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Where did Christianity Originate From?
The beginning of Christianity is very important, because it's by understanding the beginning that we understand the ending.
Let's answer the question, "Where did The Church start?" Christianity originated in Jerusalem in Judea, Israel.
Some people say that The Church started on the day of Pentecost, but I would argue that it started after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ when He made the atoning, once-for-all sacrifice in heaven.
Quick Facts about Christianity's Beginning and Spread
- From Jerusalem in Judea, Israel, the Church grew across the Mediterranean and Europe.
- Christianity became a tolerated official religion in the year 313 in the Roman Empire
- After the ministry of The Lord Jesus and His death and subsequent resurrection, the Church spread throughout the Roman Empire in the Book of Acts.
- The Church grew by the will and power of God through the submission and work of the apostles and early disciples of The Lord Jesus Christ.
- We can see much of the growth of Christianity as it spread throughout the Roman Empire in the Book of Acts.
Early Church Fathers on the Origin and Starting Location of Christianity
| Church Father | Quote | Context / Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Eusebius of Caesarea c. 260–340 AD Ecclesiastical History, Book 1.2.1 | “The religion of the Christians is neither new nor strange, but... the most ancient and true religion... preached by our Savior from Judea.” | Affirms that Christianity began in Judea, not as a novel invention but rooted in God's eternal plan. |
| Justin Martyr c. 100–165 AD First Apology, Ch. 39 | “For from Jerusalem there went out into the world men, twelve in number... who, by the power of God, proclaimed the gospel to every race.” | Identifies Jerusalem as the launching point of Christian missionary work by the Apostles. |
| Irenaeus of Lyons c. 130–202 AD Against Heresies, 3.1.1 | “The Church, having received this preaching and this faith from the Apostles and their disciples... although scattered throughout the world...” | Shows that Christianity began with the Apostles, then spread globally—Jerusalem as its cradle. |
| Tertullian c. 160–225 AD Apology, Ch. 21 | “The Christian religion had its rise under Tiberius... and its root in Judea, where also the author of this religion was born.” | Affirms Christianity started in Judea under Emperor Tiberius (i.e., during Jesus’ ministry). |
| Origen of Alexandria c. 184–253 AD Contra Celsum, 2.13 | “The teaching of Jesus began in Judea, and from there it spread throughout the world.” | Reinforces that Jesus' teachings originated in Judea before expanding outward. |
| Clement of Alexandria c. 150–215 AD Stromata, 6.5 | “Our Lord was born in Bethlehem, and from there the word went forth, first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles.” | Bethlehem and Judea as geographical and theological origin; Gospel moved from Jews to Gentiles. |
| Eusebius of Caesarea c. 260–340 AD Ecclesiastical History, 3.5.2 | “The church of Jerusalem was the first and the only one founded by the apostles themselves.” | Affirms the Jerusalem church as the mother church, directly founded by the Apostles. |
| Ignatius of Antioch d. c. 110 AD Letter to the Romans, Ch. 3 | “I do not enjoin you as Peter and Paul did. They were Apostles... I am but a condemned man.” | References Peter and Paul as active in Rome but implies Jerusalem as their origin point. |
| Papias of Hierapolis c. 60–130 AD (as quoted in Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., 3.39) | “[Mark] having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatever he remembered... not in order, but... of the Lord’s sayings and doings.” | Shows that early tradition about Jesus was preserved from firsthand sources (Peter, from Jerusalem). |
| Jerome c. 347–420 AD Letter 108, To Eustochium | “From Jerusalem the faith of Christ shone forth, as from a kind of fountainhead.” | Jerusalem as the fountainhead of Christianity. |
| Athanasius of Alexandria c. 296–373 AD Festal Letter 39 | “The apostles, who were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word, went out from Jerusalem, preaching everywhere...” | Directly states the spread began from Jerusalem thro |
Apostle Peter and New Christian Origins
Quick Look At The Beginning of The Christian Church (Christianity)
Just as the woman was taken out of the man whom God had put in a deep sleep (paralleling the Lord Jesus' death) so too was the Church.
The Bible says in Genesis 2 that the Lord brought the woman to Adam, and in the scriptures, after the ascension The Lord stood among the disciples and He breathed His Life and Spirit into them. This is the beginning of the Church.
Notice Eve didn't receive the breath of life directly from God, the life was already there because of her husband Adam. So too, what we receive is the same Spirit that was in the man Christ Jesus, demonstrating that our life as The Church began as the result of Him.
Since salvation is of the Jews according to Scripture, it would follow that the Church would begin with Jewish believers and then go to the Gentiles.
So when the Spirit was initially given would mark the beginning of the Church's life, and this seems to be here after the ascension as seen in John 20.
Why Did Christianity spread despite the danger?
- It spread because the Lord Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit, He empowered them to do so.
- The promise that The Lord's disciples would suffer persecution, and that He is with them even to the end of the age also gave the apostles and early Christians the resolve to follow through with the mission.Bible Verses About New Beginnings and New Stages (Powerful)
Persecution and Powerful Triumph in Spreading the Gospel in Acts 4:25-33
Why did the heathen rage,And the people imagine vain things?26The kings of the earth stood up,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the Lord, and against his Christ.27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Get More Answers From The Bible
Where Did Christianity Start in Africa?
- Christianity first arrived in North Africa, in the 1st or early 2nd century AD.
- In fact, it was from North Africa and Turkey that Christian missionaries were sent to evangelize in the western part of Europe.
- According to historians, Christianity in Africa first arrived in Egypt in approximately 50 AD.
- The Christian faith started in Jerusalem and spread to both Africa and Europe at the same time.Bible Verses About Leadership (Powerful)
Who Brought Christianity To Africa?
Mark the Evangelist is chiefly credited for the spread of Christianity in Africa by the power of The Holy Spirit.
Scriptures Written In The Time of The Early Church for New Christians
Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Acts 2: 46-47 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
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