Constantine

Pre-Constantine

• About 250 AD, first empire wide persecution (Decius)• Roman Empire had suffered setbacks• Gods taking revenge for being lax with

Christians• As many as 80% lapsed• Last great persecution 303-304 (Diocletian)• Churches destroyed• Clergy imprisoned• Sacrifice to gods or die

Constantine

• Two stories of Constantine’s “vision”• Vision of cross• “By This Sign Conquer”• Latin In Hoc Signo Vinces

Constantine

• Two stories of Constantine’s “vision”• Vision of cross• “By This Sign Conquer”• Latin In Hoc Signa Vinces• Greek word for conquer is Nika

Constantine, continued

• Historians debate – was his conversion genuine?• No more branding of prisoners’ faces• Made in image of God

• Government money to charity work of church• Built great churches• Exempted clergy from taxes • Paid civil servants

Who is Christ?

Arius – Elder in Alexandrian church• Influenced by Greek philosophical thought•Matter (physical world) inferior• Could not have been created by the High

God• High God created the “Logos”• Created the world, entered it as Christ• Made it easier for polytheists to convert

Who is Christ?

Athanasius – Deacon in Alexandria• If Jesus not true God, how do we receive life

from him?• How could salvation be certain?Arianism splitting the church• Constantine alarmed – called for the first

Ecumenical council in Nicaea (325 AD)• Ecumenical - “whole church”• Why so long before this first council?

Nicene Creed

• Became first ecumenical creed (local before)• First writing emphasized the relationship

between the Father and the Son• “Of one substance” was the most crucial phrase• Arians wanted “of similar being”

• The sides battled for fifty years. • Emperors wanted peace at any cost. • People on both sides excommunicated and exiled• Athanasius – Bishop of Alexandria

Excommunicated and reinstated several times

Nicene Creed, cont.

• New emperor Theodosius (380)• Summoned Council of Constantinople (381)• Affirmed the Nicene Creed• Especially “same substance”• Worked out Holy Spirit’s Role• Basil of Caesarea • Led Nicene party after Athanasius died (373)• Holy Spirit must be true God – baptized in his name• Stressed “Lord and giver of life,” “worshipped with

Father and Son”

Video Follow Up

• Licinius was hanged for treason during time of Council of Nicaea (less than a year after he had been spared)• According to some accounts, his son was

executed two years later• How should we judge Constantine in light of the

fact he hanged Licinius and may have killed his wife?

Impact of Legalized Christianity• Christianity not official state religion• Substantial minority• Late 300s, under Theodosius, became state church• Mid 500s, Justinian outlawed paganism

• Now it was easy to be a Christian, attractive to be clergy• Cost of discipleship obscured

• Arts connected w/ church flourished

Nations convert

• From late 200s to late 500s, Goths, Arab tries, Armenia, Georgia, Ethiopia, Franks, Irish, Scots, eventually English convert to Christianity

Nations convert

• From late 200s to late 500s, Goths, Arab trives, Armenia, Georgia, Ethiopia, Franks, Irish, Scots, eventually English convert to Christianity• With these groups came their customs• Example: Return of sun December 25 in west,

January 6 in east• Was it church strategy to transform pagan rites

into meaningful Christian observances?• Unproven

Nations convert, continued

• Power, comfort, new customs changed church• Not different from rest of society anymore• Which led to the rise of…• Monasticism• Movement to separate from society to be pure• Would it work? See Mark 7:14-22

Church’s Influence

Positive• 7 day week – working person finally a day off• Sexual immorality, rape – punished• Infanticide – illegal• Gladiator combat died outBut…• Unable to stop oppression of poor by wealthy• Feudal system emerging

• Charity self-centered (prayers of poor special)

Christian Life

• Alb – no special significance• Chasuble – outer garment• Prayer – no bowing, folding, closing• Standing – eyes, hands, head directed up to God

• Liturgy influenced by Emperor worship• Sense of awe, mystery

• Lots of people coming into church w/o knowledge, discipline• Main problem sexual immorality• Baptism delayed. • Paradox – great regard for baptism, unwilling to live for

Christ