Foundational Figures
This Jewish teacher from Nazareth is considered the central figure and founder of Christianity.
Who is Jesus?
The event when Jesus was raised from the dead, central to Christian belief.
Who is Constantine the Great?
The weekly day many Christians gather for worship and to remember Jesus' resurrection.
What is Sunday
The group of people who first followed Jesus and spread his teachings—often called his 12 special followers.
Who are the Apostles?
The empire in which Christianity began.
What is the Roman Empire?
Name the disciple often credited with writing many letters (epistles) to early Christian communities and spreading Christianity to Gentiles
Who is Paul (Saul of Tarsus)?
The Jewish festival during which Jesus was crucified, according to the Gospels.
What is Passover?
The ritual that commemorates Jesus' last meal with his disciples and is central to Christian worship (also called Communion).
What is the Eucharist / Communion / Lord's Supper?
The primary language of the New Testament writings was this language (commonly used in the eastern Mediterranean).
What is Greek (Koine Greek)?
The title held by the Roman leader who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.
Who is Pontius Pilate (the Roman governor/procurator)?
This disciple is said to have betrayed Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver.
Who is Judas Iscariot?
The gathering in around 50 CE where early Christian leaders debated Gentile converts and Jewish law.
What is the Council of Jerusalem
The belief that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine is known as this.
What is the doctrine of the Incarnation (or the dual nature of Christ)?
This apostle traveled widely and is credited with founding several churches across Asia Minor and Greece.
Who is Paul (apostle Paul)?
Early Christians sometimes faced this treatment from Roman authorities because they refused to worship the emperor.
What is persecution (or arrest/imprisonment/execution)?
Name the disciple who is traditionally believed to have denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion and later became a leader in the Jerusalem church.
Who is Peter (Simon Peter)?
The event in which Jesus was executed by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
What is the Crucifixion?
Early Christians used writings that later became part of this collection of sacred texts.
What is the New Testament (or Christian scriptures)?
The empire whose roads, trade routes, and common language helped Christianity spread across Europe and the Mediterranean.
What is the Roman Empire?
The system of law and order and built environment (roads, cities) that helped Christian missionaries travel more easily across great distances.
What are Roman roads and infrastructure (or Pax Romana)?
Identify the Roman emperor whose conversion and support greatly helped Christianity gain acceptance in the Roman Empire (he convened the Council of Nicaea).
Who is Constantine the Great?
The council convened in 325 CE to address disputes about the nature of Jesus and establish a unified creed.
What is the Council of Nicaea?
Name the Christian statement of faith that was produced at the Council of Nicaea to define who Jesus is.
What is the Nicene Creed?
A common method used by missionaries and merchants to spread Christianity to new regions (involves travel and establishing local communities).
What is missionary travel / establishing churches / evangelism?
The city that became the eastern capital of the Roman Empire after the 4th century and a major center of Christianity.
What is Constantinople (formerly Byzantium)?