Christianity is one of the most widespread religions in the world. He bases his belief on the birth, public life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The term Christianity is a derivation from the followers of Christ. Jesus is therefore the pioneer of Christianity. Christians base their teaching on the Bible, the sacred book of the Christian, mainly on the New Testament. However, it describes indefinitely the origin and evolution of this religion. This essay will focus on the originality of Christianity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The origin of Christianity dates back to the first century, when the Holy Spirit fell on the eleven disciples of Jesus. Jesus was the son of Mary and Joseph. According to the Bible, Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was therefore not the biological father of Jesus. He was born between 4 and 1 BCE in Bethlehem, Jerusalem. This was during the time of King Herod the Great. Thirty years later, Jesus began his ministry. He first chose twelve disciples who would assist him and make the Gospel prosper after him. He then traveled throughout Palestine to preach. Most Jews called him their king, while some called him the Messiah. During his reign he encountered many challenges from some Jews and other Romans. Jesus' reign lasted about three years. He was then arrested and accused of treason and crucified. According to Christian traditions, Jesus was resurrected three days after his death. He then ascended to heaven forty days later. The resurrection and ascension was an affirmation that he was the messiah predicted decades BCE. On the day of Pentecost, ten days later, the Holy Spirit fell on the eleven apostles. One of Jesus' assistants committed suicide after betraying him. The eleven disciples were the first Christians. The Holy Spirit empowered these apostles to continue spreading the Gospel even outside of Palestine. During this same century, the 1st century CE, approximately three thousand Jews converted and became Christians. However, most Romans did not embrace Christianity. This is why they executed Christians. In 37 AD, Paul, previously Saul, converted to Christianity. Paul was a tentmaker and persecutor of Christians before the transformation. According to the story, Paul was transformed while on his way to Damascus, where he would persecute more believers. Paul's conversion led to significant progress in the spread of Christianity. Immediately after his conversion, Paul began his missionary work in the synagogues of Damascus. Non-Christians felt betrayed and began plotting against him. So Paul fled to the Arabian desert for three years. He returned to Jerusalem around 40 AD but faced new threats which led him to flee to his hometown. Between 41 and 44 AD, Paul preached in and around Tarsus. Paul considered the Gentiles equal to the Jews; therefore, they deserved the opportunity to join Jewish Christianity. During this period, many Gentiles converted to Christianity. Following this rapid adoption of Christianity by the Gentiles and Jews of Syria, Antioch became the main center of Christianity. So Barnabas asked Paul to help him. Paul traveled to Antioch around 45 AD, where he began his first missionary journey around 48 AD. Paul accompanied by Barnabas left for Paphos, Cyprus. In Cyprus, Paul performed a miracle, the curse of a sorcerer suffering from temporary blindness. The miracle led to the conversion of large numbers of non-Christians. Series Paulus, a proconsulRoman, was among those who converted. They then went to Perge, Pamphylia and then to Pisidian Antioch. Their determination in Antioch pushed the Jewish leaders to obstruct their action. They were then expelled from the region. After their dismissal, Paul and Barnabas went to Galatia. They preached and converted unbelievers in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. At Lystra, Paul performed another miracle, the healing of a disabled man, which led some Jews in Antioch and Iconium to provoke the stoning of Paul. However, Paul recovered and returned to Syria via Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. The roughly two-year journey led to the rapid spread of Christianity in Rome. Around 51 AD, after the Jerusalem council met, Paul began his second missionary journey. The journey took about two years. He first revisited the areas of his first voyage before traveling to the coastal city of Troas on the Aegean Sea. He then brought the Gospel to Macedonia and its surrounding areas. Paul and Silas, Paul's companion on the second journey, were arrested while in Philip after Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl. They were then released and marched through Athens via Thessaloniki and Berea. They also spent time in Corinth, Caesarea in Palestine and Jerusalem before returning to Syrian Antioch. After a short stay in Antioch, Paul leaves on the third missionary journey. He revisited the churches he had founded on his previous missionary journeys before visiting Ephesus. Paul then went to Macedonia and Achaia. He left Greece after discovering that some Jewish leaders were planning to kill him. From Greece, he returned to Asia and then to Jerusalem. Around 58 AD, Paul arrived in Jerusalem but was arrested shortly after his arrival. He was later released after appealing to Caesar about two years