Why did people in Rome start to turn to Christianity as a religion?

Answer 1

AnswerFor the first three hundred years, Christianity grew slowly among the Romans. Then Constantine became Emperor of Rome and began to encourage Christianity, while discouraging paganism.

Those of ambition knew that, under Constantine and his sons and successors, their ambitions were more likely to be fulfilled if they were Christians, or at least claimed to be Christians. The example of the rich and powerful was no doubt a motivation for the lower classes to embrace Christianity. Another powerful incentive, suggested by Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire), is that Constantine offerred every Roman convert a white garment, with twenty pieces of gold. It was claimed that in one year, twelve thousand men were baptised at Rome, along with a proportionate number of women and children.

Answer 2

Conversions to Christianity started very early, during the first century. The resurrected Jesus sent eleven the twelve apostles to spread his teachings across the nation of the world. The apostles undertook missionary journeys around the Roman Empire, particularly the eastern part. Paul the Apostle (c. 5 - c. 67) was a very active missionary and the laid the foundation of an interpretation of Christianity which opened it to conversion of the gentiles (non-Jewish pagans). Paul was not one of the twelve Apostles. He was a later convert.

As Christian communities were created in the first century, Church intuitions and a clergies were formed. More people undertook missionary work.