His Ministry
The Christian Gospels describe Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God, repentance, love, forgiveness, mercy and devotion to God.
RELIGIONS & BELIEF SYSTEMS
✝
CHRISTIANITY
━━━━━ ✦ ━━━━━
A historical journey through the origins, teachings, scriptures, traditions and global development of Christianity.
EXPLORE CHRISTIANITY ↓01 • ORIGINS
The Beginning of Christianity
✦
Christianity is a monotheistic religion that emerged in the 1st century CE within the Jewish religious and cultural environment of Roman Judea.
Christians center their faith on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians understand as the Christ, the Messiah and Son of God.
The movement initially developed among the followers of Jesus and gradually spread beyond Judea into other parts of the Roman world and eventually across many regions of the globe.
02 • JESUS OF NAZARETH
The Central Figure of Christianity
✦
His Teachings
Christian teachings emphasize love of God, love of one's neighbor, forgiveness, compassion, humility and care for others.
Crucifixion
The crucifixion of Jesus under Roman authority is central to Christian belief and is also an important event in the historical study of early Christianity.
Resurrection
Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion. The resurrection is one of the foundational beliefs of Christianity.
03 • CORE BELIEFS
What Christians Believe
✦
One God
Christianity teaches belief in one God. Christian traditions understand God in different theological ways while sharing belief in the one God.
The Trinity
Most mainstream Christian traditions describe the one God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This doctrine is known as the Trinity.
Jesus Christ
Christians believe Jesus is the Christ and understand his identity and relationship with God through Christian teachings about the incarnation and Trinity.
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is understood within Christianity as the Spirit of God and plays an important role in Christian theology and worship.
04 • SACRED SCRIPTURE
The Bible
✦
The Bible is the central collection of sacred scriptures in Christianity. It is divided into the Old Testament and New Testament, although the exact collection of books differs among Christian traditions.
Old Testament
The Old Testament contains writings that Christianity shares with the Jewish scriptural tradition, although Christian traditions differ in the ordering and collection of these books.
New Testament
The New Testament contains writings about Jesus and the early Christian movement, including the four Gospels, Acts, letters and Revelation.
The Four Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the four canonical Gospels. They present accounts of Jesus' life, teachings, death and resurrection.
Christian Scripture
Christians regard the Bible as sacred scripture. Different Christian traditions have developed different understandings of inspiration, interpretation and authority.
05 • REVELATION
Revelation & Divine Guidance
✦
Christianity teaches that God has made himself known to humanity. Christian traditions understand this revelation through God's relationship with humanity, the scriptures and especially the person of Jesus Christ.
Christian traditions differ in how they explain the relationship between scripture, tradition, reason and the work of the Holy Spirit in understanding God's revelation.
06 • TEACHINGS
Central Teachings of Jesus
✦
Love
Love of God and love of one's neighbor are among the central ethical teachings associated with Jesus in the Christian Gospels.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness and reconciliation are emphasized throughout Christian teachings.
Mercy
Compassion toward people who are suffering and those in need is a recurring theme in Christian teachings.
Humility
Christian teachings frequently emphasize humility, service and concern for others.
Care for Others
Caring for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized has been an important theme within Christian ethics.
Repentance
Repentance involves turning away from sin and returning toward God.
07 • SALVATION
Sin, Grace & Salvation
✦
Sin
In Christianity, sin generally refers to actions, attitudes or states understood as contrary to God's will.
Repentance
Repentance is the turning away from sin and turning toward God.
Grace
Grace refers to God's unmerited favor and assistance. Christian traditions differ in how they explain its relationship with faith, works and salvation.
Salvation
Christians generally understand salvation as reconciliation with God and deliverance from sin and its consequences through God's saving work.
08 • CENTRAL CHRISTIAN BELIEF
The Cross & Resurrection
✝
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus occupy a central place in Christian theology.
Crucifixion
Jesus was executed by crucifixion under Roman authority. Christians understand his death as having a central role in God's plan of salvation.
Resurrection
Christianity teaches that Jesus was raised from the dead. The resurrection is central to Christian faith and hope.
