CHRISTIANITY

is the faith tradition that focuses on the figure of jesus christ.

 Cultural background of Christianity

• Christianity began in Judea (modern day Israel)

• This area was controlled by the Romans. There religion at the time was Pagan, a
polytheistic religion.

• The Jewish people felt strong dislike towards the Romans that they lived under.

• Christians share a belief in one God who created the world and in the human form
of God in Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

• Jesus was born to a Jewish family and lived in Palestine about 2000 years ago.

• He was born in Bethlehem (part of Judea), but raised in Galilee.

• His father, Joseph was a General builder and Mary was his mother.
• When Jesus was about 30 years old, he was publicly claimed by John the Baptist, his
cousin, and he joined John, who had a substantial following.

• After John was executed, Jesus returned to Galilee and began a three-year ministry of
teaching and healing, and then gathered many followers, in particular 12 male disciples.

• Jesus preached directly and communicated to large groups of ordinary people and often
challenged the prevailing teachings of the Jewish religious leaders. He communicated some
messages through moral stories,
• later called the Parables.

• Jesus successfully healed people with serious illnesses and is believed to have raised at
least one person from death, and he also performed a number of miracles.

• Jesus emerges from the accounts in the New Testament as a charismatic figure, but he did
not fit the role of messiah in a way convenient to the religious authorities. Firstly he came
from Galilee, and secondly he was openly critical of some of the practices of the religious
hierarchy, accused some of the priest of hypocrisy and resolutely refused to take sides on
the political issues of Roman occupation.
• In the last part of his ministry Jesus prepared his 12 disciples to carry on his
teachings, since he anticipated his own death. Jesus went to Jerusalem for
the festival of Pesach (also called Passover)where he was welcomed
enthusiastically by the population. Within a week, he then was delivered to
the Roman authorities through the actions of the local Jewish religious
leaders and one of his disciples, Judas. Jesus was convicted of blasphemy
and charge of sedition (being a traitor) by the Roman governor, Pontius
Pilate, and then he was crucified.

• Two days later some of Jesus' disciples found his tomb empty. He appeared
to individuals and groups of his followers over a few weeks, emphasizing the
importance of his teachings and their responsibility to continue. About 40 days
after his death, Jesus ascended into heaven. Then, the early Christians
spread the teachings not only with the Jewish people, but also to non-Jewish
communities and cultures around the world.
 The Names of the 12
Disciples of Jesus Christ
 Saint Peter
 Andrew the Apostle
 James the Great
 John the Apostle
 Philip the Apostle
 Bartholomew the Apostle
 The Apostle Matthew
 Thomas the Apostle
 James son of Alphaeus
 Simon the Zealot
 Judas Iscariot
 Thaddeus
Saint Peter also
known as Peter the Apostle, Peter
the Rock, Simon Peter, Simeon,
Simon, or Cephas, was one of the
Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and
one of the first leaders of the early
Christian Church.
According to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero.
The ancient Christian churches all venerate Peter as a major saint and as the
founder of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Rome, but they differ in their
attitudes regarding the authority of his successors. According to Catholic teaching,
Jesus promised Peter a special position in the Church. In the New Testament, the
name "Simon Peter" is found 19 times. He appears repeatedly and prominently in
all four gospels as well as the Acts of the Apostles. He is the brother of Saint
Andrew, and both were fishermen.

The Gospel of Mark in particular was traditionally thought to show the influence of
Peter's preaching and eyewitness memories. He is also mentioned, under either the
name Peter or Cephas, in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and the Epistle to
the Galatians. The New Testament also includes two general epistles, First Peter
and Second Peter, that are traditionally attributed to him, but modern scholarship
generally rejects the Petrine authorship of both. Nevertheless, Evangelicals and
Catholics have always affirmed Peter's authorship, and recently, a growing number
of scholars have revived the claim of Petrine authorship of these epistles.
Andrew the Apostle
also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus
according to the New Testament. He is the brother of
Simon Peter and is a son of Jonah. He is referred to in
the Orthodox tradition as the First-Called.
According to Orthodox tradition, the apostolic successor to Andrew is the
Patriarch of Constantinople. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark both place
Andrew as one of the fishermen Jesus called away to follow him. The Gospel of
John also states that Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist before
following the Savior. Andrew was present at many events through the Savior's
ministry, and must have held a position of responsibility among the 12 Disciples;
when the Apostle Philip wanted to report to Jesus that certain Greeks were
interested in meeting with him, Phillip first took the matter to Andrew, before the
two of them went to speak to Jesus (John 12:20-22).

