History of the Christian Church between 33 C. E to 600 C. E
In the history of the Christian church, the time period between 33 C. E. and 600 C. E tells the story of the spread of the religion in and beyond the Greco- Roman world. According to History of the Christian Church written by Williston Walker, the church grew from a mere Jew sect to reach to other places beyond the confines of its ‘birth’. The church grew from the apostolic age when they were reorganizing, strategizing and spreading the gospel to the post- apostolic era when the church was faced with persecutions and divisions.
At the ascension of Constantine into emperorship, the church grew because he supported it and even built a stronger church that donned Christian architecture and several churches that promoted Christianity. Different interpretations about the role of the Holy Spirit, the role of the bishop of Rome among other things led to the split of the Church to the Eastern and Western factions. The church faced several challenges and its split was not unexpected. The state expanded its boundaries to include religion and bishops started overseeing regions that previously had been considered politically ruled.
Towards the end of the 4th century there was a decline in the political strength of the Roman rule in both the eastern and western factions and there was imminent transformation of the Roman world. But the church continued to grow through missionary activities; it went all the way to Ireland, Britain, Mexico, Germany and other European countries. More campaigns for Rome to remain in power were met with negativity and Rome was embroiled in turmoil for some time. Rome used its power to force even pagan countries and, this helped expand Christianity to countries and places as missionaries became keen on its spread.
Reference
Walker, W. (1985). History of the Christian Church. New York: Scribner. Print
