Introduction To Christianity

Any introduction to Christianity must begin with the fact that it is a religion based on the belief of the fulfillment of an ancient Jewish prophecy foretelling the coming of a Messiah - the expected deliverer and ruler of the Jewish people. Nearly two thousand years ago a special being was born in a manger outside the city of Bethlehem who was recognized by many to be the Messiah or Christ (Greek for "anointed one"). This man who was named Yeshua ben Joseph but is more commonly known by the Greek name of Jesus is believed to have fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah because foretold events occurred at his birth and because of the wisdom and love that he demonstrated and miracles that he performed. Those who believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ are called Christians and the source of Christ's teachings is the Holy Bible which is believed to be the word of God.

Jesus was born a Jew sometime around 8 - 4 B.C. and died around A.D. 27 - 30 (the curious dates are the result of different calendar revisions). Jesus preached the word of God from his enlightened understanding of it and exemplified it through selfless acts and unconditional love. Christianity developed when a small group of Jews gathered around the rabbi (teacher) Jesus and began to follow his teachings. The central theme of his teachings was to turn to God in preparation for the coming "Kingdom of God." He preached repentance in order to prepare for the impending judgment which was a motif in apocalpytic Judaism at that time. Jesus is thought of as both a reformer and a humanitarian. By representing himself as the Messiah and by calling for changes in the dogmas and commercialized practices in the synagogues (such as money changing) he incited the Jewish people and caused them to question many established beliefs and practices. Through numerous acts of selfless service and brotherly love such as healing the sick exorcising demons and even raising the dead Jesus gained a reputation as the messenger of God and the deliverer of the Jewish people.

Jesus's ministry lasted only about three years. As his teachings and his influence on the Jewish people were perceived as threatening by the Jewish priests, Jewish leaders pressured the Romans, who occupied the region, to condemn Jesus to death. Jesus was sentenced to death by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, who crucified him (nailed him to a wooden cross to die) at Calvary. After Christ's physical death on the cross, he was resurrected and appeared to several disciples, such as Mary Magdalene, before ascending to Heaven. According to the disciple Paul, Christians are assured that this ultimate sacrifice of love was an act of redemption for their sins.

Christ's martyrdom compelled the disciples, and particularly Jesus's twelve Apostles, to preach the gospel throughout the world. Most of the disciples traveled into the lands of the Gentiles, who were more receptive to the Christian theology than were the Jews. Most influential of the early Christian missionaries were the apostles: Paul (Saul), Peter, Barnabas, Philip, and Mark, who traveled north of the Holy Land into the areas now known as Syria, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Italy. The writings of Matthew, Luke, and John have also been tremendously influential in the development and acceptance of Christian theology. By the end of the first century Christianity was represented throughout southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and by the third century Christianity had spread and become the predominant reli- gion throughout the Mediterranean. Through the strong missionary efforts of the Christian churches, Christianity has now spread to every corner of the globe and is currently the largest religion in the world, with over 1.5 billion believers. Christianity remains a strong evangelical movement to this day.

Christian theology is based on Christ's teachings as recorded in the Holy Bible; particularly in the New Testament, which is an account of Christ's life and the acts of the Apostles and the early Church. Interpretations of Scripture and perspectives of Christ and his teachings vary between churches. There are three principal branches of Christianity: Orthodox Catholic, and Protestant churches. However, generally Christians share a common belief that Jesus Christ is Jesus's ministry lasted only about three years.

As his teachings and his influence on the Jewish people were perceived as threatening by the Jewish priests, Jewish leaders pressured the Romans, who occupied the region, to condemn Jesus to death. Jesus was sentenced to death by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, who crucified him (nailed him on a wooden cross to die) at Calvary. After Christ's physical death on the cross, he was resurrected and appeared to several disciples, such as Mary Magdalene, before ascend- ing to Heaven. According to the disciple Paul, Christians are assured that this ultimate sacrifice of love was an act of redemption for their sins. Christ's martyrdom compelled the disciples, and particularly Jesus' twelve Apostles, to preach the gospel throughout the world.

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