Leading up to the time of Christ’s birth, there was a general search for the true faith, with many people ridiculing the traditional pagan religions. Various new religions came to replace the traditional Greek and Roman ones, and there was an ongoing interest in moral philosophy. The teachings of Socrates and Plato and Stoicism still persisted for centuries until the time of Christ, as well as different versions of older philosophies like Neo-Pythagoreanism. 

Meanwhile, the Jewish people were looking for their messiah, who was prophesied hundreds of years earlier. The Jews had strict laws about their religion, and scribes were experts on the law and were extremely influential at the time of Christ. The scribes had developed out of the Babylonian captivity and had been powerful ever since then. The Hebrews also had something known as the Sanhedrin, which was a particular group of priests, scribes, and pious Jews numbering about 6,000 during Christ’s lifetime. They paid strict fidelity to ritual observance and laws. When Jesus started his ministry, there were followers of Him called “Zealots” who sought violent revolution against Rome, but were angered at Jesus after they found out that Christ’s kingdom was not a political one. 

Jesus started his public teachings at age 30 and had twelve close disciples following Him. He delivered many public sermons and healings, with one of the most famous of these being the 

Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes). Because He proclaimed Himself the Son of God, Jesus was greatly opposed by the enraged chief priests and Pharisees. Eventually, He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Apostles, and delivered to Roman governor Pontius Pilate to be punished. Pilate found no fault in Him, but nevertheless ordered Christ to be crucified for fear of a revolt if Pilate did not go through with their demands. After His crucifixion, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead on the third day. 

The Christian faith was established, and was met with immediate persecution by the Jews and Romans. Jesus’ disciples and Apostles preached His message across the Mediterranean and the Roman Empire. Four Gospels were composed telling of Jesus’ life and ministry and a number of other books were written that make up the “New Testament.” Christianity first rose among the Jews, with entrance into the faith by baptism. Later it reached all peoples of the world, including non-Jews known as Gentiles. Despite the fierce resistance, Christianity spread widely, with the teaching that those who repent and serve God are promised eternal life.