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The Spread Of Christianity: 50 To 500 CE

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Several factors contributing to the rapid spread of Christianity from the period ca. 50 to 500 CE but, among the more influential were political and social conflict, missionary work, word of mouth, and women in leadership. Starting as a Jewish sect, Christianity gradually began to attract those outside of the Jewish heritage. Though the first few centuries of this movement were anything but glamorous, both Jewish and Gentile Christians remained steadfast. The ecclesiastical works of the early Church Fathers offer solace to such who were continually persecuted, a people of lower society status or even slaves. During this era, the dissimilation of subversive ministries advanced the appeal of Christianity by challenging previously established social order and its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy. By late 300 CE, Christianity had revolutionized and was adopted as the universal religion of the Roman Empire as a result of the conversion of its emperor. Thus the strength behind Christian communities lead to the discovery and conversion of indigenous cultures around the world using force, wealth, missionary work, and the gospel.

One of the main influences of the spread of Christianity from the period ca. 50 …show more content…

Latin and Greek were the commonly spoken languages; therefore, the message of the gospel was easily understood. Paul stressed in his letters, or Epistles, to the believers that Jesus was the Son of God who died for the sins of all men. He also affirmed that salvation was for all men, both Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles) alike. (Lecture January 14, 2007). This was the idea in which Christianity was not to be restricted to a certain sect or nation of people. A great example of this sort of universal acceptance is beautifully illustrated in the book of

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