From a Small Jewish Sect to the Official Religion of the Empire: The Path Christianity Took in the Early Centuries AD

Subject Areas : History

Mojtaba Naghdi ^{1 *} , Feizollah Boushasb Gousheh ²

1 - PhD candidate, Department of History, Pre-Islamic History, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
2 - Department of History, Pre-Islamic History, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

Received: 2025-03-29 Accepted : 2025-06-13 Published : 2025-08-22

Keywords: Early Christianity, Roman Empire, Apostle Paul, Constantine the Great, Edict of Milan, Saint Augustine.,

Abstract :

This article examines the expansion of Christianity within the Roman Empire from its inception to its establishment as the official religion by the fifth century AD. The study explores the transformation of Christianity from a small Jewish sect into a universal and dominant religion in the religious, political, and social landscape of Rome. Drawing on historical, theological, and analytical sources, the author investigates the gradual acceptance of Christianity within the multicultural and pluralistic environment of Rome, the roles of key figures such as Paul, Constantine the Great, and Saint Augustine, and the identity, political, and doctrinal challenges faced by early Christians. The research reveals that the inclusion of non-Jews, structural unification, and imperial support were essential factors in the spread of Christianity. Conversely, early persecutions, imperial pressures, and internal diversity within Christian communities were among the major challenges. By adapting to Roman structures and integrating religious values with imperial needs, Christianity managed to preserve its identity while securing a central position within the political and cultural order of the Roman world. This article critically examines the complexities of this transformation and offers significant insight into the historical and social process of the Christianization of the West.

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