How Constantine created the Christian Church
What marks the beginning of the Christian Church, the social organization uniting Christians? The answer depends on the definition of “church.” If “church” means the people who adhere to Jesus’ teachings, then Jesus began it. Some Christians believe that Peter founded the church at the behest of Jesus himself. Others would see the first church as the Jerusalem Church, created by the disciples after Jesus’ death and led by James until his death in 63 AD.
But if the founding of the church is defined as the first body of Christian leaders who could determine accurate Christian belief and establish with sound authority their definition of Christianity across the Mediterranean world, then the single man most responsible for that achievement was Constantine I, the Emperor of Rome. Although the creation and organization of the Church was clearly a process that took place over several decades, the founding event was the Council of Nicea in 325.
If Jesus died sometime around 30 AD, why did it take nearly three centuries to found the organized Church? There are three main reasons.
First, travel and communication were difficult at that time. It was difficult to make decisions and to run organizations that had offices more than a day’s walk, or perhaps horse-back ride, apart. When trading businesses established offices in different ports, for example, they had to operate essentially as independent business because of the difficulties of coordination. Fledgling Christianity sent out missionaries to establish new Christian communities, but then had to allow each community to run itself, as indicates by Paul’s letters to the churches he established.
Second, there was little agreement about Christianity’s beliefs and teachings, the nature of Jesus and God, what writings were sacred, or even how to worship. There was a wide variety of views, many of which were later declared heresies, Donatists in North Africa, Gnostics in Egypt, and Arians in Syria. And do not forget the Adoptionists, the Modalists, the Manicheans, the Montanists, the Marcionites, the Ebionites, the Nestorians, and the Meletians, to name just a few.
Third, imperial persecutions of Christians happened every few decades. These drove Christianity underground and caused many Christians to turn away. But almost worse were the rifts that appeared afterwards between Christians who kept the faith and those who apostatized to save their lives, both of whom still considered themselves Christians.
Constantine appeared on the scene in the midst of the so-called Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian begun in 303. By 305, the problems caused by the persecution were overtaken by those of determining Diocletian’s successor. More than six different generals would fight to become next Emperor. Constantine stood out because he became a Christian, and unabashedly made Jesus the patron of his army. By 313, just two contenders remained, Constantine and Licinius. The two jointly issued the Edict of Milan, which made Christianity a legal religion and officially ended the persecution. But it was not until 324 that Constantine finally became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
Constantine saw Christianity’s belief in one god as a way to unify the Empire that had been so badly divided for two decades. But he discovered that Christianity itself was not unified. So he called the Council of Nicea in 325 to bring together the 1800 bishops from around the Empire to work out official doctrine and provide the basis for a unified Church. Constantine paid for the entire Council and even paid for travel, giving bishops the right of free transportation on the imperial postal system.
The Council laid the foundation of orthodox theology (=catholic theology) and declared several differing theologies heresies. Constantine’s support initially gave Orthodoxy the ability to require Christians to adopt their doctrinal formulation. While during the next few decades, the Church’s fortunes waxed and waned, within a century, Christianity had been declared the official religion of the Roman Empire and non-Christian religions were in steep decline.
(This was written for May 29, 2008.)
But if the founding of the church is defined as the first body of Christian leaders who could determine accurate Christian belief and establish with sound authority their definition of Christianity across the Mediterranean world, then the single man most responsible for that achievement was Constantine I, the Emperor of Rome. Although the creation and organization of the Church was clearly a process that took place over several decades, the founding event was the Council of Nicea in 325.
If Jesus died sometime around 30 AD, why did it take nearly three centuries to found the organized Church? There are three main reasons.
First, travel and communication were difficult at that time. It was difficult to make decisions and to run organizations that had offices more than a day’s walk, or perhaps horse-back ride, apart. When trading businesses established offices in different ports, for example, they had to operate essentially as independent business because of the difficulties of coordination. Fledgling Christianity sent out missionaries to establish new Christian communities, but then had to allow each community to run itself, as indicates by Paul’s letters to the churches he established.
