Christianity

Summary

Christianity is a religion believed to be based on the life and teachings of Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth. A Christian is a person who adheres to these teachings and views Jesus in some form as a central figure of divine revelation and/or human salvation.

Brief Summaries of Common Teachings:

• Miraculous birth: Jesus was born through a virgin mother.

• Jesus and God The Father: Jesus is connected or intertwined with God in some way or another (differences in manner by denominations).

• Crucifixion and Return: Jesus was crucified on a cross, and was resurrected or reappeared in some form three days later.

• The Second Coming: Jesus will return or reveal himself again to humanity.

• Sin: Humans are sinners, and Jesus plays a crucial role in resolving this sin.

Narrative of Christian beliefs:

• Creation: God creates the cosmos, forms humanity, and directly communicates with humans on several occasions.

• Fall: Humanity enters self-will and disobedience, allowing sin, suffering, immorality, and mortality.

• Redemption: God acts through covenants with ancient Israel and through the life of Jesus to reconcile humanity to Himself.

• Restoration: The future renewal of heaven and earth, the resurrection of the dead, and the victory over evil, suffering, and death.

The life to be lived:

• Love of God: Directing one's heart, soul, mind, and strength toward God as the ultimate.

• Love of Neighbor: Extending active compassion, dignity, and justice to all human beings, including enemies and outcasts.

• Humility: Recognizing one's spiritual need and dependence on The Divine.

• Mercy: Forgiving wrong-doings and giving aid to those in distress and in need.

Membership:

• 2.3 - 2.6 billion adherents

Starting Date:

• 30s - 40s CE

Popular Denominations:

• Catholicism (~50% of adherents / ~1.3 billion)

  • The largest branch, organized hierarchically under the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), emphasizing apostolic succession, sacred tradition, and the sacraments.

• Protestantism (~33% - 40% of adherents / ~600 - 900 million)

  • Originating in the 16th-century Reformation, containing various denominations emphasizing sola scriptura (scripture alone as highest authority) and salvation by grace through faith alone (sola fide).

• Eastern Orthodoxy (~9% - 12% of adherents / ~200 - 300 million)

  • A communion of autocephalous (self-governing) churches adhering to early conciliar theology, emphasizing unchanging Holy Tradition, and liturgical mysticism.

• Oriental Orthodoxy (~2% - 3% of adherents / ~60 - 80 million)

  • Ancient Eastern churches that separated after the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE), adhering to a distinct Miaphysite Christology (one unified nature of Christ).

• Restorationism (~1% - 2% of adherents)

  • Believing early teachings of Christianity have been altered, these groups sought to reform into what followers consider a more authentic version of Christianity. Often includes Non-Trinitarian groups, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) and Jehovah's Witnesses.

(Note: Numbers are approximations)

Primary Foundational Texts:

• Catholicism: The Catholic Canon (73 Books)

  • Primary Texts: The Old Testament (46 books, including 7 Deuterocanonical books) and the New Testament (27 books).

  • Description: Rooted in the ancient Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate traditions, formally codified at the Council of Hippo, Council of Carthage, and Council of Trent.

  • Authority: Scripture and Sacred Tradition form a single deposit of faith, which is authoritatively guarded and interpreted by the Magisterium (the Pope and bishops).

• Protestantism: The Protestant Canon (66 Books)

  • Primary Texts: The Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books: Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Revelation).

  • Description: Omits the Deuterocanonical books (often termed "Apocrypha") from doctrinal authority, though early Protestant printings sometimes included them for historical context or ethical reflection.

  • Authority: Bound by Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) as the ultimate and infallible rule of faith and doctrine; historical creeds, councils, and clergy remain strictly subordinate to the biblical text.

• Eastern Orthodoxy: The Eastern Orthodox Canon (Varied by Tradition, often 76 to 81 Books)

  • Primary Texts: The Greek Septuagint (LXX) Old Testament translation, incorporating various amounts of texts depending on the particular church, and 27 books of the New Testament.

  • Description: Preserves the broader scriptural corpus inherited directly from the early Greek-speaking Church and quoted extensively by the Apostles and early Church Fathers.

