Introduction
Christianity as a religion has its roots in Judaism. Many early Christians had been converted from Judaism. The first-century Christians still practiced Jewish customs apart from their faith n Jesus Christ. There was almost no difference between Christians and Jews by that time. When support for the conversion of Jews into Christianity diminished, Christians began preaching to the gentiles. However, Christianity did not expand greatly with the gentile infusion. The growth and success of Christianity came from the conversion and patronage of Constantine. The early Christians were perceived with suspicion. Due to this perception, Christians began seeking converts secretly as well as hiding their practices. In Rome, Christianity was treated with much suspicion and hostility. Roman had several unfulfilled dreams and had been neutralized in the first century. This hostility culminated in the persecution campaign led by Nero and the emperors that followed after that.
Similarities and Differences of First Century Christianity and Judaism
Christianity is essentially an offshoot of Judaism. By all means, Christianity derived its concept of faith from the practices and beliefs of Judaism. Early Christianity and Judaism, therefore, shared many similarities. Both religions were monotheistic and believed in the existence of one sovereign God. However, the two were greatly different in many ways. Christians believed in God and His son with whom they are one. They also believed that Christ died for humankind and that faith in Christ leads to salvation and eternal [peace. Jews, on the other hand, believed in the Torah and the laws of Moses. They scorned the idea of a savior. They also believed that they were the chosen ones and the rest were inferior to them.
Why Romans Looked at Early Christianity with Derision
The Christian religion came with a new set of beliefs and practices that were strange to the Romans. The beliefs like no offering of sacrifices since Christ had offered did not make sense to the Romans. The Christians did not take part in Roman events and practices due to their faith. This made the Romans perceive them with derision. They were considered with great suspicion since theirs was a strange religion that made no sense to the Romans. Christianity was therefore seen as a cult whose beliefs clashed with those of the Romans (Reinhold & Lewis 203). The practices and beliefs of Christians brought anger and suspicion since they isolated them from the Romans. They acted contrary to the beliefs and practices of the Romans. The Romans, therefore, felt that the Christians did not fit or appreciate their values.
The Causes of Hostility
The Romans were hostile to early Christianity due to the way the Christians perceived them. They were considered removed and potentially subversive. This made the Romans treat Christianity with contempt (Tanzer 63). The Jews of Rome had gone through many events that neutralized them. Christians were still noble, and this perception led to the suspicious treatment they experienced. It can therefore be said that the early Christians, to an extent, were responsible for the hostility towards them. The way they perceived the Romans had a lot of impact on how they were treated. Had they approached and perceived the Romans properly, they could have escaped being targets of Nero and his predecessors.
How Christianity Survived Persecution
When Christianity arrived in Rome, it was met with hostility and opposition. The beliefs and practices of Christianity clashed with those of Roman pagan beliefs. As a result of these, the Romans began persecuting Christians. Early Christians in Rome were supposed to denounce their religion and offer sacrifices to pagan gods, sometimes forced to worship the emperor. The early Christians’ life became increasingly difficult as the emperors ordered them to be imprisoned until they renounced Christ. However, the more they were persecuted, the more they increased in number. Jails were congested with Christians who had refused to denounce Christ in exchange for their freedom. The Christians, therefore, thrived under the Roman threat of imprisonment, forced service, and martyrdom. This refusal to deny their faith made the Romans get interested in their beliefs. Their strong belief in Jesus Christ and their unwavering faith were the chief reason for their success during persecutions (Geer 96-102).
Conclusion
Christianity and Judaism share a lot in terms of history and faith. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism since Christian beliefs came from those held by the Jews. However, the two religions are different in many aspects, as discussed above. The advent of Christianity in Rome had its own challenges. The early Christians of Rome were received with contempt and suspicion. They were subjected to persecutions to denounce their faith. However, their unwavering stand of faith gave them the strength to endure this harsh period.
Works Cited
Geer, Russel. Roman Civilization. Michigan: University of Michigan, 2008.
Reinhold, Meyer & Lewis, Naphtali. Roman civilization: selected readings. Columbia: Columbia University Press, 1990.
Tanzer, Hellen. Roman civilization: a handbook for students. Michigan: Edwards Brothers inc, 1933.