In the early first millennium, Jews and Christians were evenly persecuted by the Roman Empire. A question I am asking myself is why or how Christians took the mantle of religious authority in the 4th Century AD. It wasn't just the decision of Constantine to instate Christianity as the state religion of Rome; for centuries Christianity had been gaining momentum and followers at what was likely a much faster rate than the Jews. What is it about the Christian faith that accounts for this? They were well organized, but so were the Jews. Unlike the Jews though, Christians have always been more inclusive and activist; recruiting and missionary services did more to spread the word of Jesus then his story itself. And this was likely no less applicable in ancient times as it is now, as Jesus told his disciples to "spread the word". There was no such commandment from a Jewish leader that I'm aware.
Yet possibly an even more powerful phenomenon accelerated its rise from fanatic martyrdom, and that is the power of myth. The Jesus story strikes a chord with all who suffer from social circumstances implanted by an oppressive regime. And that's what the Roman Empire resembled to many people at the time. The scale of bloodletting and suffering the early cults and martyrs faced- who were evidently inspired by their savior's crucifixion - appealed to those masses who suffered by their social parameters, something the Jews never attempted to snatch believers with. There was never a powerful enough myth in Jewish culture to appeal to large groups of minorities shunned by a wealthy protectorate, who ironically endorsed the religion centuries later.
It's difficult to say whether the story or the missionary strength won the empire for Christians. I am inclined to think it was a little of both. Without the missionaries to spread the story, it would not have been remembered. Without the power of the story the missionaries would have been taken less seriously.
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