Like the other apostles, Andrew worked hard to spread the gospel throughout
the remainder of his life. Some traditions state that Andrew’s preaching took him
as far as Eastern Europe. Tradition also suggests that he was martyred by
crucifixion, and like his brother Peter, requested a different type of cross (in this
case, an x-shaped cross) because he was unworthy to die in the same manner
as Jesus.
 James the Great,
also known as James, son of Zebedee,
Saint James the Great, Saint James the
Greater, Saint James the Elder, or Saint
Jacob was one of the Twelve Apostles of
Jesus, the first apostle to be martyred
according to the New Testament.[Acts 12:2]
Saint James is the patron saint of Spain
and, according to tradition, his remains are
held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.
The brother of the Apostle John, James had also been a fisherman
before being called to the work. James was the third member of Christ’s
inner-circle of apostles, and was active and present for most of the major
events in Christ’s ministry. Together with his Brother, James was a
powerful force for Christianity; the Savior called them the “the Sons of
Thunder.” James is sometimes also called “James the Greater,” to
distinguish him from the other Apostle who was also named James.

Unfortunately, James did not live to see the Church’s significant

expansion following the Savior’s death and resurrection; he was the first
of the 12 Apostles to be martyred, and the Bible describes his death in
Acts 12, where we learn that he was executed by sword by order of King
Herod Agrippa I.
John the Apostle
or Saint John the Beloved was one of the
Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the
New Testament.
Another leader among the Disciples, John is well known as the author of not only the
Gospel of John, but also of the First, Second, and Third Books of John (early-church
epistles). John may also have written the Book of Revelation, though some biblical
scholars suggest that the author of this book is actually a different John. In any case,
John is responsible for more sections of the New Testament than any other apostle.

John was another of the fishermen who left their nets to follow Jesus. Together with
Peter and James, John formed the most-trusted ‘inner circle’ of Christ’s ministry. John is
likely also the “disciple whom Jesus loved” mentioned several times throughout the
Gospel of John. If this is the case, we can surmise a special friendship between Jesus
and John. Jesus even tasked this beloved disciple with taking care of his aging mother, a
request made from the cross during the Savior’s final hours of mortality. He was also the
first of the Apostles to reach the empty tomb after it had been reported that the Savior
had risen from death.

Like the other apostles, John continued to guide the fledgling Church. Tradition suggests
that he may have been saved from martyrdom, and lived out the rest of his days
preaching the gospel and fighting against incorrect practices in the Church.
Philip the Apostle
was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus
according to the New Testament. Later
Christian traditions describe Philip as the
apostle who preached in Greece, Syria,
and Phrygia.
There are four different people named Philip in the Bible, which can make it difficult to
figure out exactly who Philip the Apostle actually was. This is particularly true when
compared to Philip in Acts (known as Philip the Evangelist) who was appointed to help
with distributing food among the faithful, and who later preached in Samaria and
Caesarea.

Philip the Apostle was one of the first disciples of Jesus, having been called to the work
directly following Peter, James, John, and Andrew. Also like several of the other apostles,
Philip's calling seemed to come out of the blue, with the scriptures saying that Jesus
went and found him when the Savior was getting ready to leave for Galilee.

From the very beginning, Philip was eager to share the Gospel; almost the first thing we
learn about him is that he went and found Nathanael (who is usually identified as
Bartholomew, who would himself become one of the 12 Apostles), and brought him to
meet Jesus. Christian traditions suggest that he may have spread the gospel through
Greece and into parts of what is now modern-day Turkey. Tradition is less sure on how
Philip died; some sources suggest that he lived until old age, while others claim that he
was stoned, beheaded, or crucified upside down.
Bartholomew
was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus
according to the New Testament. Some
identify Bartholomew as Nathanael or
Nathaniel, who appears in the Gospel of
John (1:45-51; cf. 21:2), although this is not
supported by the Gospels, Acts, or any
early, reliable Christian tradition.
Bartholomew is another interesting case of identity in the Bible. In the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as in Acts, Bartholomew is identified as one of the 12
Disciples. In the Gospel of John, however, there is no mention of Bartholomew, with the
name Nathanael taking its place. As such, many believe that the Nathaniel that was
brought into the church by Philip is also Bartholomew who later became an apostle.

If this is the case, then Bartholomew/Nathanael was certainly a good and just man, even
before meeting the Savior. Jesus himself described him as “an Israelite in whom there is
no deceit” (John 1:47). And although Nathanael was skeptical that the Messiah could
have come out of Nazareth (asking his friend Philip “Can anything good come from
there?”), he was quickly converted when Jesus revealed knowledge that he could not
have had access to without divine insight.

It’s believed that Bartholomew went on to preach in Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Parthia

(modern Iran), Lycaonia (modern Turkey), and Armenia, and that he helped convert
Polymius, King of Armenia. Accounts of his death vary widely, with some claiming that he
was skinned and then beheaded, while other suggest that he may have been drowned or
crucified.
 Matthew the
Apostle (Saint Matthew) is
named in the New Testament as one of the
twelve apostles of Jesus. According to
Christian traditions, he was also one of the
four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of
Matthew, and thus is also known as
Matthew the Evangelist, a claim rejected by
most biblical scholars, though the
"traditional authorship still has its
defenders.
Traditionally attributed as the author of the Gospel of Matthew (though many
modern scholars refute this claim) the Apostle Matthew was nonetheless a
noteworthy historical figure who was willing to give up a life of privilege to
follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures describe him as a tax
collector based in Capernaum, and also identify him using the name Levi.

