Christianity's beginning?

[brilander]

I was curious, when essentially did Christianity begin? Or maybe it was always there?

If people believed in a Gods, years before Christ, how did this change? I was thinking this from watching the movie Alexander.

 

[Chief117]

I was curious, when essentially did Christianity begin? Or maybe it was always there?

If people believed in a Gods, years before Christ, how did this change? I was thinking this from watching the movie Alexander.

I'm not sure what you're getting at for sure, as I haven't seen 'Alexander'. Nonetheless, I will try to answer anyway.

Christianity in the true since started at Creation--the beginning of the world. For through Christ all things were made. Now, the Jews did not have a full knowledge of Christ, although many prophecies of the OT prove to us that the evidence was there.

However, in the literal sense, the term itself (Christianity) must refer to those who followed Jesus Christ after His earthly ministry. Therefore, most common answers will say that Christianity started about 2000 years ago, when Christ walked the earth. I however, contend that it is closer to about 6000+ or so years old (which I believe is the approximate age of the earth).

Again, I'm confused about what you mean, but a quick view on "religion history" based on the Bible: all men originally came from God and should have known God. Eventually, as you read about the men of Genesis, you realize that God had certain chosen people. One of the biggest splits was that of Isaac and Ishmael. God's chosen people, the Jews, descended from Isaac. However, the descendants of Ishmael (as I'm sure the descendants of a few others before him) turned away from God.

As the years passed this meant that there were so many more "non-Jews" than there were Jews. (Note also that the Muslims claim that Ishmael was God's chosen son, and that they are the true chosen people, though the Bible clearly refutes this, not to mention out-dates Islam by several thousand years).

There would have been many who believed in other gods throughout the ages, but God's people always remained in some shape, way, or form. Christ came to redeem not only those chosen, but to expand the invitation of grace even to those who were not "jews" (by birth).

I hope that helps a little.

God Bless!

 

[daveleau]

Ugh, what a vile and disappointing movie. I was deployed when that came out. I spent some of my hard earned to see it, and I did something I've never done before. I walked out of the movie. And, I am a huge history buff. Ugh, what a vile and disappointing movie.

Sorry.

Christ was there with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-3) So, Adam and Eve could be said to be the first Christian believers, of sort. Christianity is belief in God and in Christ as Messiah, so really Christianity began when His first converts believed after the resurrection. The first Christians that used the name Christian was in Antioch in Acts 11:26. But, the first Believers were those that saw Jesus after the Resurrection. The Apostles had given up hope after Christ had been crucified, because part of them still held onto the Hebrew idea that Christ would be a worldly king, not a Spiritual King. So, Christianity began on the Sunday when Christ appeared to the disciples and throughout the 40 day period when He was seen by 500 people. Christianity had its roots in Jewish belief from Adam and Eve, and it took another step when John the Baptist began preaching of Jesus. But, it first began the Sunday He was resurrected.

Yours in Christ,
Dave

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

Jesus Christ founded the Church. The starting of this Church is often given as either the Last Supper, or the first Pentecost.

 

[JMandrell]

I believe the first christians were Adam and Eve. They walked with God and therefore they believed in God and therefore believed in Jesus.

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

I believe the first christians were Adam and Eve. They walked with God and therefore they believed in God and therefore believed in Jesus.

Actually, a Christian is a follower of Jesus the Messiah. Adam and Eve were not Christians.

 

[dignitized]

Technically the first "Christians" were the believers of Antioch.

 

[8TarHeel8]

JMandrell,

I believe the first christians were Adam and Eve. They walked with God and therefore they believed in God and therefore believed in Jesus.

The skeptic in me just came out. I believe there is a verse in the book of Acts that identifies who the first Christians were:
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. - Acts 11:26

That's a far cry from Genesis and the Garden of Eden.

Cheers.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

That "is" where they were 1st "called" Christian... but Christianity began at Pentecost, accepted as 33AD.... in Jerusalem... which was the first Church to follow Christ, but the term "Christian" was coined in Antioch around 38AD.

This is the order...

Jerusalem 33AD
Antioch 38AD
Alexandria 38AD
Rome 43AD


There's your beginning of Christianity....

 

[Servus Iesu]

Prior to the use of the name Christian I believe followers of Our Lord simply referred to the divine religion as "The Way". Other appelations were added over time to refer to the true faith: Christian... One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, Orthodox.

 

[stray bullet]

[bible]Matthew 16:15-17[/bible]

I believe this is where Christianity began, the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

[stray bullet]

That "is" where they were 1st "called" Christian... but Christianity began at Pentecost, accepted as 33AD.... in Jerusalem... which was the first Church to follow Christ, but the term "Christian" was coined in Antioch around 38AD.

This is the order...

Jerusalem 33AD
Antioch 38AD
Alexandria 38AD
Rome 43AD


There's your beginning of Christianity....

Or...
Peter
other eleven apostles.
the disciples
the Jews
the Gentiles

He was the first man to know.

 

[johnd]

Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

When did Christianity begin, indeed?

 

[dignitized]

That "is" where they were 1st "called" Christian... but Christianity began at Pentecost

Does it? After all - what is Christianity but ***US*** as followers of Christ. Who were his first followeres? And when did people start following Him? I'll give you a hint - it was in Galilee

 

[billwald]

Wrong question - doesn't matter because God established a continuous line of righteous people starting with Adam. We give the name "Christian" to the line after Jesus' death. It's like asking, "When did America begin?"

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

When did Christianity begin, indeed?

33 A.D.

 

[e=mv^2]

Was it not sometime in September of 33 AD?

BAH - hooray for topic mining. Old topic - sorry.