Major Concepts

A. Small Christian Communities: Missionaries like Paul spread the Good News and founded Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire . Paul in particular had success among the Gentiles, who were attracted to the message that God's saving love was offered to all people. Paul established communities in Philippi , Thessalonica, Corinth , and Ephesus . Eucharistic worship typically took place in members' homes, where Christians gathered to break bread and share God's word. The continuing crisis between Christians and Jews was followed by Roman persecution of Christians. Both Peter and Paul died in Emperor Nero's persecutions.

B. The Christian Testament: During his second missionary journey, Paul began writing letters of advice, concern, and instruction to the Christian communities he founded. These letters, as well as some letters written later by other leaders, were treasured, copied, and circulated among the communities. After the deaths of Peter and Paul, Christians began to put Jesus' life story into written form to preserve firsthand accounts about Jesus. These accounts became known as the Gospels, and together with the letters of Paul and other followers, they formed the basis of the Christian Testament.

C. The Final Break with Judaism: Separation between Jewish Christians and Jews in Jerusalem first became pronounced when James, leader of the Christians in Jerusalem died at the hands of Jewish leaders. A few years later, Jews at the Temple officially rebelled against the Romans, but the rebellion was crushed and the Temple leveled in 70 C.E. In order to maintain their identity as a people and Judaism as a religion, Jews required conformity of belief, and they no longer welcomed Christians. This break caused many centuries of misunderstanding and persecution.