Christianity follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Contents Early Church Medieval Period High Middle Ages East-West Schism

Introduction

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christianity began as a sect of Judaism. Christianity accepts the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament) as a part of its scriptures. Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic religion (see also, Judeo-Christian). Through missionary work and colonisation, Christianity spread firstly in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and parts of India and subsequently throughout the entire world.

Jesus Christ is central to Christianity as the foundation of salvation, the revealer of God, and the model of a pious life; not just as a teacher, but as the son of God who suffered, died and was resurrected for the salvation of all from sin. Christians maintain that Jesus ascended into heaven and most denominations teach that Jesus will judge the living and the dead, granting everlasting life to his followers. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and that the New Testament records the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus.

The Trinity is often regarded as an essential doctrine of Christianity. It is a complex topic and there are varying interpretations. The most common understanding of the Holy Trinity, as espoused in the Nicene Creed, is one God that exists as three Persons – Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" represents both the immanence and transcendence of God. God is infinite, and God's presence may be perceived through the actions of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch (as noted in Acts 11:26). Ignatius of Antioch was the first Christian to use the label in self-reference. The earliest recorded use of the term Christianity is also by Ignatius of Antioch, around 100 AD.