Christianity in the 1st century

Christianity in the first century was a new religion that began around the time of Jesus Christ, over 2000 years ago. Jesus was a Jewish teacher who lived in the Middle East in what is today called Israel. He taught people about loving one another and doing what's right, and his followers believed that he was the son of God, sent to Earth to save people from their sins. After Jesus died, his followers started sharing his teachings with others all around the world. They believed that, by believing in and following his teachings, people could be forgiven of their sins and find eternal life. By the first century, Christianity had spread to many parts of the Roman Empire — the part of the world which was most of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. People would get together to share their faith and learn more about Jesus. They would pray and worship God together, and share in communion — a special meal which remembers Jesus' teachings. Over time, more and more people started believing in Jesus, and by the end of the first century, Christianity was beginning to be established as an important religion in the Roman Empire.