Second, there was little agreement about Christianity’s beliefs and teachings, the nature of Jesus and God, what writings were sacred, or even how to worship. There was a wide variety of views, many of which were later declared heresies, Donatists in North Africa, Gnostics in Egypt, and Arians in Syria. And do not forget the Adoptionists, the Modalists, the Manicheans, the Montanists, the Marcionites, the Ebionites, the Nestorians, and the Meletians, to name just a few.
Third, imperial persecutions of Christians happened every few decades. These drove Christianity underground and caused many Christians to turn away. But almost worse were the rifts that appeared afterwards between Christians who kept the faith and those who apostatized to save their lives, both of whom still considered themselves Christians.
Constantine appeared on the scene in the midst of the so-called Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian begun in 303. By 305, the problems caused by the persecution were overtaken by those of determining Diocletian’s successor. More than six different generals would fight to become next Emperor. Constantine stood out because he became a Christian, and unabashedly made Jesus the patron of his army. By 313, just two contenders remained, Constantine and Licinius. The two jointly issued the Edict of Milan, which made Christianity a legal religion and officially ended the persecution. But it was not until 324 that Constantine finally became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
Constantine saw Christianity’s belief in one god as a way to unify the Empire that had been so badly divided for two decades. But he discovered that Christianity itself was not unified. So he called the Council of Nicea in 325 to bring together the 1800 bishops from around the Empire to work out official doctrine and provide the basis for a unified Church. Constantine paid for the entire Council and even paid for travel, giving bishops the right of free transportation on the imperial postal system.
The Council laid the foundation of orthodox theology (=catholic theology) and declared several differing theologies heresies. Constantine’s support initially gave Orthodoxy the ability to require Christians to adopt their doctrinal formulation. While during the next few decades, the Church’s fortunes waxed and waned, within a century, Christianity had been declared the official religion of the Roman Empire and non-Christian religions were in steep decline.
(This was written for May 29, 2008.)
posted by Paul Flesher at
11:30 AM
5 Comments:
it is true,constantine is the real evenglist to spread christian faith univrsally.all credit goes to him but some modren scholars denied this fact cause not enough knowledge....constantine and prophet abraham both were the divine appointed person with background of pagan faimilies.
By
Anonymous, at 5/04/2010
You have been lied to by the same demonic monsters which have ruled the world for the last six thousand years.
Christ is coming back to Earth very very soon.Only 10% of Americans will be left alive because 90% of Christians have been deceived by the same demons that had Christ nailed to a Tree living in the Sanhedrin who was absolutely sure they was correct as the Roman Catholic church and clergy are today.
Constantine deceived everyone because those who did not obey he destroyed or drove in exile.
He was afraid of the true power of Christianity sh he designed a "false christianity" to unite his empire.
The True church existed side by side with false church since the first century.
The Roman Catholic Church is not the oldest church and In their own doctrines they prove. In creation of the Trinity to replace the Christ of YHVH they destroyed the power of believers which the Apostle Peter used in striking people dead by his words alone. This power Constantine could not unleqash on the Roman Empire it would destroy his government officals in a heart beat...........
http://doomsdayfornyse.blogspot.com/
By
edward_enoch, at 6/02/2011
Jesus never came down to bring something new religion or create a so called religion called Christianity.
He only came for the Lost sheep of Israel which were the Jews. He himself was a Jew and so was his mother.
When he comes back he will say to you Christians as quoted from the Bible 'Get away from me you evildoers as i never taught you all this. Only God almighty is the master, while you have been breaking the fundemental laws of worshipping one God, your evil works made me a partner/son to God. Curse be to you all.
By
Anonymous, at 1/12/2012
Constantine was a genius and his form of Unitarian Christianity was tolerant unlike the evil of later Trinitarism. (Witness the bile and calumny of the trinitarian comment above) Constantine the Great ruled over what is considered the Golden Age of the Byzantine Empire. He is massively under appreciated.
By
M Crahart, at 3/23/2012
how do post this to f/b ?
By
Anonymous, at 8/03/2012
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