For Emmanuel Bible Students

1. 50-100 AD
Church History

3. Significant Moments – 50 -100 AD
– Jesus’ Resurrection – 30 AD
– New Testament Written – 40s - 90s AD
– Terms
– Unpopularity of Christians
 Misunderstood
 Elevated the oppressed
– Rome Burns
– Destruction of Temple – Division Secured
– “Caesar is Lord”

4. Terms
Anno Domini
– Latin for "the Lord's Year.“
– Abbreviated with AD
– Jesus was born in 4-6 BC
– Number of Years since the birth of Jesus
– BC = Before Christ
Common Era
– The period of time that begins with the year 1: a term often used by non-Christians to avoid the reference to Christ in
Christian Era (Dictionary)
Christian
– In Antioch, believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). They did not give themselves this name. It was given by
observers.
– Meaning = Christ follower

5. Relevant
Magazine
“The Church came to Antioch and began
breaking down the dividing barriers in a way
that upset the society’s existing categories.
People from all parts of the city—Jews and
Gentiles alike—were suddenly coming together.
This group of people was redefining community
in a radical and unprecedented way, so much so,
that a new word was needed to categorize what
in the world was happening.”

6. Terms
Jerusalem Council (AD 50)
– Leaders of the church affirmed that Gentiles did not need to become Jews to
follow Jesus (Acts 15)

7. Unpopularity of Christians
ELEVATED THE OPPRESSED
Pagan Greco-Roman Writer
– "We have courtesans for pleasurable sex, young female slaves for day-by-day
physical usage, and wives to produce legitimate children and to serve us faithfully by
managing our houses."
Celsus – Non-Christian Writer
– "Because Christians admit that ignorant people are worthy of their God, Christians
show that they want and can convert only foolish, dishonorable, stupid people, and
only slaves, women, and little children."

8. Unpopularity of Christians
MISUNDERSTOOD/SLANDERED
On the Lord’s Supper
"An infant is covered with dough, to deceive the innocent. The infant is placed before
the person who is to be stained with their rites. The young pupil slays the infant.
Thirstily, they lick up its blood! Eagerly, they tear apart its limbs. After much feasting,
they extinguish the lights. Then, the connections of depraved lust involve them in an
uncertain fate." Quoted by Minucius Felix, Octavius 9
How is this different than the teaching in the Bible of the Lord’s Supper?

9. DISCUSSION
HOW ARE CHRISTIANS MISREPRESENTED OR
MISUNDERSTOOD TODAY?

10. Rome Burns
– 64 AD
– Before event, not a lot of persecution. Jews were semi-protected. Christianity
was seen as a Jewish group.
– July 19 – A fire broke out in a working-class section of Rome
– Lasted 7 days
– 10 of 14 districts were destroyed; many people died.
– Legend = Emperor Nero “fiddled” while Rome burned
– Post-Fire – Nero took a huge section of land and built his own Golden Palace

11. Rome Burns
– Nero used Christians as a scapegoat
– He vowed to hunt them down and kill them as a punishment
– Crucified and Set on Fire
– Christians were used to light up the city as torches
– Dressed in animal skins and mauled by dogs
– Paul was beheaded
– Peter was crucified upside down
Tertullian – “Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Persecution lead to increase in numbers.

12. Destruction of Jewish Temple
Growing Strife
– Tension grew between the Jewish community and Rome
– Romans did not like Jews; Jews saw Romans as enemies of God
– Many localized fights
– Example: Passover Celebration (AD 50)
– A guard “lifted up his robe and bent toward the Jews and made a noise as indecent as his
posture” (Josephus).
– Riot broke out that killed 30,000 people

13. Destruction of Jewish Temple
Masada
– Jewish Zealots revolted against the Romans and took Masada

14. Destruction of Jewish Temple
Destruction of Temple
– Emperor Vespasian sent an army to besiege Jerusalem
– AD 70 – Jerusalem fell; Temple Destroyed
– Rebels massacred
– Survivors were sold as slaves
– Temple was burned down; only segment left is the “Wailing Wall”;
still exists today.
– Those within Masada chose to commit mass-suicide instead of
surrendering.

15. Destruction of Jewish Temple
– Where were the Christians during the Jewish revolt?
– They fled. They refused to take up arms against the Romans.
– This sealed the distinction between Judaism and Christianity.
– Luke 21: 20-24: “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its
desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the
city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of
punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days
for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath
against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the
nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.

16. “Caesar is Lord”
– Roman Emperors were declared divine after their death
– Domitian (81 to 96), Vespasian’s son, didn’t want to wait.
– Demanded the title “Lord and God”
– Told Jews to send tithe to him since temple was destroyed
– Persecution spread to Jews and Christians
– Jesus worship = permissible
– Jesus worship alone = unlawful
– John refused to declare Caesar as Lord, and he was sent to Patmos

17. Lessons
Christians:
– Were likely named for breaking tribalism and uniting in Christ
– Colossians 3:11
– Context: Live as New Creatures
– “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all,
and is in all.”
– Were known for helping the oppressed and disenfranchised
– Proverbs 31:8
– “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
– Exalted and worshiped God alone, despite the consequences
– 1st Timothy 2:5-6
– Context: Paul is giving instructions on worship
– “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a
ransom for all people.”