Why did the Gospels spread so widely during the first three centuries?

Answer 1

In the approximately three centuries of Christianity before the time of Emperor Constantine, Christianity is believed to have converted ten percent of the population ofthe Roman Empire. This is a very substantial achievement for the time, but it is not possible to point to proven reasons for its rapid spread. All it is possible to do is to offer some opinions. First, Christianity benefitted from the spread of the Roman Empire, which made travel throughout the realm easy and safe. The spread of ideas was facilitated. The major competitors for the allegiance of the pagans were Judaism and Mithraism, both of which had weaknesses compared to Christianity. Judaism required adult circumcision of proselytes, whereas Christians could claim to worship the same God, without the pain and risk of converting to Judaism. Mithraism did not admit women as full participants, whereas Christianity often converted the women first, then encouraging the women to convert their menfolk. Early Christianity came in several varieties, with substantially different messages that appealed in different ways, and potential converts could choose whether to join the proto-Catholic-Orthodox branch, or any of the Gnostic branches and other early sects of Christianity. The descendants of those who joined Gnostic Christianity joined the proto-Catholic-Orthodox in the fourth century, after their faith became illegal. There were many reasons for Christianity's early success, and these may have been significant factors.