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Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament.[2] As of the early 21st century, it has between 1.5 billion[3][4] and 2.1 billion adherents,[5] representing about a quarter to a third of the world's population.[6] It is the state religion of at least fifteen countries.[7]
Its followers, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is[8] the Son of God and the Messiah (or Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament, the part of their scriptures they have in common with Judaism.[9] To Christians, Jesus Christ is a teacher, the model of a pious life, the revealer of God, the mediator of salvation [clarification needed] and the saviour who suffered, died and was resurrected in order to bring about salvation from sin for all.[clarification needed][10] 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. Christians describe the New Testament account of Jesus' ministry as the Gospel, or "good news".
The Trinity is often regarded as an essential doctrine of mainstream Christianity. The common understanding of the Holy Trinity, espoused in the Nicene Creed, is one God who exists in three Persons – Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – who are coequal, co-eternal, of the same substance. "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" represents both the immanence and transcendence of God. God is believed to be infinite and God's presence may be perceived through the actions of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.[11]
The disciples were first called Christians (Greek [Χριστιανός] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)), meaning "followers of Christ", in Antioch.[12] Ignatius of Antioch was the first Christian to use the label in self-reference. The earliest recorded use of the term Christianity (Greek [Χριστιανισμός] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) was also by Ignatius of Antioch, around AD 100.[13]
Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic religion (see also Judeo-Christian).[14][15][16] 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.[17]
- ^ The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX, Monotheism; William F. Albright, From the Stone Age to Christianity; H. Richard Niebuhr; About.com, Monotheistic Religion resources; Jonathan Kirsch, God Against the Gods; Linda Woodhead, An Introduction to Christianity; The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Monotheism; The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, monotheism; New Dictionary of Theology, Paul, p. 496-99; David Vincent Meconi, "Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity" in Journal of Early Christian Studies, p. 111–12
- ^ BBC, BBC - Religion & Ethics - Christianity
- ^ "between 1,250 and 1,750 million adherents, depending on the criteria employed": McGrath, Alister E. Christianity: An Introduction. 2006, page xv1.
- ^ "1.5 thousand million Christians": Hinnells, John R. The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. 2005, page 441.
- ^ Major Religions Ranked by Size
- ^ Hinnells, John R. The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion. 2005, page 441.
- ^ see Christianity#Figures for information and references
- ^ Christians believe that Jesus is still alive in heaven, and that, as God, he exists in eternity, hence the use of "is".
- ^ Mortimer Chambers, The Western Experience Volume II chapter 5; The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, p. 158.
- ^ McGrath, Alister E. Christianity:An Introduction, Blackwell Publishing (2006), p. 4-6. ISBN 1405108991.
- ^ Fowler, Jeaneane D. World Religions:An Introduction for Students. p. 58. Sussex Academic Press (1997). ISBN 1898723486.
- ^ Acts 11:26
- ^ Elwell, Walter A. & Comfort, Philip Wesley. Tyndale Bible Dictionary, p. 266, 828. Tyndale House Publishers (2001). ISBN 0842370897.
- ^ J.Z.Smith 98, p. 276.
- ^ Anidjar 2001, p. 3
- ^ Fowler, Jeaneane D. World Religions:An Introduction for Students. Sussex Academic Press (1997), p. 131. ISBN 1898723486.
- ^ McManners, John. Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford University Press (1990), p. 301–303.