later. Christianity had spread significantly in and outside Rome by 64 AD. However, some Roman leaders were unhappy with the actions of the Christians. This is why they blamed and punished Christians for most of the disasters. For example, Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the fire that broke out and destroyed much of Rome. Paul and Peter were among the Christians facing major charges following the incident. Christianity was then illegal until 313 AD. Two years later, around 68 AD, Emperor Nero died and Vespasian succeeded him. In 70 AD, major Jewish revolts broke out against the Roman government. The rebellion led to the destruction of a Christian church in Jerusalem. Events slowed the spread of religion. However, with the persecution of Christians by Roman rulers and the destruction of the Church, Christianity continued to spread. Between 71 and 115 AD, the evangelist Mark introduced Christianity to Africa, Egypt and Alexandria. He discovered Coptic Christianity, which later spread to North Africa and other areas along the Red Sea. Around 180 AD, a school of Christian theology was opened in Alexandria. Afterwards, around 189 AD, Vittore I became the first elected African pope. Around 206 AD, King Abgar IX converted Edessa into a Christian city. It became the first city in the world where Christianity was permitted. However, the spread of Christianity was compromised by the sporadic persecutions that Christians faced. In 250 AD, another empire-wide Christian persecution was launched. It was during the reign of Emperor Decius. The Christians had refused to offer religious sacrifices in the presence of Roman officials, as ordered by the emperor. The edict was repealedlater around 261 AD. Persecution remained local until Emperor Diocletian instituted a series of decrees, similar to Emperor Decius' proclamation. By 300 AD, approximately twenty-five percent of the total Roman population was Christian. Emperor Diocletian abdicated his position and was succeeded by Emperor Constantius in 305 AD. In 306 AD, Emperor Constantine took over after Constantius' death. Constantine is believed to have seen Christ and heard a voice that said "in this, overcome" before launching war against Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge around 311 AD. He emerged victorious and took the city of Rome. The victory led to his conversion to Christianity. In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine met with Emperor Lucinius of the East and they both signed the Edict of Milan. The decree marks the end of the persecution of Christians and legalizes the religion. The conversion of the emperor marked a new turning point in the rise of religion. Emperor Constantine allowed Christians to participate in civic life like other Roman citizens. He built churches and allowed Christians to receive donations. The wealth acquired enabled Christians to build more churches and other Christian institutes such as hospitals, schools, among others. This is why the religion has gained popularity. In 321 AD, the Christian day of worship was declared an official day of rest. Christians were also appointed to high offices in the empire. Constantine is also known for his trial to unite Christians. Around 325 AD, Constantine attended the Council of Nicaea which formulated the doctrine of the Trinity. In 331 AD, Emperor Constantine ordered Bishop Eusebius to bring Bibles to the church in Constantinople. Before he died in 337 AD, Constantine was baptized a Christian. Christianity continued to gain fame even after Constantine's death. His sons were more positive in their affirmation of Christianity. In 341 AD, pagan sacrifices were abolished. The temples were closed and the statues removed from the Senate. However, Christianity faced another challenge when Julian assumed the throne. Emperor Julian supported paganism. Although paganism was almost in disrepair, Julian attempted to restore the temple. He also appointed pagans to high public office unlike Constantine. Julian's reign lasted two years. He was then replaced by Jovian. At first, Jovian objected, claiming he was a Christian. His troops discouraged his decline but supported him until the reign. By the Edict of Thessalonica, in 380 AD, Emperor Theodosius made Christianity an official state religion of the Roman Empire and paganism was made illegal. The decree ordered every citizen to convert to Christianity. Although pagans were persecuted, there were no persecutions as brutal as those of Christians. A year later, Theodosius issued another edict requiring Christians to worship one God in accordance with the Nicene Creed. The decree aimed to unite Christians. Due to factors such as geographical separation, linguistic differences, political factors, doctrinal differences, among others, Christianity has split into two, the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches. The division began between the 4th and 5th centuries after the total decline of the Roman Empire due to barbarian invasion. During this period, Roman popes played not only religious but also political roles. Later, around 526 AD, the schism was healed. Tension between the two groups was felt again between the 10th and 11th centuries, leading to a definitive division. Between the 8th and 10th centuries, distinct theologies and controversies developed. The most debate.