Constantine and Christianity

[winsome]

Constantine and ChristianityThere seems to be a belief among some Christians on this site that the Catholic Church was started by Constantine in the 4th century, that he was head of that Church; that he combined it with paganism or made it basically pagan; that real Christianity was abandoned by Christ and disappeared until it was recovered some 1200 years later by the reformers. This is despite Christ’s promise to the apostles, and hence to their successors that:“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (Jn 16;13)and “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Mt 28:20)Let’s look at the actual history of the Church under Constantine and afterwards.Prior to Constantine the Church suffered several persecutions. But in one of the battles for the Imperial throne (of the west of the Empire, the Empire being split at this time). Constantine defeated Maxentius (312 AD) although his army was only one fifth of the size. He attributed this to a vision he had of the Christian God, and his soldiers had a cross on their shields although most of them were pagans. In his gratitude he tolerated Christian worship in his empire – the edict of Milan (313 AD). This gave no preferential treatment of Christians but put them on the same footing as pagans as regards taxes etc . He then married his sister to Licinius who controlled the East and secured similar toleration for Christians in the East. Constantine was generous to the Christian Church and restored buildings that had been confiscated. Licinius hower continued to persecute Christians and there followed wars between Constantine and Licinius until Constantine defeated him and he was executed in 325 and Constantine was sole Emperor. Soon after this he moved his headquarters from Rome to Constantinople. Constantine remained a pagan until shortly before his death in 337 AD. After Constantine the empire was at times split and at other times united. After Constantine I, the empire was again split in two with Constantius II in the east and Constantine II in the west. Constantine II was followed by Constans I and then Constantius II (from the east) became emperor of the west as well.He was followed by Julian the Apostate and he was followed by Jovian (both sole emperors).Then in east Valens and Theodosius I; in the west Valentinian II , Gratian and Valentinun II. And Theodosius IIn 379 Theodosius I became Emperor of the East. In 380 he and Gratian (in the west) made Christianity the state religion – some 43 years and many Emperors after Constantine (6 in the east, 8 in the west). But after the death of Valentian in 392 there was an attempt to restore paganism until Theodosius swept in and took power in the west to unite the Empire.However this did not last long as in 406 the barbarian hoards crossed the Rhine and swept into Gaul and Spain, and three years later Italy was attacked and in 410 Rome itself was sacked by Alaric of the Visigoths. Then there was the Vandal invasion of Africa in 425. The time as an official church was very short in the west.The Church during this time had been undergoing severe trials from the Arian heresy which was at times supported by Emperors. Although it should have been stamped out after the Council of Nicea in 325, it continued to be a problem as Arian Emperors ruled at times (e.g. Constantius II and Valens). Christianity suffered more persecution in both east and west under Julian the Apostate.Not quite Constantine making Christianity the state religion and all lived happily as pagan-christians ever after, or at least until Martin Luther sorted it all out.

 

[Faithful]

A man can never head the church of God because Christ is it's head.History does not represent the true Church of God. The true Church was established in Jerusalem only when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and those who like them believed in Christ.In Acts 10:34-....We see how the church went on being established. Faith in Christ Jesus and salvation from remission of sins.Today the church has in all ages has never been Roman Catholic or anything else to do with manmade rules. It has been taught by one teacher as taught by God, Jesus, and the Apostles to men through the Holy Spirit.Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 16:13 and 1 John 2:27.God has always said he would place his law within man. Galatians 5.Not everyone who calls Christ Lord actually does know him.Only those who love him by obeying his commandments. Whatever the churches represent as being the only true church or what line of succession they think they can show. The word of God shows only one church being established. And anyone who is not born of the Holy Spirit is not the church.Faithful.

 

[DrBubbaLove]

Faithful, Christ is the Head of the Church.The Pope sits on His seat (position) on earth not in place of Christ as it's Head, but as an indication of his primacy among men living, his honor as governor (for Christ)and his jurisdiction, as the leader of the Church in this realm. Governing a realm, being given a jurisdiction by the King is not replacing the King.

 

[theefaith]

See Is 22 Matt 16:18 Jn 21:17 Jn 20:21-22