Although he was ostracized by his countrymen for working with Rome, he

was nevertheless a man who was honest with his own heart. When Jesus
said to him “Follow me,” Matthew left everything behind. He remained true
to the Savior throughout his ministry, and continued to preach in different
countries following Christ’s ascension. There is little consensus regarding
how Matthew died, with some believing that he died of natural causes, while
other claim that he was martyred — either burned, beheaded, stabbed, or
stoned.
 Thomas the
Apostle was one of the Twelve
Apostles of Jesus according to the New
Testament. Thomas is commonly known as
"Doubting Thomas" because he initially
doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ
when he was told of it (as is related in the
Gospel of John); he later confessed his
faith ("My Lord and my God") on seeing
the wounds left over from the crucifixion.
It’s unfortunate that Thomas’ primary claim to fame is his doubt, considering his devotion
to the Savior. The Gospel of John shares an account near the end of Christ’s mortal
ministry, where it came to the attention of the apostles that certain elements in Judea
were conspiring to have Jesus killed. When it became apparent that Jesus planned to
journey to Judea despite the dangers, Thomas stood firmly by his side, saying “Let us
also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).

That said, the most memorable account of Thomas occurs after the Savior’s
resurrection. Jesus had already appeared to the other apostles, but Thomas refused to
believe them until he had the opportunity to see Christ’s wounds from the crucifixion with
his own eyes and to touch them with his hands. The Savior obliged, appearing to
“doubting Thomas,” and mercifully providing the proof that Thomas thought he needed.
Nevertheless, Jesus went on to emphasize that faith without proof was the greater
blessing.

Thomas apparently bounced back from his doubt, and became a powerful advocate for
Christianity outside of the Middle East. Tradition states that Thomas later preached in
India, and was killed by being pierced with a spear, or possibly several spears.
 James, son of
Alphaeus (was one of the Twelve
Apostles of Jesus, appearing under this name
in all three of the Synoptic Gospels' lists of the
apostles. He is generally identified with James
the Less and commonly known by that name in
church tradition. He is also labelled "the Minor",
"the Little", "the Lesser", or "the Younger",
according to translation. He is distinct from
James, son of Zebedee and in some
interpretations also from James, brother of
Jesus (James the Just). He appears only four
times in the New Testament, each time in a list
of the twelve apostles.
Often identified as the same person as James the Less
and James the Brother of Jesus, James, Son of Alphaeus
is one of the more enigmatic of the 12 Disciples. All that
we know for sure about him was that he was called to be
an apostle, and that he was present with the other
Apostles in the upper room in Jerusalem after Christ
ascended to heaven.

Tradition holds that he went on to preach in Egypt. He may

have been crucified in the city of Ostrakine, or he may
have been pushed from the pinnacle of the temple he was
preaching at and then beaten to death.
 Simon the
Zealot (Acts 1:13, Luke 6:15) or
Simon the Canaanite or Simon the
Canaanean was one of the most obscure
among the apostles of Jesus. A few
pseudepigraphical writings were connected
to him, but Saint Jerome does not include
him in De viris illustribus written between
392 and 393 AD.
Even less is known about the Apostle Simon than about James
Son of Alphaeus or Judas the Greater. In fact, he is mentioned
only three times in the Bible, and only when listing the names of
the 12 Disciples.

He is, however, identified as “Simon the Zealot” in the Synoptic

Gospels. Unfortunately, we don’t have much information on why
he held such a title. Some scholars speculate that he may have
once belonged to an extremist sect within the Jewish population,
while other argue that “zealot” in this case merely describes his
zealousness and enthusiasm for Christ’s teachings. There are
many different versions of Simon’s death through various
traditions, ranging from him dying of old age, to being martyred by
being sawed in half.
 Judas Iscariot, one of
the Twelve Apostles, notorious for betraying
Jesus. Judas’ surname is more probably a
corruption of the Latin sicarius (“murderer” or
“assassin”) than an indication of family origin,
suggesting that he would have belonged to the
Sicarii, the most radical Jewish group, some of
whom were terrorists. Other than his
apostleship, his betrayal, and his death, little
else is revealed about Judas in the Gospels.
Always the last on the list of the Apostles, he
was their treasurer. John 12:6 introduces
Judas’ thievery by saying, “. . . as he had the
money box he used to take what was put into
it.”
One of most widely-known of the apostles, Judas Iscariot’s
notoriety comes from his infamy rather than his virtue. Judas
was the apostle who betrayed the Savior and sold him into
execution for the insignificant price of thirty pieces of silver.

