Final answer:
Jewish prophecies about a Messiah laid the groundwork for Christianity, as early Christians, influenced by Paul the Apostle, believed Jesus was that Messiah, offering spiritual salvation rather than physical liberation, leading to Christianity's universal approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jewish prophecies about a Messiah are central to the foundation and development of Christianity. In Jewish tradition, the Messiah was expected to be a liberator, who would free the Jews from oppression and fulfill the Covenant between God and the Jews. Christians, beginning with early Jewish followers of Jesus and later gentile converts, believed that Jesus of Nazareth was this promised Messiah.
However, they interpreted the idea of 'liberation' as a spiritual freedom rather than a political revolution against Roman rule. This spiritual focus was notably advanced by Paul the Apostle, who also opened the faith to non-Jews, thus paving the way for the universal spread of Christianity.