Biblical Christianity is a form of Christianity that upholds the Bible as the ultimate and infallible authority on faith and life. Its followers trace their beliefs back to Jesus Christ and his apostles in the 1st century A.D., striving to base their doctrine, worship, and daily lives solely on scripture. The term “Biblical Christianity” gained prominence during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and later evangelical movements as a response to debates over scriptural authority. At its core, Biblical Christianity seeks to ensure that faith remains grounded in the teachings of the Bible—free from additions derived from tradition, church authority, or external interpretations that contradict scripture. This commitment is reinforced through personal study, preaching, and teaching, all of which prioritize scripture as the foundation of truth.
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Jesus Christ: The Cornerstone of Christianity
Christianity was founded between 30 and 33 A.D. in Judea, a province of the Roman Empire corresponding to modern-day Israel and Palestine. It emerged from the teachings of Jesus Christ, a teacher and religious leader who preached about the Kingdom of God, repentance, and salvation. His message drew a devoted following, particularly among ordinary people, yet also provoked opposition from religious authorities. Ultimately, Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Some followers believed he rose from the dead three days later, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and proving his divine nature.
Following his resurrection, Jesus’ disciples—initially all Jewish—began spreading his teachings throughout Judea and beyond. They proclaimed Jesus the Messiah (Christ) and the Son of God, offering salvation to all who believed in him. The movement gained momentum, and its followers became known as “Christians,” a term first used in Antioch (Acts 11:26) around the mid-1st century A.D., likely coined by non-Christians observing their devotion to Christ.
Christianity quickly expanded beyond Judea into the broader Greco-Roman world, mainly due to the missionary efforts of Paul of Tarsus. A former persecutor of Christians, Paul experienced a dramatic conversion and became one of the most influential figures in early Christianity. He traveled extensively across the Roman Empire, establishing churches and writing letters (epistles) that would later form a significant portion of the New Testament. Despite persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman officials, the faith continued to spread, reaching the Mediterranean and beyond.
To believers, Jesus is far more than a historical figure—he is God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity, existing beyond time and space. As God the Son, he was never created but has always been. He embodies both divine majesty and human vulnerability, harmonizing two distinct natures in a profound mystery that has captivated believers for centuries.
In the extraordinary act of becoming flesh, Jesus entered the world through the miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary—an event that marked a pivotal moment in history. As the bridge between humanity and the Father, he offers salvation and the promise of eternal life to all who seek him.
His earthly journey led him to the cross, where he willingly endured suffering and death, fulfilling God’s divine plan as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins. Yet, the story did not end there. On the third day, he rose from the dead, triumphing over sin and death.
For forty days following his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his followers, interacting with over 500 witnesses. They saw him, touched his wounds, and shared meals with him, solidifying their faith in his resurrection. After this remarkable period, he ascended into heaven in divine glory.
Yet, his promise remains: he will return, visibly and physically, at the culmination of history to establish God’s eternal kingdom and bring divine justice to the world. This future event is the great hope of all who follow him.
Christianity and the Abrahamic Tradition
Biblical Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ and his teachings, recorded in the New Testament. It has its roots in Second Temple Judaism and the Hebrew Bible, but its followers see it not merely as an extension of earlier traditions but as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
The broader Abrahamic faith tradition traces back to around 2000 B.C. with Abraham, who is regarded as the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Christianity emerged in the 1st century A.D. when Jesus and his followers taught that his life, death, and resurrection fulfilled God’s covenant with Abraham and the prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures.
While Christianity shares foundational beliefs with Judaism, it introduced key theological developments, including the belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, salvation through faith in him, and the establishment of the New Covenant. Rather than being a direct continuation of early Abrahamic beliefs, Christianity represents a distinct transformation that builds upon and reinterprets those traditions.
The Cross: A Symbol of Sacrifice, Redemption, and Knowledge
One of the most powerful symbols in Christianity, the crucifix—depicting Jesus Christ on the cross—represents both his suffering and his victory over death. According to the Gospels, Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate between 30 and 33 A.D., a punishment typically reserved for criminals and political rebels. However, within Christian belief, his death was not merely a sentence but a divine act of atonement for humanity’s sins.
In Christian theology, the crucifixion fulfills prophecies such as those in Isaiah 53 and reinforces John 3:16, which declares God’s love in offering his Son for salvation. The cross holds a dual significance: it symbolizes both suffering and triumph. While it represents the pain and humiliation of Jesus’ death, it also signifies his victory through the Resurrection, celebrated during Easter. Different Christian traditions emphasize various aspects of the crucifix—some focus on Christ’s suffering, while others highlight his resurrection and triumph over sin.
Some early Christian thinkers associated the cross with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil from Genesis, suggesting that while the first tree led to humanity’s fall, the cross—often referred to as a “tree” in Acts 5:30 and Galatians 3:13—restores divine wisdom and salvation. Certain Gnostic traditions even interpret the crucifixion as a gateway to hidden knowledge (gnosis), where Jesus imparts secret wisdom about the soul, salvation, and reality itself. The Gospel of Philip, for instance, describes the cross as an essential step toward enlightenment.
Beyond Christianity, the cross has a universal significance. Many ancient cultures have viewed it as a symbol of the intersection between the divine (vertical axis) and the material world (horizontal axis), representing the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Some esoteric traditions associate it with the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—or the four cardinal directions, reinforcing its connection to cosmic wisdom. While widely recognized as a representation of sacrifice and redemption, the cross also embodies the pursuit of truth, divine revelation, and the deeper mysteries of existence.
A fascinating linguistic parallel exists between the cross and the Hebrew letter tav. In Biblical Hebrew, tav (תו, Strong’s #8420) means “mark” and was originally depicted as two crossed sticks, resembling an “X” or a cross. It is also the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, symbolizing completion. In Ezekiel 9:4, a tav was placed on the foreheads of the righteous as a mark of protection. This connection suggests that the ancient symbol of crossed sticks foreshadowed the Christian cross, where Jesus’ crucifixion served as a divine seal—establishing a new covenant between God and humanity.
From linguistic, historical, and theological perspectives, the ancient tav provides a compelling link to the deeper meaning of the cross in Christian thought.
Until next time—remember, knowledge is power.
