The History of Christianity
Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over 2 billion followers worldwide. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the belief that he is the Son of God. Christianity traces its roots back to Judaism and the Hebrew Bible. Here is an overview of the key events and figures that have shaped the history of Christianity over the past 2000 years:
Jesus Christ
Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish preacher living under Roman occupation in 1st century Palestine, is the central figure of Christianity. The primary source of information about Jesus comes from the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. According to these accounts, Jesus traveled and preached throughout Palestine, gathering disciples and performing miracles and acts of healing. Major events in Jesus’s life include his baptism by John the Baptist, the Sermon on the Mount, his transfiguration, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper with his disciples, his crucifixion by the Romans, and his resurrection three days later. Christians believe Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah and Son of God, sent to redeem humanity.
Early Church & Apostolic Age (1st Century)
After Jesus’s crucifixion around 30-33 AD, his followers slowly began gathering to worship him as the risen Christ. The book of Acts traces the early growth of the church in Jerusalem and beyond. At Pentecost, Jesus’s disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues, drawing converts. Under the leadership of the Twelve Apostles, particularly Peter and Paul, the Jesus movement spread through missionary activities to Jews and Gentiles across the Roman Empire. Paul wrote influential letters to fledgling churches addressing key theological issues and doctrines. The Council of Jerusalem confirmed that Gentile converts did not need to strictly observe Jewish law. By the 2nd half of the 1st century, Christians faced hostility and occasional persecution from local authorities.
Early Theologians & Church Fathers (100-500)
In the sub-apostolic age, church traditions became more established through the writings of early church fathers. Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp were influential 1st century bishop-martyrs. Irenaeus combated heresies like Gnosticism. Tertullian originated trinitarian language. Origen founded a catechetical school in Alexandria. Eusebius wrote an early church history. Major figures from the 4th/5th centuries include Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin, and Augustine of Hippo who wrote extensively on theology and philosophy. These church fathers helped articulate and defend key Christian doctrines.
Christological Controversies & Ecumenical Councils (325-787)
In the 4th and 5th centuries, Christian leaders held several pivotal ecumenical councils to deal with controversies around the nature of Christ and the Trinity. The Council of Nicea (325) asserted Christ’s divinity against Arius. The Council of Constantinople (381) upheld Nicene trinitarianism. The Council of Ephesus (431) affirmed Mary as the Theotokos (God-bearer), rejecting Nestorianism. The Council of Chalcedon (451) ruled that Christ had both human and divine natures united in one person, rejecting Eutyches’ monophysitism. Later councils like Constantinople II (553) and III (680) reiterated these doctrines against ongoing heresies. These councils helped unify Christian belief around the foundational creeds.
Christendom & Monasticism (500-1000)
In the early medieval era, Christianity spread throughout Europe and became the established faith of the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne. Monasticism also flourished with orders like the Benedictines whose monasteries became centers of education and missionary activity. Notable figures included Benedict of Nursia, Gregory the Great who consolidated papal power, and the scholar-monks Bede and Alcuin who Christianized England and the Carolingian renaissance. Controversies over icons divided the eastern and western churches leading to a permanent schism between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy in 1054. Despite a brief period of iconoclasm, Byzantine Christianity flourished with leaders like John of Damascus and Photios the Great.
Crusades & Scholasticism (1000-1400)
As Islam expanded in the Holy Land and Mediterranean, a series of Crusades were launched under popes like Urban II and Innocent III to reclaim territories from Muslim rule. Though largely unsuccessful, the crusades demonstrated the pervasive interweaving of faith, politics and war. Scholastic theologians like Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas wrestled with reason and faith, laying foundations for medieval philosophy and natural theology. Mystics like Bernard of Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich made affective contributions to theology through spiritual writings. Mendicant friar orders like the Franciscans and Dominicans reshaped Christian ministry in urban settings.
Reformations & Religious Wars (1400-1600)
Corruption and abuses within the Catholic Church set the stage for reformations that would split Western Christianity. John Wycliffe and Jan Hus criticized indulgences and church authority. Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press enabled mass dissemination of ideas. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses protesting indulgences sparked the German Reformation (1517), leading to Lutheranism. Ulrich Zwingli led the Swiss reform movement. John Calvin established a theocracy in Geneva promoting Reformed theology. England broke from Rome under Henry VIII forming the Church of England. Radical reformers like Menno Simons founded Anabaptist movements. Years of religious wars ravaged Europe until the Peace of Westphalia (1648).
Modern Era (1600-present)
The modern era saw Christianity expand worldwide through colonization and missionary work. Key figures include George Fox (Quakers), John and Charles Wesley (Methodism), William Carey (Baptist missions), and Jonathan Edwards (First Great Awakening). Scientific advancements by Copernicus, Galileo and Newton challenged traditional Biblical worldviews provoking responses from scholars. Philosophers like Blaise Pascal, Søren Kierkegaard and Fyodor Dostoyevsky infused Christianity into their writings. Movements like Pentecostalism, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Ecumenism and Liberation Theology shaped 20th century Christianity. The Holocaust led to theological crisis. Vatican II brought reforms in Catholicism. Christianity saw rapid growth in the Global South even as it declined in the West. Debates continue around theology, morality, social issues and the relationship between Christianity and culture.
Core Doctrines & Beliefs
While varying traditions have developed over history, Christianity is fundamentally based on core doctrines such as:
– God as Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
– Jesus as divine-human Messiah and God incarnate
– Sin, original sin and need for salvation
– Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection
– Justification by faith
– The Bible as God’s revelation
– Second Coming of Christ
– Heaven, Hell and afterlife
These creeds find expression through church liturgy focused on Word and Sacrament – Baptism and Eucharist. Christian ethics stem from Jesus’ commands to love God and neighbor.
Conclusion
Over two millennia, Christianity has grown from an obscure Jewish sect to the world’s largest global religion with diverse expressions worldwide. Its history has been shaped by key figures, theological developments, reformations, expansions, and intellectual movements. Core doctrines center on the person and work of Jesus Christ as the Savior of humanity. Christianity has profoundly impacted world civilization, culture, philosophy, morality and the arts.