Religion, Church History, Ch. 2- Centuries Of Amazing Growth

Constantine, the Roman Emperor, issued the Edict of Milan, which granted toleration to all Christians. This proclamation marked the end of the Great Persecution, a period of intense persecution against Christians in the Roman Empire. The Edict of Milan allowed Christians to practice their faith freely and without fear of persecution, leading to a significant shift in the status and treatment of Christians within the empire.

During the time of the empire, a simplified version of Greek was developed as a common language. This simplified version of Greek allowed Christian missionaries to communicate with people throughout the empire. The use of a common language made it easier for the missionaries to spread their message and connect with individuals from different regions.

Alexander the Great culturally unified the Mediterranean world. He achieved this through his conquests and the spread of Hellenistic culture. As the king of Macedonia, he expanded his empire to include regions such as Egypt, Persia, and India. Through these conquests, he brought Greek customs, language, and art to the regions he conquered, blending them with local cultures. This resulted in the spread of a common Hellenistic culture throughout the Mediterranean world, which had a lasting impact on the region.

The correct answer is "council of Jerusalem" or "Council of Jerusalem." The entry of Gentiles into the Christian faith caused Jewish-Christians to debate whether these newcomers needed to convert to Judaism before becoming Christians. This issue led to a meeting at the council of Jerusalem, which was the first church council ever held.

The correct answer is Gnostics knowledge. The explanation for this answer is that the Gnostics claimed to possess special personal knowledge that was not available to ordinary Christians. The term "Gnostics" comes from the Greek word for "knowledge," which reflects their emphasis on secret knowledge and spiritual insights. This knowledge was believed to be a means of attaining salvation and understanding the true nature of the divine realm. The Gnostics were considered a heretical group by early Christian leaders due to their alternative beliefs and practices.

A rule of faith is similar to a creed because both serve as a statement of beliefs or principles that guide and unify a religious community. Just as a rule of faith outlines the fundamental teachings and doctrines of a particular faith, a creed also articulates the core beliefs of a religious tradition. Both a rule of faith and a creed provide a framework for understanding and practicing a religion, and they help to establish a shared understanding and identity among believers.

The activity of missionaries resulted in the establishment of a network of Christian communities throughout the Roman world. These missionaries spread the teachings of Christianity and converted people to the faith, leading to the formation of the Catholic Church. Through their efforts, Christians gained the right to call their community the Catholic Church.

The phrase "in the fullness of time" refers to the belief that the conditions during the time of Jesus' birth and the early Christian movement were perfect for the growth and spread of Christianity. This could include factors such as the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire, the existence of a common language (Greek), and the widespread influence of Jewish religious ideas. These favorable conditions allowed for the message of Christianity to be easily communicated and accepted by a wide audience, leading to its rapid expansion.

The answer suggests that the beginning of church history can be traced back to the event of Jerusalem Pentecost, which occurred around AD 30. This event is significant because it marked the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus after his crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, began preaching and spreading the teachings of Jesus, thus laying the foundation for the early Christian church.

Nero blamed a fire in Rome on the Christians, which led to the first persecution of Christians. This event occurred in 64 AD, when a fire broke out in Rome and destroyed a large portion of the city. To divert blame from himself, Nero accused the Christians of starting the fire and used this as an opportunity to persecute them. This marked the beginning of a series of persecutions against Christians in the Roman Empire.

The tensions between the Greek-speaking Jews, known as Hellenists, and Palestinian Jews escalated to the point where blood was shed and the Hellenists were compelled to flee north to either Samaria or the city of Antioch in Syria. This unfortunate event occurred despite the appointment of seven men to facilitate the smooth integration of the Greeks into the Christian community. Nonetheless, this incident marked a significant advancement for Christianity as it embraced Jews from outside of Palestine.

Decius is the correct answer because he passed the first specifically anti-Christian laws in the Roman Empire and initiated the first empire-wide persecution of Christians. During his reign as emperor from 249 to 251 AD, Decius implemented policies that required all citizens to participate in traditional Roman religious practices, including offering sacrifices to the Roman gods. Christians who refused to comply were subjected to persecution, imprisonment, and even death. This marked a significant turning point in the Roman Empire's treatment of Christians and set a precedent for future persecutions.

Decius's persecution aimed to force Christians to publicly renounce their faith. This was a strategy employed by Decius to suppress the growing influence of Christianity and maintain the dominance of the traditional Roman religion. By coercing Christians to renounce their beliefs, Decius hoped to weaken their religious community and discourage others from converting to Christianity. This persecution was a means to assert the power of the Roman state and enforce conformity to the established religious norms of the time.

The correct answer is "Greek Palestinian, Greek Palestine." This is because the sentence mentions that Greek-speaking Jews were attracted to the Christian community in Jerusalem and practiced their Jewish faith differently from the other Jews. This suggests that there were two distinct groups of Jews in Jerusalem - the Greek-speaking Jews who were attracted to the Christian community and the other Jews. The term "Greek Palestinian" refers to the Greek-speaking Jews who were living in Palestine, while "Greek Palestine" refers to the region where these Greek-speaking Jews practiced their Jewish faith differently.

The followers of Christ were first called Christians in the city of Antioch around AD 40. This term was used to describe the believers who were followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings. Antioch was a significant city in the early Christian history, known for its diverse population and active Christian community. The name "Christian" was likely given to them by the non-believers in Antioch, possibly as a way to distinguish them from other religious groups in the city.

The first important Christian community was established in the western part of the Roman Empire.

In 261, Gallienus passed a law tolerating the Christian faith, which led to a period of more than 40 years of rest for Christianity. This means that during this time, Christians were not persecuted and were able to practice their faith without fear of punishment or harm. Gallienus' law marked a significant shift in the Roman Empire's attitude towards Christianity, providing a period of relative peace and stability for the Christian community.

The gnostic threat was the hardest struggle for the Church to overcome because Gnosticism posed a significant challenge to orthodox Christian beliefs. Gnostics believed in a dualistic worldview, with the material world being inherently evil and the spiritual world being good. This contradicted the Church's teachings on the goodness of creation and the incarnation of Christ. Additionally, Gnostics claimed to possess secret knowledge of salvation, which undermined the authority of the Church and its teachings. The Church had to actively combat and refute Gnostic beliefs in order to maintain its orthodoxy and preserve its influence.

Diocletian launched the worst attack on the Christian faith in 303, which was so severe that it became known as the Great Persecution.

Putting love into deeds was probably the most potent single cause of Christian success because it allowed Christians to demonstrate their faith through actions rather than just words. By actively showing love and compassion towards others, Christians were able to attract and convert more people to their faith. This practical demonstration of love not only resonated with people's spiritual hunger but also created a sense of cultural unity among Christians, further contributing to their success.

It's not B because Pentecost was when Jesus's followers began to attract the first converts to Christianity.

During the Great Persecution, thousands of people were killed, church property was confiscated, and sacred objects were destroyed. This period of intense persecution targeted Christians, leading to the loss of many lives and the destruction of religious property.

The gnostics endangered the Church teachings and Church unity. Gnosticism was a belief system that challenged and deviated from the orthodox teachings of the Church. Their alternative interpretations and mystical practices posed a threat to the established doctrines and teachings of the Church. Additionally, their beliefs and practices caused divisions and conflicts within the Church, undermining its unity and cohesion. Therefore, the gnostics posed a danger to both the teachings and unity of the Church.