Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the
apostles
wrote down and spread his teachings. One man,
Paul
, traveled throughout much of the Roman empire, and attracted many new followers to Jesus's message. As more
non-Jews
adopted the idea of Jesus as the Messiah, Christianity became a religion distinct from Judaism.
Over time, Christianity grew and evolved, with different interpretations of Jesus's teachings emerging. The early Christian communities faced persecution from the Roman authorities, but by the 4th century, Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine.
Throughout the medieval period, Christianity spread throughout Europe and beyond, with missionaries like Saint Patrick bringing the religion to Ireland and Saint Augustine bringing it to England. The Catholic Church became a powerful institution, exerting influence over both religious and secular matters.
In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation saw the emergence of new Christian denominations that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. Figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin played key roles in this movement, emphasizing the importance of salvation through faith alone and the authority of scripture.
Today, Christianity is one of the largest and most widespread religions in the world, with over 2 billion followers. It has many different denominations and traditions, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. Christians believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible, including his message of love, forgiveness, and salvation.