Of all the people to be converted soon after the death of Jesus, Paul is certainly one of the most significant. Paul spread the Christian message North-West through Antioch, Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Greece, and even as far as Albania and Spain (Romans 15, 19, 24), thus showing what a major part he played in the spread of the early Christian church.
Alongside the many geographical factors that helped the spread of Christianity, however, it must still be said that Christianity simply could not have spread if people were not willing to accept the message.
A major reason people were so willing to convert was due to the actions of the Christians themselves. This theory is also put forward by Chadwick who proposes, ‘The practical application of charity was probably the most potent single cause of Christian success.’ The ‘charity’ Chadwick talks of refers to the generosity Christians displayed to a number of people, namely widows, orphans and the poor. Christians also helped during times of famine earthquake or war and were renowned for their hospitality, offering shelter to travelling brethren for up to three nights.
Not only did the actions of the Christians appeal to the people, but also the message they were teaching. The Christian message is one of equality; the thought of slaves and masters being greatly appealed to the lower classes.
The upper classes were also persuaded by this message of equality. The Bible teaches that men and women are equal and says that a husband must treat his wife well. This appealed to the prominent women who then converted their husband. Again we turn to Chadwick who claims that it was through women that Christianity ‘penetrated the upper classes of society.’
Factors outside of the Christians hands also helped the spread of Christianity. During these times the Roman Empire was going through a period of peace, Pax Romana, which greatly helped the spread of Christianity.
Being void of distractions such as war, the Romans could turn their attention to other matters. This allowed them to build roads so good many of them are still being used thousands of years later. These roads literally paved the way for the early evangelists and missionaries. Also, the Roman soldiers, with no wars to fight, were able to guard these roads, ensuring safe travel.
Free time allowed men to think about complicated matters such as the meaning of life and they began to ask questions; Christianity provided answers to these questions. Also, the Greek language was not only universal, but was also seen as being rich enough to provide sufficient answers. Origen also placed emphasis on the importance of Pax Romana; he was certain that it was one of God’s purposes as war between rival kingdoms would have delayed the spread.
Another factor that was beyond the Christians control was that of the Jewish religion. While this later hindered Christians, it helped to lay the foundations of the Church. The Greek geographer Strabo wrote, ‘Jews have gone into every city, and it is hard to find a place on earth which has not admitted them, and come under their control’. This shows us just how widely spread the Jewish religion was, due to the Diaspora. Every Jewish community had a synagogue; these synagogues were often the first stop of evangelist Christians, looking to spread the Christian message, as seen in Acts 3.
Again, this would not necessarily have helped unless there were people there who were willing to accept the message. Often these people were God-fearers, believers of the Jewish faith who had not fully converted. Christianity offered them a place in heaven without having to first be circumcised.
Another group often willing to accept the Christian message was the Hellenist Jews living in Syria, Greece, Asia Minor and Egypt who tended to be more liberal in their outlook that the Jews in Palestine.
Jews were able to accept the Christian message as both Judaism and Christianity are monotheistic religions, and so the concept of only worshipping one god was one which the Jews were already accustomed to. Similarly, the Jews, as well as the Christians, were a ‘separate nation’, and so this is something which people both outside an inside of the Jewish faith were comfortable with.
Despite this early acceptance of Christianity by the Jews, they soon distanced themselves from the Christians, viewing them as something close to a blasphemous cult. Once the Jews had denounced Christianity, persecution and martyrdom became commonplace. The martyrdom of Christians, however, actually helped rather than hindered the spread of Christianity.
After the martyrdom of Polycarp we are told that the crowd ‘marvelled at the mighty difference between the unbelievers and the elect’. As crowds viewed the strength God provided Blandina during her martyrdom it was inevitable that they would marvel at the power of God and the strength of the martyrs’ faith. This helped to both convert non-believers and to affirm the faith of those who were already Christians, providing them with the need to spread the Christian message.
Indeed, there were many reasons for the spread of Christianity; some due to the actions of the Holy Spirit, some due to the actions of the early Christians and others that were entirely out of their control. However, it must be said that without the faith of those preaching the message and the acceptance of it by those who heard it, the spread of Christianity could never have been a success.
