Christian history - the basics
This history of Christianity is focussed on the life, death and resurrection of one person, Jesus Christ, the son of God.
Background to the life and death of Jesus Christ
The traditional story of Jesus tells of his birth in a stable in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, to a young virgin called Mary who had become pregnant with the son of God through the action of the Holy Spirit.
The story of Jesus' birth is told in the writings of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament of the Bible.
His birth is believed by Christians to be the fulfilment of prophecies in the Jewish Old Testament which claimed that a Messiah would deliver the Jewish people from captivity.
Jesus' ministry
After the story of his birth, little is known about Jesus until he began his ministry at the age of about 30.
He then spent three years teaching, healing and working miracles.
He taught in parables - everyday stories which had divine messages for those who would hear it.
He had twelve disciples whom he called to follow him and help him in his work.
Persecution and death
Jesus stated publicly that he spoke with the authority of God.
This claim angered the religious authorities in Palestine and they handed Jesus over to the Roman authorities as a revolutionary.
He was tried for heresy, condemned and put to death by means of crucifixion.
Resurrection
On the Sunday following his execution, some of his women followers discovered that the tomb into which his body had been placed was empty.
Jesus then appeared to them, alive, as the Jesus they had known prior to his death. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.
Jesus was seen by many of his disciples and followers over the next few days before, according to the Gospel accounts, he was taken up into heaven.