  • Authority: Scripture is viewed as the primary written witness situated within the continuous life of Holy Tradition, interpreted through the consensus of the early Ecumenical Councils and the Church Fathers.

• Oriental Orthodoxy: The Oriental Orthodox Canons (Varied by Tradition, often 73 to 81 Books)

  • Primary Texts: The standard 27 New Testament books combined with distinct regional Old Testament collections. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Tewahedo Church holds the largest canon (81 books), while Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian traditions retain their own distinct manuscript lineages.

  • Description: Texts preserved independently in Ge'ez, Classical Syriac, Coptic, and Classical Armenian following early theological divergences prior to later Western or Byzantine consolidations.

  • Authority: Deeply apostolic and patristic, interpreting scripture through local synods, early liturgy, and the pre-Chalcedonian Church Fathers.

• Restorationism: Various Distinct Revisions, Translations, and Additional Revelations

  • Primary Texts: Varies greatly by individual movement.

  • Description: Some groups adhere to a strict "Bible-only" primitive model rejecting post-apostolic interpretations, while others accept new open-canon scriptures delivered through modern prophets.

  • Authority: Authority typically rests on restored apostolic authority, ongoing modern revelation, or specialized institutional leadership, viewing the historic mainline churches and their ecumenical creeds as having fallen into some amount of corruption.

Key Early Figures:

• Jesus (Yeshua ha-Notzri)

• Mary (Miriam)

• John the Baptist (Yochanan)

• John the Apostle (Yochanan)

• James/Jacob the Just (Ya'akov)

• Peter/Simon/Simeon (Cephas)

• Paul (Saul)

Popular Verses

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16 (NASB)

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets." ~ Matthew 22:36 - 40 (NASB)

Early History

Christianity, as it is called today, has gone through several events to shape it into the various forms it now exists in. Pinpointing an exact time on when the religion of Christianity truly began opens up some debate. Theologically, it is most commonly accepted to have begun with the execution of Jesus (Yeshua ha-Notzri) and the interpretation of his role and teachings, separating it from mainstream Judaism. Jesus is widely regarded by historians and scholars to have been a real, living historical figure, as he is directly mentioned in several non-biblical sources, including Flavius Josephus, Cornelius Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and Suetonius.

The early Christian movement gained traction among the followers of Jesus, particularly among many members of Second Temple Judaism both during, and especially, after Jesus's life. There were many followers of Second Temple Judaism at the time that were awaiting the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, including John the Baptist (Yochanan), who preached and baptized prior to the arrival of Jesus, having followers of his own sect already. Both Jesus and John the Baptist attracted followers early on, but also the attention and scrutiny of local ruling authorities. John was executed by the regional tetrarch Herod Antipas, who feared John's influence could spark a rebellion. Jesus was executed by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate under the criminal charge of treason; labeling Jesus "King of the Jews" was a public, mocking assertion of Roman authority over potential political uprisings. This execution of Jesus, and particularly the claims of the resurrection of Jesus after, became a catalyst for the formation of Christianity for several members of the Jewish community at the time who were already displeased with Roman rule. Jesus's role was interpreted in many different ways by early factions, ranging from a wise master, a messenger, a prophet, a Son of God, an incarnation of God, a fully divine being, to even just the illusion of a man (Docetism).

Peter (Cephas/Simon/Simeon) and James the Just (Ya'akov) both continued to lead the movement after Jesus, along with many of the already amassed followers. They engaged in meetings with already existing, and soon-to-be followers in the Temple and private homes, particularly in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Both Peter and James are said to have personally known Jesus during his life, adding credibility to their message. At this time the movement was referred to as "The Way"; the term "Christian" was not used until several years later, originating in the city of Antioch. The early movement was still considered to be within the bounds of Judaism by the followers of "The Way", thus many Jewish laws such as kosher diet and circumcision were still being practiced by the early members of the movement.

