The Disciples' Transformation and the Spread of Christianity in Rome
By Owen Borville
April 18, 2019
Bible
The Biblical account confirms the transformation of the disciples from shaky followers of Jesus Christ to devout believers that ultimately gave their lives for their faith. The disciples followed Jesus but there was doubt in their mind if Jesus was who he said he was and if he would do what he said he would do. After the Crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples thought that the mission was over, the mission that Jesus pursued during his life on Earth. It was not until Jesus in his Resurrected form appeared to them, first to Mary Magdalene and then to the disciples. When they saw the resurrected Jesus, including his wounds in his hands and feet, they new that he was the one that he said he was and that his promises came true. Even Thomas who said after the crucifixion:
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
Thomas would soon see the resurrected Jesus and proclaim: “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29.
The transformation of the disciples is remarkable and set the foundation for the growth of the Church and the Christian movement. With its humble beginnings as a sect of Judaism, Christianity and its followers would continue to suffer persecution by future Roman governments. Most notably under the emperor Nero in 64 A.D. However, within 300 years, the Christian Church would grow so much that it would become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor Constantine would convert to Christianity at 312 A.D., the first emperor to do so and this conversion would further establish Christianity in the Roman Empire and the European continent. Constantine also played an influential role in the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in 313, which decreed tolerance for Christianity in the empire. Constantine also called the First Council of Nicaea in 325, at which the Nicene Creed was professed by Christians. The Nicene Creed was a statement of faith that set the foundation of modern Christianity as is known today.
The humble beginnings of Christianity go back to the disciples themselves, who were Jewish and were waiting on their "promised Messiah" like all other Jews. Any doubt about who Jesus was and his mission was erased when he appeared in his resurrected form. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God, while predicting that he would be resurrected in three days. Upon seeing the resurrected Christ, the disciples had the faith and confidence to give their lives for the faith, as 11 of the 12 disciples would pay the ultimate price during their lives. This dramatic transformation of the disciples faith in Jesus cannot be explained unless the events of the scripture are true as recorded in the New Testament gospels.
By Owen Borville
April 18, 2019
Bible
The Biblical account confirms the transformation of the disciples from shaky followers of Jesus Christ to devout believers that ultimately gave their lives for their faith. The disciples followed Jesus but there was doubt in their mind if Jesus was who he said he was and if he would do what he said he would do. After the Crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples thought that the mission was over, the mission that Jesus pursued during his life on Earth. It was not until Jesus in his Resurrected form appeared to them, first to Mary Magdalene and then to the disciples. When they saw the resurrected Jesus, including his wounds in his hands and feet, they new that he was the one that he said he was and that his promises came true. Even Thomas who said after the crucifixion:
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
Thomas would soon see the resurrected Jesus and proclaim: “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29.
The transformation of the disciples is remarkable and set the foundation for the growth of the Church and the Christian movement. With its humble beginnings as a sect of Judaism, Christianity and its followers would continue to suffer persecution by future Roman governments. Most notably under the emperor Nero in 64 A.D. However, within 300 years, the Christian Church would grow so much that it would become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor Constantine would convert to Christianity at 312 A.D., the first emperor to do so and this conversion would further establish Christianity in the Roman Empire and the European continent. Constantine also played an influential role in the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in 313, which decreed tolerance for Christianity in the empire. Constantine also called the First Council of Nicaea in 325, at which the Nicene Creed was professed by Christians. The Nicene Creed was a statement of faith that set the foundation of modern Christianity as is known today.
The humble beginnings of Christianity go back to the disciples themselves, who were Jewish and were waiting on their "promised Messiah" like all other Jews. Any doubt about who Jesus was and his mission was erased when he appeared in his resurrected form. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God, while predicting that he would be resurrected in three days. Upon seeing the resurrected Christ, the disciples had the faith and confidence to give their lives for the faith, as 11 of the 12 disciples would pay the ultimate price during their lives. This dramatic transformation of the disciples faith in Jesus cannot be explained unless the events of the scripture are true as recorded in the New Testament gospels.