But despite recognizing his name, modern Christians have very

little to help us understand his motivation. Was he just a thief
and opportunist (as suggested in John 12:5-6), or was he lost
and confused, misguidedly trying to force Jesus to reveal himself
in power and authority, and finally eliminate the Roman threat?
Whatever his reasons, Judas Iscariot quickly regretted his
actions in betraying Jesus; in both of the scriptural accounts of
his death, he took his own life out of grief for what he had done.
Thaddeus was one of
the original twelve disciples chosen by
Jesus Christ. Thaddeus, whose name is
also spelled Thaddaeus, is somewhat of a
mystery apostle. For one, Thaddeus is
hardly mentioned in the Bible. To
complicate matters, Scripture refers to
Thaddeus by a few different names.
 Messiah?
Some Jews believed that Jesus was the
messiah (a person described in the Torah
who would be the savior of the Jewish
people). Because of this, people called him
"King" and his following grew.

The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, saw

Jesus as a threat to authority, and
sentenced him to crucifixion (which was a
common punishment at the time).
 Betrayal of
Jesus At the Last Supper,
Jesus says,

"Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray

me, one who is eating with me."
Analysis of Final Supper
 Jesus in the center.

 Judas has no halo.

 Judas is holding a small bag indicating the 30 pieces of silver he was paid.

 Key number 3 (Trinity), 3 windows, groups of 3, Jesus's body shape.

 Jesus's Crucifixion
Crucifixion was a Roman method of
execution in which people were nailed to a
wooden cross and left to die.

Historians think that most likely Jesus

Christ existed, and that most likely a
crucifixion took place. Muslims believe they
accidentally crucified someone else, which
is why Jesus appears in their holy book, the
Quran.
 Resurrection
The bible says that three days after Jesus
Christ's death, he was resurrected from the
dead.

His disciples would go on to tell about

Jesus's story, and those who followed him
would become to known as Christians.
 Spread of Christianity
His disciples would go on to spread his beliefs, but would also
meet massive resistance.

For the following three centuries, Christians were persecuted

(harassed or even killed because of their religious beliefs) -
especially by the Romans.

It was not until Constantine I made Christianity the official religion

of the Roman Empire that Christians were no longer persecuted.
 Four Major Gospels
 Matthew
 Mark
 Luke
 John
The Ten Commandments
 You shall have no other God’s before me.
 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven
images.
 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God in vain.
 Remember the Sabbath day and keep it
Holy.
 Honor your father and mother.
 Thou shalt not kill.
 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
 Thou shalt not steal
 Thou shall not bear false witness.
 You shall not covet.
 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. You shall have no other God’s before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images - These laws were very important. The Israelites
needed them to become a strong nation amid all the people around them who worshipped idols. We are
pledging in these commandments our allegiance to be loyal, obedient and respect God.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain - We don’t like it if people call us bad
names do we? They are being disrespectful. God’s name is Holy and it must be used only in a reverent
way. Some people take God’s name in vain because others are doing it and we find ourselves saying
these words that dishonor God. It can take root in our hearts and mind and begin saying it and don’t
realize you did. Be careful don’t allow it to take root in your heart.

4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy - Back in the Old Testament, this meant they should not
work on the Sabbath but they carried it too far and wouldn’t let people pick up something heavy. Jesus
changed this and said we should keep the Sabbath day to worship, remember creation, and rest so we
could serve God and others.

5. Honor your father and mother - Honor means to love and respect them. When you honor your parents
you love and obey them because they are wiser. God wanted homes to be happy so he made this an
important rule.
6. Thou shalt not kill - God wants us to protect human life.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery - This means husbands and wives should
be faithful to one another.

8. Thou shalt not steal - No one is permitted to take something that belongs to
another. Not only is it God’s law but it is the basic law of the society we live in.

9. Thou shall not bear false witness - This means do not tell a lie. Do not tell
stories that are untrue about people. When you tell a lie, you hurt yourself as
well as others. Soon people will not trust what you say.

10. You shall not covet - Covet means to want something that belongs to
someone else. A person who covets may be led to break all most all the other
commandments.
 Christianity's Evolution
Christianity would split up into major sects and into even smaller
denominations throughout the years.

In 1054, there is the East-West Schism, which splits Christianity into

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic.

In the 1500's, there is the protestant movement, which splits the church into
Catholics and Protestants.
 Major Christian Holidays
 Easter (April 9)

 Christmas (December 25)

 Lent (February 22 – April 6)

 THANKYOU!
Abegail Avila
Ronalyn C. Cajeda
Angel Mia O. Cabarrubias
April Joy Celis
Romeo P. Certeza lll
Eric B. Tolentin