Paul of Tarsus (Saul) is said to have at the time persecuted, and sought the arrest of the followers of the movement, before converting himself after his proclaimed vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. Barnabas (Yosef) donated large amounts to assist the early Jerusalem Church, and vouched for Paul to the early community. Barnabas and Paul had gone on some of the first missionary trips to spread the forming religion throughout the region. Paul is typically considered responsible for other further developments, wishing that non-Jews should be welcomed into the movement, and that followers should be free from obeying many of the historical laws of Judaism. While there were people who welcomed these changes, others disagreed. Notable disagreements are said to have occurred between Paul and James the Just, as James sought to continue the practices of Jewish laws, but made some compromises with Paul on the Gentiles. Paul appealed to many non-Jews, while James to the Jewish-Christians. Both had considered themselves to be followers of Jesus, but disagreed on several occasions on how to live and practice the religion. This continued between several other followers of the forming religion, as multiple groups formed and split with their own doctrine interpretations.

The 4th century marked a pivotal transformation for Christianity. Following the Edict of Milan, the faith transitioned from a persecuted sect to a legalized religion, then toward its role as the state religion of Rome with the Edict of Thessalonica. This institutionalization, along with the diversity of beliefs in early Christian groups, sparked a formalization of doctrine through Ecumenical Councils, such as the First Council of Nicaea. However, these attempts to codify the religion also sparked reactionary movements among those who felt the original teachings had been compromised, a cycle that has continued through various reformation movements.

Early Groups

Different beliefs by early followers of Christianity were common, and several notable groups emerged early on such as:

Jewish-Christian Groups (Jewish Law Keepers):

• The Jerusalem Community: The original "Apostolic" circle led by James the Just; they remained within the framework of Second Temple Judaism, continuing to worship at the Temple and observe the Torah while following Jesus.

• The Ebionites: A Jewish-Christian movement that regarded Jesus as a human Messiah (denying his divinity), insisting on the necessity of continuing to follow the Jewish Law for all believers, and rejecting the teachings of Paul.

• The Nazarenes: Early Jewish followers who accepted Jesus’s divinity and the Virgin Birth but, unlike Gentile converts, continued to observe Jewish customs and rituals.

Gentile-Christian Groups (Free from Jewish Law):

• The Pauline Communities: Groups established by Paul of Tarsus that emphasized salvation through faith in Christ rather than adherence to Mosaic Law, paving the way for Christianity to become a global, non-ethnic religion.

• The Proto-Orthodox: The precursor to the "Mainstream" Church; they focused on apostolic succession, the four canonical gospels, and the developing doctrine of the Trinity to combat "heretical" movements.

Dualist and Esoteric Groups:

• The Gnostics: A diverse collection of groups who believed the material world was created by a lesser god (the Demiurge) and that salvation came through secret, intuitive knowledge (Gnosis) of one's divine spark.

• The Marcionites: Founded by Marcion of Sinope, they rejected the Old Testament entirely, arguing that the God of the Jews was a vengeful, lower deity and that Jesus was the messenger of a previously unknown God of Love.

Purity Seeker Groups:

• The Montanists: The "New Prophecy," they emphasized the immediate, ecstatic inspiration of the Holy Spirit and practiced strict asceticism in anticipation of the New Jerusalem.

• The Novatianists: Followers of Novatian who broke away from the church after the Decian persecution, refusing to readmit "the lapsed" (those who had renounced Christ under pressure) into the community.

• The Donatists: A North African group that argued the validity of sacraments depended on the moral purity of the priest; they rejected any clergy who had cooperated with Roman authorities.

Non-Trinitarian Groups:

• The Monarchians: A group that sought to protect the "Monarchy" (oneness) of God, either by suggesting Jesus was a human "adopted" by God (Adoptionism) or that Father, Son, and Spirit were merely different "modes" of one person (Modalism).

• The Arians: Followers of Arius who taught that the Son was a created being, subordinate to the Father, and not "co-eternal"—a view that triggered the Council of Nicaea.

Monastic and Ascetic Groups:

• The Desert Fathers and Mothers: Hermits and monastics who fled the increasingly institutionalized church for the Egyptian desert, seeking "white martyrdom" through prayer, celibacy, and extreme self-denial.

• The Cenobites: Early monastic communities that emphasized shared life, labor, and prayer, providing a structured alternative to the solitary life of the hermits.

Work in Progress - To Be Continued