What is the history of Christianity?

Answer

The history of Christianity is truly the history of Western civilization. Christianity has exerted a pervasive influence on society as a whole—art, language, politics, law, family life, calendar dates, music, and even our thought processes have all been shaped by Christian influence for almost two thousand years. Therefore, understanding the narrative of the church is crucial.

History of Christianity – The Emergence of the Church

The establishment of the church occurred 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection (circa A.D. 30). Jesus had assured that He would establish His church «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), and with the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the church—ekklesia (the “called-out assembly”)—was officially inaugurated. Three thousand individuals responded to Peter’s sermon that day and made the decision to follow Christ.

The initial converts to Christianity were either Jews or converts to Judaism, and the focal point of the church was in Jerusalem. Consequently, Christianity was initially perceived as a Jewish sect, similar to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, or the Essenes. Nevertheless, the message preached by the apostles was fundamentally distinct from the teachings of other Jewish factions. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah (the anointed King) who had arrived to fulfill the Law « Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. », (Matthew 5:17) and establish a new covenant based on His sacrifice «And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. », (Mark 14:24). This message, with its accusation that they had killed their own Messiah, angered many Jewish leaders, and some, like Saul of Tarsus, took steps to eradicate “the Way” (Acts 9:1-2).

It is entirely accurate to state that Christianity has its origins in Judaism. The Old Testament established the foundation for the New Testament, and comprehending Christianity fully is impossible without a functional understanding of the Old Testament (refer to the books of Matthew and Hebrews). The Old Testament clarifies the need for a Messiah, presents the history of the Messiah’s people, and foretells the Messiah’s arrival. The New Testament, on the other hand, focuses on the arrival of the Messiah and His mission to rescue us from sin. In His lifetime, Jesus fulfilled more than 300 specific prophecies, demonstrating that He was the awaited One from the Old Testament.

History of Christianity – The Expansion of the Early Church

Shortly after Pentecost, the church welcomed non-Jewish individuals. The evangelist Philip preached to the Samaritans «Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. », (Acts 8:5), and many of them accepted Christ. The apostle Peter preached to the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 10), and they, too, received the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul (previously a persecutor of the church) spread the gospel throughout the Greco-Roman world, reaching even Rome itself «And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. », (Acts 28:16), and possibly extending all the way to Spain.

By A.D. 70, the year Jerusalem was demolished, most of the books of the New Testament had been finished and were in circulation among the

Churches. For the next 240 years, Christians were persecuted by Rome—sometimes at random, sometimes by government edict.

In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, the church leadership became more and more hierarchical as numbers increased. Several heresies were exposed and refuted during this time, and the New Testament canon was agreed upon. Persecution continued to intensify.

History of Christianity – The Rise of the Roman Church

In A.D. 312, the Roman Emperor Constantine claimed to have had a conversion experience. About 70 years later, during the reign of Theodosius, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Bishops were given places of honor in the government, and by A.D. 400, the terms “Roman” and “Christian” were virtually synonymous.

After Constantine, then, Christians were no longer persecuted. In time, it was the pagans who came under persecution unless they “converted” to Christianity. Such forced conversions led to many people entering the church without a true change of heart. The pagans brought with them their idols and the practices they were accustomed to, and the church changed; icons, elaborate architecture, pilgrimages, and the veneration of saints were added to the simplicity of early church worship. About this same time, some Christians retreated from Rome, choosing to live in isolation as monks, and infant baptism was introduced as a means of washing away original sin.

Through the next centuries, various church councils were held in an attempt to determine the church’s official doctrine, to censure clerical abuses, and to make peace between warring factions. As the Roman Empire grew weaker, the church became more powerful, and many disagreements broke out between the churches in the West and those in the East. The Western (Latin) church, based in Rome, claimed apostolic authority over all other churches. The bishop of Rome had even begun calling himself the “Pope” (the Father). This did not sit well with the Eastern (Greek) church, based in Constantinople.In Constantinople, theological, political, procedural, and linguistic divisions all contributed to the Great Schism in 1054. This event led to the excommunication of the Roman Catholic (“Universal”) Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, resulting in the severance of all ties.

History of Christianity – The Middle Ages

Throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church maintained its authority, with popes asserting control over all aspects of life and ruling like monarchs. Corruption and avarice were prevalent among the church leadership. Between 1095 and 1204, the popes sanctioned a series of violent and costly crusades aimed at pushing back Muslim advancements and freeing Jerusalem.

History of Christianity – The Reformation

Over time, various individuals attempted to highlight the theological, political, and human rights violations of the Roman Church, only to be silenced in different ways. However, in 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther challenged the church, and his message resonated widely. Luther’s actions sparked the Protestant Reformation, marking the end of the Middle Ages.

The Reformers, such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, held differing views on many theological details. Nevertheless, they all emphasized the supreme authority of the Bible over church tradition and the belief that sinners are saved by grace through faith alone, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Despite the resurgence of Catholicism in Europe and subsequent conflicts between Protestants and Catholics, the Reformation effectively weakened the influence of the Roman Catholic Church and paved the way for the modern era.

History of Christianity – The Age of Missions

Between 1790 and 1900, there was a notable surge in missionary activities within the church. The era of colonization had highlighted the necessity of missions, and industrialization had provided the financial means to support missionaries. Missionaries were able to reach new areas and spread the message of Christianity.

Traveling around the world preaching the gospel led to the establishment of churches worldwide.

History of Christianity – The Modern Church

Today, the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have taken steps to mend their broken relationship, as have Catholics and Lutherans. The evangelical church is strongly independent and firmly rooted in Reformed theology. The church has also witnessed the emergence of Pentecostalism, the charismatic movement, ecumenism, and various sects.

History of Christianity – Lessons from Our History

If we learn nothing else from church history, we should at least acknowledge the importance of allowing “the word of Christ to dwell in [us] richly” «Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. », (Colossians 3:16). Each of us is responsible for knowing what the Scripture says and living by it. When the church forgets the Bible’s teachings and disregards Jesus’ instructions, chaos ensues.

There are numerous churches today, but only one gospel. It is “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). Let us be diligent in preserving that faith and passing it on unchanged, and the Lord will continue to fulfill His promise to build His church.