Lesson 3: Beliefs of Christianity

Key Idea

Early Christians used the Hebrew Bible as their sacred text. As Christianity grew, followers began calling this collection the Old Testament. This text tells the story of creation and the history of the ancient Israelites.

After the life of Jesus, his followers wrote new texts to explain his teachings and spread the faith. This collection became the New Testament. Together, these two parts form the complete Christian Bible, which provides the foundation for all Christian beliefs.

Key Idea

Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to Earth. His life and teachings, recorded in the Gospels, form the foundation of their faith.

According to Christian belief, Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, or brought back to life. This event is seen as proof of his divine nature and offers followers salvation from sin.

Key Idea

Christians put their beliefs into practice through their daily lives and special traditions. They follow the ethical teachings of Jesus, such as the Golden Rule, which instructs people to treat others as they would want to be treated.

Believers also participate in important rituals that unite their communities. For example, Holy Communion is a ceremony that remembers Jesus's Last Supper with his followers.

Key Idea

After the time of the apostles, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and eventually the world. This growth made it the largest global religion, but it also led to new challenges as communities developed in different regions.

Over centuries, disagreements about leadership and beliefs caused the church to split. The first major division separated the church into two main branches: Roman Catholicism in Western Europe and Eastern Orthodoxy in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.