Knowra History of Christianity History of Christianity The account of Christianity’s development from its first-century beginnings through its changing beliefs, institutions, communities, and influence across the world.
Jesus : A first-century Jewish teacher and preacher whose life and execution gave rise to Christianity. Christianity’s origins center on his teachings, death, and followers’ claims about his resurrection.
Christian monasticism : Forms of Christian religious life organized around withdrawal, prayer, discipline, and communal or solitary devotion. Monastic communities preserved learning, shaped worship, and influenced social life.
Bible : The collection of sacred texts recognized by Jewish and Christian traditions, with different canons among Christian churches. Its texts have been interpreted, translated, and disputed throughout Christian history.
Eastern Orthodox Church : A communion of churches tracing its tradition to the early Christian communities and maintaining distinct eastern liturgical and theological traditions. Its history diverged institutionally from the western church while retaining ancient Christian traditions.
Paul the Apostle : An early Christian missionary and letter writer who helped establish communities across the eastern Roman Empire. His missions and letters shaped the movement’s expansion beyond Jewish communities.
Great Schism : The conventional name for the lasting division between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, dated to 1054. It formalized a major rupture between Christian institutions in eastern and western Europe.
Christian theology : The systematic study and articulation of beliefs about God, Christ, salvation, and Christian life. Theological arguments help explain how Christian beliefs changed and acquired formal expression.
Roman Catholic Church : The largest Christian church, led by the pope and organized around a global hierarchy of bishops and dioceses. Its centralized institutions shaped western Christianity and became a focal point of Reformation disputes.
Early Christianity : The diverse Christian movement from the first century through the early fourth century. This period shows the communities and disputes from which later Christian institutions developed.
Protestant Reformation : A sixteenth-century movement that challenged Roman Catholic authority and formed diverse Protestant churches. It fractured western Christendom and changed political and religious life.
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