Posted on 10/26/2012 8:59:15 AM PDT by marshmallow
On the anniversary of Constantine’s conversion, we should consider why the West seems to be converting back to paganism.
On October 28, 312, Emperor Constantine met Emperor Maxentius in battle just outside the city of Rome at the Milvian Bridge, spanning the Tiber. This battle—occurring exactly 1,700 years ago—is one of the most important events in the history of Christendom, since it was through Constantine’s victory that Christendom began. It is a battle well worth reflecting upon.
As is well known, the previous day Constantine experienced a vision of a cross of light in the sky, with the words “By this sign you shall conquer” (in Greek, not Latin, by the way). That night, so we are told, Constantine had a dream wherein he was told to paint the cross on the shields of his soldiers.
He did. And so it happened, as the vision said.
The next day, October 28, 312, Constantine defeated Maxentius. Interestingly enough, Maxentius could have stayed within the walls of Rome. He was plentifully stocked to endure a siege. Inexplicably, he decided to go out and engage Constantine. His troops were defeated, and Maxentius himself drowned in the Tiber trying to escape.
Such was the beginning of Constantine’s embrace of Christianity, and such was the beginning of the transformation of the Roman Empire from paganism to Christianity.
It is, again, a well-known story, and unfortunately, as with other well-known stories, it is not well-known enough, or at least, not thought about deeply enough.
There are, for example, those who take Constantine’s conversion as the beginning of the end of real Christianity. Christianity, they argue, is the Christianity of the early Church, the Church before it became favored and hence entangled with the empire, the pure Church, the Church before Constantine, the Church of the martyrs.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicworldreport.com ...
I think Jesus nailed Constantine’s “Christendom” in the parable of the mustard seed, Matt. 13:31,32.
The true seed of early 1st century Christianity, like a mustard seed, “the least of all seeds,” became a huge tree the birds came to live in. The birds, or fowls, do not have good connotations in his parables, 13:4.
Having the benefit of historical hindsight, it seems clear that Christ was prophesying the very thing that happened under the Emperor Constantine. Every “fowl” and heathen philosophy and practice imaginable found its home in Constantine’s church-state system...ultimately the RCC. The practice was convert pagans to “Christendom” at the point of a sword (sounds similar the Jihad of the Muslims), the enemy came in like a flood.
That's when Catholocism began, not Christianity...
With the might of Constantine's army, the real Christians were hunted down, their scriptures burned and many, many were murdered for refusing to bow to the new Constantine Catholic religion...And all those who refused Constantine were labled as heretics...
And so goes it today...
IOW, Constantine merely decriminalized Christianity. He did not invent a state church. This was done later, years after his death.
Constantine joined pagan and Christian beliefs in a great compromise. There were penalties recorded for infractions. This was the first known Sunday law for Christians.
Yeah... and you should see who the MONTHS are named after!
Christendom is not the same as Christianity, but is another way of saving Christian Empire. Constantine was not the first ruler to bow before Christ, and will not be the last. For so it is promised. Until he comes, we shall have wars and worse. Men remain wicked, and we seem to slide back one step for every two we climb up to that summit, which is still obscured by the clouds, each one of us with a devil on his back. But one day those clouds will part and we shall see that glory, I mean all of us, and pity those who close their eyes to it.
Christendom is not the same as Christianity, but is another way of saving Christian Empire. Constantine was not the first ruler to bow before Christ, and will not be the last. For so it is promised. Until he comes, we shall have wars and worse. Men remain wicked, and we seem to slide back one step for every two we climb up to that summit, which is still obscured by the clouds, each one of us with a devil on his back. But one day those clouds will part and we shall see that glory, I mean all of us, and pity those who close their eyes to it.
So thorough was their work that no evidence remains of it having happened?
RobbyS, I have no argument with what you say.
“I would rather celebrate a leader that allowed his subjects to choose their religion for themselves rather than endorse and enforce a state issued one. The ends does not justify the means.”
I sure the Christians who were suffering horrible persecutions prior to this event appreciated the relief.
They are not here to say what they preferred. Suffer death as a martyr or cede to a similar but apostate religion. Honestly, I do not see how some here look at this person as some kind of savior of religion. He forced his beliefs on his subjects and some people here praise him. This is not what Jesus preached. To praise fascism because you believe in some of its tenets is still wrong. It is still a sin.
I am not celebrating Constantine. What he really was or wasn’t I can’t say. I know from Eusebius (Christian historian) terrible suffering was occurring up to this point and then persecution was ended. BTW, Eusebius was an Arian not a Trinitarian. Problem was not Constantine per se, but as Christianity became stronger and influential it brings in wolves with false motives. Happens in any point in time.
It wasn't ended, it changed. There were still penalties. Still coercion. Still murders. All Satan needs is to poison the the Gospel just enough to quiet the people. Government and religion should not mix. The title to this is "Constantine's Gift to Christianity". So innocuous sounding.
Dilute the Gospel. Make friends with the world. Celebrate the corruption. Good article.
As this thread is already demonstrating ...
Actually, there are over 5000 historic scripture manuscripts extant which are not a part of any of the 250 or so Catholic Septuagint manuscripts...
They are called the majority texts...And for good reason...They comprise the vast majority of manuscript evidence and they are not Catholic manuscripts...
They have been traced back to the times and area of Antioch where followers of Jesus were first called Christians...
The surviving fragments do not amount to an alternative history. As you know probably not 5% of the writings of the fourth century remain, and even the Catholic documents are a selection of a much larger number, a canon, so to speak. More or less like the Bible, which is an anthology of a much large number of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek writings, which are now dust. I atribute the loss to the dark age that descended on the Mediterranean world in the 7th century. Papyrus is a cheap writing material, but it was largely produced in Egypt. That left parchment.
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