Paul Spreads Christianity to Non-Jews
Paul Spreads Christianity to Non-Jews is a Grade 6 history topic from History Alive! The Ancient World covering how the apostle Paul transformed Christianity from a Jewish sect in Judea into a world religion spanning the Roman Empire. Paul of Tarsus was a Roman citizen who initially persecuted Christians before converting after a vision. Believing Jesus's message applied to everyone, not just Jews, he undertook extensive missionary journeys around 50 C.E., establishing Christian communities across modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Rome. His letters to these early churches, collected in the New Testament, explained Christian doctrine and shaped the religion's theology. Paul's work is the primary reason Christianity spread so rapidly in the first century.
Key Concepts
After Jesus's death, a man named Paul of Tarsus became a key leader. He was a Roman citizen who converted to Christianity and believed Jesus's message was for everyone, not just Jews. Paul decided to spread the faith to non Jews, who were also known as Gentiles .
Around 50 C.E., Paul traveled thousands of miles across the Roman Empire, starting new Christian communities. He also wrote many letters to guide these new churches. These writings helped explain Christian ideas and became an important part of the New Testament in the Bible.
Common Questions
Who was Paul the Apostle?
Paul of Tarsus was a Roman citizen who converted from persecuting Christians to becoming Christianity's most influential missionary. He traveled across the Roman Empire establishing churches and wrote letters that became major texts of the New Testament.
Who are Gentiles in early Christianity?
Gentiles are non-Jewish people. Paul's key contribution was arguing that Jesus's message of salvation was for everyone, including Gentiles, not just Jews. This universal approach opened Christianity to the broader Greco-Roman world and transformed it into a world religion.
What is the New Testament?
The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible, containing the four Gospels about Jesus's life, the Book of Acts describing the early church, and Paul's letters (epistles) to various Christian communities. Paul's letters constitute roughly half of the New Testament's books.
How did Paul spread Christianity across the Roman Empire?
Paul undertook multiple missionary journeys, traveling thousands of miles through Turkey, Greece, and eventually Rome, establishing Christian communities in major cities like Corinth, Ephesus, and Philippi. He also wrote letters that guided these communities' beliefs and practices.
Why was Paul's Roman citizenship important?
Paul's Roman citizenship gave him legal protections non-citizens lacked, including the right to appeal to Roman courts and protections against summary punishment. These privileges allowed him to continue missionary work even when arrested or threatened.
When do 6th graders study Paul and early Christianity?
Sixth graders study Paul's missionary work as part of the origins of Christianity unit in History Alive! The Ancient World, exploring how a small Jewish movement in Judea became a major world religion within a few generations.
How did Paul's letters shape Christian belief?
Paul's letters addressed fundamental theological questions about salvation, resurrection, the relationship between Jewish law and Christian faith, and church organization. They standardized Christian beliefs across geographically scattered communities and have been central to Christian theology for two thousand years.