Nothing New Under the Sun: Church History Applied Today
Part 4: The “Evil” Constantine
Christianity and the State make strange bedfellows. Often the State tends to unduly influence the
affairs of the Church with both positive and negative effects.
The Conversion of Constantine
1. Constantine becomes Emperor Roman Empire of West
a. Son of “Caesar” in West and a Christian of Humble Origins named Helena.
b. In 305, Diocletian retires, Constantine gets passed over for Caesar in favor of a
nephew of the other Augustus. Constantine placed on house arrest.
c. Constantius falls ill, Constantine “allowed” to visit father in Britain
d. Constantius dies and his troops make Constantine “Augustus”
e. Power struggle begins the West culminating in the Battle of Milvian Bridge
i. Constantine has a Vision before Battle
ii. Sees “Chi Rho” with phrase “In this sign Conquer”
iii. Painted Symbol on Shields and made Battle Flag with it
iv. Constantine kills Maxentius becomes Full Emperor of West
2. Now in power, Western Church receives some benefits from newly inspired Emperor
a. Gives Lateran Palace in Rome to Bishop of Rome Milteades (311-314)
b. Returns confiscated land
c. Exempts clergy from all income taxes
d. Sends relief money to Carthage for Bishop to distribute
e. Allowed judgments of Bishop equal judgments of courts
f. Pushes for Edict of Milan (313) for Toleration of all religions (names Christians)
g. Constantine no longer does pagan sacrifices and removing pagan symbols
3. Eastern Church under Licinius is harassed
a. Churches have bad oxygen levels, thus they must worship outside.
b. In order to safeguard public morality, men and women must worship separately.
c. No priest can give catechetical instruction to women
d. Christians can no longer visit prisoners in the prison
e. Meetings of Bishops are prohibited because they are tearing up the roads
f. Soldiers in the army in the East were forced to offer sacrifices to the Son God
g. This ends when invading Goths forces Constantine to overtake Licinius (324)
i. Capital moved to Constantinople with One Emperor in change
The Use of Christianity (for the Emperor)
1. Constantine hoped to use Christianity as a unifying element but it is far from that
a. Dontatist Controversy in Northern Africa (more on this next week)
i. Constantine sends Army to “shut down” Dontatist Churches
b. Arian Controversy over Deity of Christ in East
i. Arius (250-336) attempting to emphasize individuality of God the Father
claims Jesus was a lesser God/Created/”There was when he was not”
1. In West Sabellius taught One and Only God appears in three
Masks/modes. Arius was overreacting to this.
ii. Constantine sends Hosius of Cordova (“Secretary of Religion”) to Alexandra
to investigate. Talks to Athanasius about “Orthodoxy”
2. Constantine calls a council to unite the warring factions over the Deity of Christ
a. This is the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) in Modern Day Turkey
b. Bishops didn’t need to pay for travel or food (on Emperor’s dime)
c.
d.
e.
f.
Constantine attended first session and then turned it over to Bishops
Bishop of Rome sent two priests in his stead (due to health)
Creed is formed to be a “Test of Orthodoxy” since it includes “is” and “is not”
Eventually all bishops signed Creed but two (who were banished)
i. Was this because everyone knew what Constantine believed and got in line?
3. The Creed did not ease tensions. Arians become stronger.
a. Many “Semi-Arian” bishops thought creed was too Sabellian.
b. In 327, Constantine called back all exiled bishops (including Arius) to ease tensions
c. Athanasius won’t welcome Arius back
d. Arians find “political” reasons to undermine Anti-Arians
i. Athanasius accused of threatening to block exports to Constantinople and
brutally beating up other bishops at meetings. Exiled 5 times.
ii. Eustathius (Bishop of Antioch) accused of having illegitimate child
iii. Marcellus accused of calling Constantine’s Mother a “Maid in an Inn”
e. A Goth named Ulfilas is converted to Arian Christianity and sent back to Germanic
Tribes – which causes problems in 5th and 6th century
4. Constantine dies (AD 337) and Non-Orthodox take over
a. Baptized on Deathbed by Arian Priest, Eusebius of Nicomedia
b. Constantine’s sons, Constantine II (Nicene), Constans (Nicene) and Constantius
(Arian) take over. Eventually, Constantius rules entire Empire, pushes Arianism.
c. Emperor calls 8 different councils to “resolve” issue
i. Ammaninus Marcellius –“The roads were filled with galloping bishops”
d. “In intolerance and violence the Arians exceeded the orthodox, and contested
elections of bishops not rarely came to bloody encounters” ~Phillip Schaff
e. Julian “the Apostate” (AD 361-363) attempted to disrupt Church by bring back
exiled bishops (like Athanasius)
5. It was the theological reasoning, not political power plays, that won the day
a. Basil the Great of Caesarea (330-379), Gregory of Nyssa (330-395), and Gregory of
Nazianzus (329-389) sway the East (aka The Young Cappadocians)
b. Issues pertaining to the Holy Spirit arise in Constantinople (The “Spirit Fighters”)
c. Now, the East was starting to “Over correct”
i. Appollinarius – In Christ, no human Spirit, Full Deity of Christ
d. Emperor Theodosius calls a council of Constantinople, AD 381 which finally fixes
Nicaea and the Arian Controversy.
Things to notice
 Did the Church have it easier one it stop getting persecuted?
 Was unity more important than truth?
 Do the creeds simply say what Christians are for? Do they talk about what they are against?
 Did Government intervention help the church?
 Did one council solve the problems?
 Did the non-orthodox “fight fair”?
 Was the Church of Rome Really involved?