How did Christian Begin?

Answer 1

Christianity began when Jesus gave his disciples what is called the Great Commission, which says to go out into all the world and preach the gospel (or good news) to everyone. This began to be implemented when the obedient followers received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, as Jesus had promised. This 'Power from on high' was specifically promised for the purpose of fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 (King James Version) 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Acts 1:8 (King James Version) 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Various other views:

• The Christian religion originated from Jesus Christ and was started in the Middle East. It started with Jesus. After he died on the cross, the remaining apostles spread out and started churches in places like Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Iraq.

• Constantine wanted to unite Europe and did so by combining many of the regional religions. It just happens that there was a small Jewish sect that he believed would draw in the Jews to his "universal" European religion. The spring festival of those European religions became Easter. The Winter Festivals became Christmas. The origin of Christianity was strictly a function of politics.

  The resulting religion was called "Catholic", meaning universal, and everyone was instructed to convert. Reports are that Constantine never joined his universal religion, but was baptized without his permission while on his deathbed.

• It is believed that Christianity stared at the birth of Christ. Actually, of course, Adam was the first Christian as were all of the early saints before the birth of Christ who believed upon His name.

• Christianity was invented by Paul. As to his influence, there are considerable differences of scholarly opinion concerning how far Paul did in fact influence Christian doctrine. Among the most radical is G.A. Wells, a professor of German, whose view is that Jesus was a mythical figure and that Christianity was in good part invented by Paul. Wikipedia.org/Pauline Christianity*

• Christianity wasn't just randomly started. It all starts from Jesus Christ. When Jesus died for everyone, He rose 3 days later and told his remaining 11 of 12 disciples to spread the word that He saved everyone. Thus it was called Christianity.

*A form of Marcion Heresy, circa 110-160, which rejects the entire Old Testament and all but the writings of Paul in the New Testament, including the commonly accepted four Gospels, yet includes Marcion's own version of the Gospels. The Early Church Fathers roundly condemned the Marcion heresy.

Another answer:

While the New Testament writers indicate that there were a number of false claims about Christianity, they all agreed, including the 12 Apostles, that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead and ascended up to heaven. Peter, Paul and John, in their teaching, agreed with the Old Testament, where over 300 prophesies came true about Christ, which is the Greek word for the Hebrew, Messiah.

Christianity began in God's mind, before the foundation of the world. God had planned on the redemption of man (buying back from sin's consequences) before man was created. This is maintained by the writers of Scripture, who were led by the Holy Spirit to write what God had desired.

Things like: "they gave for my price thirty pieces of silver," "they part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture," "But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting," demonstrate only a few of the Old Testament prophecies, which came true with extreme accuracy. God knew what He would do with His Son, allowing Him to die for our sins, yet resurrecting Him in holy justice for the Christan's victory.

Christianity (the fulfillment of God's promises) was inaugurated on the Day of Pentecost, after Christ had ascended to heaven. See Acts 1 & 2, KJV. There were 3000 souls that received Christ as their Savior from sin n that day. This probably by custom only counted the men, as indicated also in Acts 4:4, "Howbeit many of them which heard the Word believed; and the number of the men were about five thousand." In just a few weeks, conservatively, there were about 25,000 Christians in Jerusalem.

The name Christian, originally considered to be a slanderous name for believers in Christ, was first assessed of those in the church at Antioch of Syria. Yet it was appropriate for those who were "Christ followers."

Another answer:

Jesus did not necessarily start a new religion; he was a practicing Jew. His followers eventually "broke off" from Judaism and started a new "religion" (or faith).
When Jesus, The Christ was of age and began teaching and preaching the gospel, the people that believed Jesus (and all that he taught and said) -- these people are Christians; although the Jews were the chosen people.

Answer2: Early Christianity a Way of Life

Jesus said to his followers: "You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you." (John 15:14) Since Jesus' teachings affected all aspects of their lives, Christ's disciples initially referred to their religion as "The Way." (Acts 9:2) Soon thereafter, "[they] were by divine providence called Christians." (Acts 11:26) This new name they bore meant that they believed that Jesus was the Son of God, who had transmitted to mankind the will of his heavenly Father. This belief led them to follow a way of life that differed from that of the world around them.

Christ's teachings moved his followers to follow Bible teachings, which meant avoiding "fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, . . . drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these." (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-24) The apostle Paul reminded Corinthian Christians that some of them had once practiced these very things. Then he added: "But you have been washed clean, but you have been sanctified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

E. W. Barnes relates in his book The Rise ofChristianity: "In its early authoritative documents the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected and family life was pure." Such were aspects of being a Christian in the early days.

Another distinctive sign of early Christianity was its zealous evangelizing work. Christ commanded his followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations." (Matthew 28:19, 20) Jean Bernardi, a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, noted: "[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. . . . They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth." (Taken from (4/07 Awake on Jehovah's Witnesses official website)

Answer 2

It is hard to say exactly when it began. Some Might say the Birth of Jesus Christ, others might say the Ministry of Jesus Christ, and others might say the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I would have to say in my own opinion. That it began with the ministry, as the disciples of Christ could be considered the 1st Christians.