Where Did Christianity Originate From?

Christianity emerged within the Jewish communities of Roman-controlled Judea. Early Christians, including Jesus and his disciples, were Jewish and followed Jewish law.

The Christian religion initially developed as a sect within Judaism, deeply influenced by the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament).

The teachings of Jesus reinterpreted many aspects of Jewish law, emphasizing personal faith, love, and forgiveness. His followers believed he was the promised messiah foretold in scripture.

After Jesus' death and reports of his resurrection, the Christian community began to grow, spreading the gospel through missionary work.

The Roman Empire played a critical role in the expansion of early Christianity. The empire's roads, cities, and common language (Greek) helped spread the faith across Asia Minor and the Mediterranean.

Paul, one of the most influential early Christians, traveled widely, writing letters that now form much of the New Testament.

Though early Christians were often seen as a threat to Roman culture and worship of many gods, the message of one God and salvation through Christ gained traction. Christianity challenged the worship of Greek and Roman gods and offered hope to people across social classes.

Christianity remained a minority religion until the early fourth century C.E.. The turning point came with Emperor Constantine. In 313 C.E., he issued the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity. Later, it became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius I.

The early church began to formalize its beliefs during this period. The Nicene Creed, written in 325 C.E., outlined core Christian doctrine, including the role of the Holy Spirit and the belief in the same God as in Jewish tradition.

As Christianity spread across the Roman Empire, especially in Western Europe, the church grew more structured.

The Roman Catholic Church became a dominant force in the Western Roman Empire. It built on early church traditions, sacraments like the Lord's Supper, and centralized authority in the bishop of Rome—the pope.

The Catholic Church preserved much of the early Christian tradition and helped shape Western civilization. Over time, different branches of Christianity emerged, but the Roman Catholic Church remains a major institution in the world today.

Today, Christianity is one of the most widespread world religions, with billions of followers across the globe. It has influenced everything from art and philosophy to laws and holidays.

While the religion's origin lies in the ancient world, its impact continues to shape the modern one.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.