ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of the life of Jesus in the synoptic Gospels. The early Jesus movement had a charismatic figure who taught with authority, and having him in their midst was sufficient for ardent followers. The early Christian community accepted Jewish notions pertaining to death, which were often intertwined with apocalyptic speculation and beliefs about the afterlife. The Judeo-Christian tradition acknowledges that it is the wage that must be paid for sin. The primary concern of Paul's mission was the preaching about the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In later centuries, Christianity would be spread around the globe by Catholic and Protestant missionaries, adhering to Jesus' command to spread the good news of the Gospels. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Reformation at the Council of Trent, 1545-1563. It focused on three major problems: the relationship between scripture and tradition; the doctrine of justification; and the certainty of salvation.
