The Spread Of Christianity In The Roman Empire

Brooke Pahl
Ancient Cultures Hour 7
The Spread of Christianity
30 May, 2013
The Spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire The spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire was made possible by many things including the birth of Jesus, apostles, poverty, travel, roads, language, and the Roman army (PBS, 2006). The major people who took part in the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire were Jesus, the apostle Paul, the Roman army, and Constantine (Thorpe, ND). After the death of Jesus, his word continued on through teachings to the Jewish communities around the empire. This was made possible by apostles such as Paul and the modern communications of the Roman Empire (PBS, 2006). Over the course of thirty years, Paul traveled
around 10,000 miles across the Roman Empire spreading the word of God (PBS, 2006). He focused his preaching on the larger, more important cities such as Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens; which were home to thousands of people left poor and desperate (PBS, 2006). These people were the best audience to hear the word of God because they yearned for a sense of hope, which Christianity and God gave them. Paul spoke to individuals in their homes and in synagogues. But unlike Jesus, Paul preached to everyone, not only Jews. He believed that the message should be sent to gentiles as well as Jewish people (PBS, 2006). The creation of the road system in the Roman Empire and the Roman army are both large central factors in the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire as well (PBS, 2006).
Thousands of miles of roads connected major cities as well as the outlying areas of the Roman Empire (Thorpe, ND). The extensive transportation network of roads helped the apostles travel and preach the word of God as well as aided people from different cities to meet and communicate (Thorpe, ND). The Roman army was a major venue for spreading ideas (Mason Academic Research System, ND). The Roman army never had units based on their home country; many of the units based in Britain were from the Middle East, therefor Christianity spread quickly (PBS,
2006).
The more relaxed approach was one of the greatest reasons for the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. As Christianity strayed from the strict Jewish-only tradition, other traditions began to change as well such as the strict laws on food and circumcision. It gradually became its own new and separate religion in doing so (PBS, 2006). The stray from strict rules and regulations created a high interest in Christianity along with the sense of belonging, the purification from sin, the practice of daily liturgy, and the avenue of immorality (Thorpe, ND).
With all of these factors playing a role in the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire, it was however not always such an easy religion to believe it and spread.
The Christians were widely criticized after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. Emperor Nero had failed in his ruling and diverted the attention off of him onto the Christians, who were seen as an easy scapegoat. Christians were arrested and tortured, then executed harshly in public. Some were crucified, thrown to wild animals, and even burned alive (PBS, 2006). It was not until the rein of Constantine when Christians were accepted. In 312 AD, Constantine said that he had a dream where he was told to pain the Christian symbol on the shields of his soldiers. He did so and henceforth won the battle. He later in 337 AD decided that he would allow the entire empire to worship any religion
freely.
Many factors went in to the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. From the Roman army, word of mouth, a more relaxed approach, and the preaching of the apostles. The spread of Christianity was not an easy thing, even with the help from all of the mentioned factors. However, the spread of Christianity was accomplished throughout the Roman Empire and today continues in the form of the Roman Catholic Church.