09 • EARLY CHRISTIANITY
The Early Church
✦
Apostles
The apostles and other early followers of Jesus played major roles in spreading the Christian movement.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem was one of the earliest centers of the Christian movement.
Paul
Paul was an important early Christian missionary and writer whose letters became part of the New Testament.
Early Communities
Christian communities developed across cities of the eastern Mediterranean and gradually expanded into other regions.
10 • EXPANSION
The Spread of Christianity
✦
Roman Mediterranean
Christianity spread through cities and communities across the Roman Mediterranean during the first centuries CE.
Armenia
Armenia is traditionally associated with the early adoption of Christianity as a state religion in the early 4th century.
Ethiopia
Christianity developed early in Ethiopia, becoming deeply rooted in Ethiopian history and culture.
Byzantine World
Christianity became deeply connected with the Byzantine Empire and influenced its culture, art, architecture and political life.
Europe
Christianity gradually spread across many European kingdoms through missions, political developments and conversion.
Asia & Beyond
Christian communities also developed in parts of Asia and later expanded dramatically through global missions, migration and historical encounters.
11 • CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS
Three Major Traditions
✦
Catholicism
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church and is centered on communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodox Christianity consists of churches with ancient traditions rooted particularly in the eastern Christian world.
Protestantism
Protestant traditions emerged from the Reformation of the 16th century and include many different denominations and theological traditions.
12 • MONASTICISM
Christian Monastic Traditions
✦
Christian monasticism developed as a tradition of disciplined religious life involving prayer, contemplation, community and service.
Desert Fathers
Early Christian monks and ascetics in Egypt and surrounding regions played an important role in the development of Christian monasticism.
Monasteries
Monasteries became centers of prayer, learning, manuscript preservation and community life in many parts of the Christian world.
Service
Many Christian monastic traditions have emphasized charity, education, hospitality and care for others.
13 • ARCHITECTURE
Christian Sacred Architecture
✦
Early Christian Basilicas
The basilica form became important in Christian architecture during late antiquity.
Byzantine Architecture
Byzantine architecture became known for domes, monumental interiors and extensive religious decoration.
Romanesque
Romanesque churches are associated with rounded arches, massive walls and sturdy architectural forms.
Gothic
Gothic architecture became known for pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses and large stained-glass windows.
14 • PRACTICES & FESTIVALS
Christian Worship & Festivals
✦
Prayer
Prayer is an important part of Christian worship and personal religious life.
Baptism
Baptism is an important Christian rite. Different traditions understand its meaning and practice in different ways.
Eucharist
The Eucharist, also called Communion or the Lord's Supper, is a central Christian sacramental or commemorative practice.
Christmas
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus and is celebrated by Christians around the world.
Easter
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus and is the central festival of the Christian liturgical year.
Holy Week
Holy Week remembers the final events in the life of Jesus leading to his crucifixion and resurrection.
15 • SYMBOLS
Symbols of Christianity
✦
Cross
The cross is the most widely recognized symbol of Christianity and is closely connected with the crucifixion of Jesus.
Dove
The dove is commonly associated with the Holy Spirit in Christian symbolism.
Fish
The fish symbol has a long history in Christian tradition and is associated with Jesus and early Christian communities.
16 • TIMELINE
Christianity Through History
✦
Life of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth teaches and gathers followers in Roman Judea.
Early Christian Movement
The movement develops among the followers of Jesus after his death.
Growth of Christian Communities
Christian communities emerge across parts of the eastern Mediterranean.
Imperial Transformation
Christianity gains legal recognition within the Roman Empire and becomes increasingly connected with imperial institutions.
East–West Schism
The division between the Latin Western and Greek Eastern Christian traditions becomes formally associated with the events of 1054.
Protestant Reformation
Reform movements lead to the emergence of numerous Protestant traditions in Western Christianity.
Global Christianity
Christianity develops into a worldwide religion with major communities across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
✝
A Global Christian Tradition
From its origins in the eastern Mediterranean, Christianity developed into a diverse collection of traditions with a profound influence on the history, art, literature, philosophy and cultures of many societies around the world.