What was the Roman Empire's role in the spread of Christianity?

Answer 1

From the very earliest days of Christianity, the Roman roads allowed Christian missionaries to travel great distances in relative comfort. The Roman peace allowed them to travel in relative safety. Historians such as Edward Gibbon tell us that the general tolerance of the pagans caused them to overlook the strange superstition that was beginning to take hold in their midst.

There were only brief periods of official, widespread persecution of the Christians, totalling no more than twelve years over the three centuries of pagan rule. At other times and as far as possible, the rules of justice were applied in favour of the Christians. Gibbon says that the magistrates frequently declined the odious task of persecution, dismissed the charge with contempt, or suggested to the accused Christian some legal evasion by which he might elude the severity of the laws. Whenever they were invested with a discretionary power, they used it much less for the oppression than for the relief and benefit of the aflicted church. Gibbon tells us that the tradition of harsh and extensive persecution by the pagan rulers only began with the ecclesiastical writers of the fourth and fifth centuries.

The well-maintained roads that allowed freedom of movement, the Roman peace, pagan tolerance and the civilised application of the laws all contributed to the gradual spread of Christianity.

Answer 2

Christianity grew rapidly under Emperor Constantine and his Christian successors, partly because of state patronage, including the expenditure of enormous sums of imperial money. At the same time, this patronage contributed to the decline of the Roman empire, although scholars disagree as to whether it was the major single reason or merely a contributing factor to the decline of empire.

There were other reasons for the rapid growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire. The persecution of the pagan temples was one important factor. It has been pointed out that under pagan Rome, the Christians suffered around twelve years in total of widespread, official persecution, but that the pagan temples were persecuted throughout almost all the fourth century, until they were appropriated by the Christian churches late in the century and in the fifth century.

There were also other reasons for the decline of empire. Constantine's reorganisation of the army is considered to have weakened its effectiveness, so that the empire was less able to withstand barbarian attack. The Christian Church opposed all knowledge that did not contribute to the Church, thus leading to a decline in education and the destruction of ancient texts, even the fabled Library of Alexandria.

Answer 3

The Roman Empire was the place where Christianity spread. It is also the place where its doctrines and churches developed. Therefore were can say that the Romans have given us Christianity. This religion started in Judea, which was part of this empire and spread in this empire. It first reached the areas close to Judea: Syria, Turkey and Egypt. There were various variations of Christianity at the beginning. What was called the Greek or Eastern Church became the main form of Christianity in this eastern part of the Roman Empire. The main form of Christianity which spread in the western part of the empire was the Latin or Western church. Later these two churches became to be called Orthodox and Catholic respectively. Both churches developed hierarchic clergies and were headed by five patriarchs: the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria (of Egypt). St Paul developed a theology which made Christianity accessible to all of the gentiles (non-Jews) of the empire (the first Christians were Jews who preached only to other Jews and followed Jewish law). The Apostles and Christian priests set out to spread the gospel in the empire and were successful in making converts. However, Christianity remained a minority religion until it was endorsed by the Roman emperors of the last period of the empire. All but one of the emperors after Constantine were Christians. In 380 the co-emperors Gratian and Theodosius the Great issued an edict which made Latin and Greek Christianity the state religion and banned dissident Christian doctrines. Theodosius persecuted Arian Christianity, a dissident doctrine which was popular around the empire and which eventually died out. He also persecuted paganism.

Answer 4

how did favourable conditions in the roman empire help in the spread of Christianity