How Christianity Rose to Dominate Europe Humble Beginnings Amongst the Roman-Ruled Jews Christianity would grow to dominate Europe by the 5th century AD, but its humble beginnings can be traced to the adjacent continent of Asia, in a backwater of the Roman Empire known as Judea. It began as a small Jewish movement in and around Jerusalem, which purported that the Son of God (Jesus Christ - the 'anointed one') had lived and preached among them during the early 1st century. Followers claimed that his new 'gospel' (a.k.a. 'the way') corrected the corruptions which had infiltrated Judaism throughout the previous centuries, showing the true way to salvation (by believing in and following the teachings of Jesus). Christianity first materialized as an offshoot of Judaism (i.e. 'reformed Judaism'), centered around the Hebrew prophesies of a Jewish messiah. Just as Judaism was viewed primarily as a religion for the Israelites, Christianity was also initially viewed as a religion for 'God's chosen people' (as the Israelites viewed themselves).

This original understanding is reflected by various passages in the New Testament which ascribe to Jesus instruction that prohibits Jewish followers from introducing the gospel among the 'gentiles' (i.e. Fmsci Driver License. The prevailing viewpoint among the earliest Christians was that the gospel was God's gift to the Jews, to help perfect them as a people, to escape their captors (the Romans in this case), and to help usher the Kingdom of Heaven to the earth, which was to be located in Jerusalem with Jesus at its throne. According to New Testament writings, the apostle Peter understood that the gospel was to be confined to the Jews. However, Paul of Tarsus would enter the scene, and successfully challenge this notion, marking an important transitional point for Christianity.

(Continued Below) Spread Beyond Jerusalem to the 'Gentiles' The earliest-dated writings of the New Testament are the Pauline Epistles, as agreed upon by most secular and Christian scholars. Paul, after his renowned conversion story on the Road to Damascus, wrote several letters during his missionary travels throughout the Greco-Roman world from about 36 – 60 AD, thanks in large part due to the advanced road system within the Roman Empire. According to scripture, Paul and Peter contended with one another concerning whether it was appropriate to proselyte among the Gentiles.

Peter, the head of the Christian movement, and his followers believed that in order for a Gentile to become Christian, they must first convert to Judaism. Converted Gentiles and Jews should then continue to uphold the Torah and all the laws and rituals that Judaism entailed, including temple rituals and practices. Paul argued that Jesus had fulfilled this law, and that it was no longer necessary to observe the laws and rituals of Judaism. Paul and Peter arrived at a compromise, where Jewish converts would continue to practice the Law of Moses, while Gentile converts would not be required. During the Council of Jerusalem in 50 AD, it was determined that Gentiles would be accepted by all Jews into the Christianity movement, and that certain Jewish practices were not necessary for their inclusion, especially circumcision. This brand of Jewish Christianity largely died out as a result of this, as the new idea of a religion independent of Judaism eclipsed the original Jewish-centric creed.

The fate of Jewish-Christianity was sealed with the slaughters and deportations of Jews in Jerusalem, between 70-130 AD, in response to the Jewish revolts against the Roman Empire. Jewish Christians were largely located in and around Jerusalem. Therefore, the majority were killed or deported, essentially uprooting Christianity from among the Jewish settlements in the Palestinian region. As Jewish Christianity dwindled into extinction by the 2nd century, it was the Gentiles that took the mantle of Christianity, continuing the struggle against Roman persecution in order to survive as a religion. First, Christians were seen as a sect of the Jewish religion, which was disdained in the Roman Empire, as it conflicted with the worship of the Greco-Roman Gods. Christians and Jews were also known for their zealous revolts. Furthermore, many in the Roman Empire believed that Christianity offended the Greco-Roman Gods, which is why Paul and Peter were blamed for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, leading to their martyrdom.