Epistles (or letters)
of the New Testament.

Christians give great significance

to the story of Jesus’s crucifixion,

resurrection, and ascension to

heaven. It is the central belief of

Christianity that Jesus suffered,

died, and was buried, before being

resurrected from the dead—in

order to grant salvation to those

who believe in him—and that

he then ascended to heaven

to rule alongside God the Father.

Implicit in this belief is the

acceptance that Jesus was, as the

Son of God, God incarnate, both

human and divine, and not merely

a prophet. This led to the concept

of the Trinity, that the one God

exists in three distinct forms—the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The life of Jesus also provides

a framework for the rituals of

Christian worship, the most

important of which are known as

sacraments. Especially significant

are the sacraments of baptism and

the Eucharist—the taking of bread

and wine, as Jesus instructed his

followers at the Last Supper. Others

include confirmation, holy orders

(the ordination of ministers),

confession, the anointing of the

sick, and matrimony—although

not all of these are accepted by

every Christian denomination.

Persecution to adoption

From its beginnings in Roman

Judea to its status as the religion

with most adherents in the world

today, Christianity has shaped

the culture of much of Western

civilization. The early Christians

were persecuted by both Jewish

authorities and the Roman Empire,

and many were put to death.

Nevertheless, the faith persisted

INTRODUCTION

C. 4 BCE

C. 26 CE

313 CE

325 CE

C.30–36 CE

CA. 44–68 CE

380 CE

The Roman emperor

Constantine issues the

Edict of Milan, allowing

the Christian faith to

be freely practiced.

Jesus is baptized by

John the Baptist and

his ministry begins.

Jesus is crucified by

Judea’s Roman rulers.

Christians believe that

he rises again three

days later and ascends

to heaven.

During the Great

Schism, Christianity

is divided into Western

(Roman Catholic) and

Eastern (Orthodox)

branches.

All but one of the

apostles, John,

are martyred.

Jesus is born

in Roman Judea:

he is believed by

Christians to be the

Son of God born to

the Virgin Mary.

Christianity becomes

the official religion

of the Roman

Empire; converts

include Augustine

of Hippo.

The Nicene Creed

is established at the

Council of Nicea and

later ratified as the

universal creed of

the Christian Church.

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