Christian Index

Christianity

Jesus was born in about 5 B.C. and began his public ministry when he was 30 years old. Christianity was founded by the followers of Christ after his death. When He walked around the Galilee and in Jerusalem, He would teach the crowds that gathered around Him.

When His crucifixion became near, He appointed twelve disciples who would tell others the Good News. One of the twelve was Judas, who betrayed him. Paul replaced Judas after he accepted Christ's teachings on the road to Damascus.

Some Bible scholars believe that it began on the day of Pentecost when Jesus appeared to them. In 380 the emperor Theodosius proclaimed Christianity the state religion.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mathew 28:19-20

The twelve disciples began the Christian church when they taught others. Most Bible scholars believe that the Christian Church began on the day of Pentecost, which was 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead. There are some who believe the Christian Church started when Saul (who became Paul, the apostle) was stricken on the road to Damascus and became a Christian.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 3:11

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Ephesians 2:20

Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. I Peter 2:7

The Romans ruled over Palestine (Israel today) at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Most of the Romans did not like Christians and would persecute and kill them. Then in 312 A.D., Constantine, the Roman emperor, had a dream that the sign of the cross gave him victory in a battle. The next day he ordered that all his warriors would carry a cross in every battle.

In 313 A.D., Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which guaranteed religious freedom to Christians in the Roman Empire. Since this decree of Constantine, Christianity has been the main religion of Rome, and later, the Roman Catholic Church came into existence and settled in the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

"We should let both the Christians and all others follow whatever religion they wanted to, so that whatever God there is in heaven may be happy and pleased with us and with all our subjects."

Some interesting facts about Christianity:

Founded	27 A.D. in Palestine
Founder	Jesus
Day of Worship	Sunday
Place of Worship	Church
Holy Books	Old and New Testaments
Symbols	Cross and Fish
Holidays	Christmas and Easter
Pilgrimage	Holy Land (Israel)
Original Language	Aramaic and Greek
Leaders/Teachers	Priest, Pastor, Reverend
Number of Followers	2 billion
Countries of the Christian Faith	America, the Vatican, England, Mexico, Ireland, and Germany

Christianity