What did Constantine do?

This is quite long, I apologize. According to The Encyclopedia Americana, regional councils instrumental in organizing Catholic churches in Spain, Britain, and elsewhere were “often called and dominated by the secular power.” General councils of religious leaders from the whole Roman empire “were unknown before the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.),” called by Emperor Constantine. British historian H. G. Wells suggested that Constantine brought politics and autocracy into an already deeply divided Christendom. Wells wrote: “Not only was the council of Nicæa assembled by Constantine the Great, but all the great councils, the two at Constantinople (381 and 553), Ephesus (431), and Chalcedon (451) were called together by the imperial power.” But how could God approve of that, since true Christians do not try to mix their religion with politics but, rather, maintain strict neutrality?—John 17:16; James 1:27.

“Later general councils were frequently overshadowed by imperial church politics and the rivalry of the major patriarchal sees [areas controlled by a bishop or an archbishop],” adds The Encyclopedia Americana. Since such church councils were marked by ecclesiastical politics and rivalries, they bore no fruits of God’s spirit such as love and peace. Rather, they were marred by fleshly works that included “hostilities, bickering, jealousy, . . . selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions.” With reference to works of the flesh, the apostle Paul warned: “Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” (Galatians 5:19-23, the Catholic New American Bible) Therefore, how can it be said that Christendom’s church councils have been approved by God?

The history of the Church under [Constantine’s] influence becomes now therefore a history of the violent struggles that were bound to follow upon his sudden and rough summons to unanimity. From him the Church acquired the disposition to be authoritative and unquestioned, to develop a centralized organization and run parallel to the empire.”

The determination to stamp out opposition led to dreadful atrocities. Most of those pronounced guilty of heresy against the popular dogma of the council were burned at the stake, suffering the agony of a slow death as a public spectacle—supposedly in the name of Christ!

For instance, the Council of Constance (1414-18) was called to end bickering over who was the legitimate pope and to deal with the heresies of Wycliffe and Hus. Thirty thousand horses are said to have carried people to Constance for this great event. During the council, John Hus was tried and condemned, then turned over to secular authorities and burned at the stake.

What About Doctrine?

. To illustrate: In 325 C.E. the Council of Nicaea introduced the doctrine of the Incarnate Christ, or God-man. This denial that Jesus was in fact a man became one of the most misleading doctrines of Christendom. (Compare 2 John 7.) Why, it has turned millions away from Jehovah God to a confusing Trinity! None of the councils held thereafter made any attempt to rectify this error. Yet the Trinity doctrine is clearly unscriptural, for Jesus said: “The Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) Could God possibly approve of any council that obscured the truth about his identity and that of his Son?

As also noted in the chart, among the doctrines endorsed at Christendom’s church councils were baptism of infants, imposed and required celibacy, purgatory, and hellfire. However, the Scriptures do not support infant baptism, such celibacy, and a fiery hell, nor do they make any reference to purgatory. (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Job 14:13) Since those desiring Jehovah’s favor must worship him “with spirit and truth,” how could he approve of councils fostering false doctrine?—John 4:23, 24.

The encyclopedia Hidria says: “Constantine was especially interested in Christianity because it backed up not only his victory but also the reorganization of his empire. The Christian churches that existed everywhere became his political support. . . . He surrounded himself with the great prelates of the times . . . , and he requested that they keep their unity intact.”

Did He Ever Become a Christian?

Johnson notes: “Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins.” The Catholic Encyclopedia observes: “Constantine showed equal favour to both religions. As pontifex maximus he watched over the heathen worship and protected its rights.” “Constantine never became a Christian,” states the encyclopedia Hidria, adding: “Eusebius of Caesarea, who wrote his biography, says that he became a Christian in the last moments of his life. This doesn’t hold water, as the day before, [Constantine] had made a sacrifice to Zeus because he also had the title Pontifex Maximus.”

Down to the day of his death in 337 C.E., Constantine bore the pagan title of Pontifex Maximus, the supreme head of religious matters. Regarding his baptism, it is reasonable to ask, Was it preceded by genuine repentance and a turning around, as required in the Scriptures?

Constantine was never made a saint, because he was baptized by an Arian before his death, and not a trinitarian like athanasius.

What Constantine did do was to force the Council of Nicea so that theological strife would not tear his empire apart.

It is the first absolute statement in favor of trinitarianism, and sets down a single 'doctrine' on the subject (which happened to be different from every 'trinitarian' before then.)

I question the validity of the counicl, especially for many of the 'noble' christians at the time who participated, such as Polycarp, because they were more interested at the time about the sabbath day other than the godhead; the godhead, WHO Jesus is, is the FOUNDATIONAL argument of every religion, and they put that on the side to quibble over a day.

What Did Emperor Constantine Do

Constantine looked at christian religion and christ as a war God and not God of love. He still loved to worship apollo. However, he stopped financing temples of other roman gods but appolo. We all know that christian believes were taken from the Torah. Even though a small part of Torah was taught by jesus. The ideas were full of humanity and civility especially for those times. Constantine was a revolutionary, like jesus, Trotsky, Karl Marx. However I am sure that he never imagined that his actions would lead to creation of such religious empire.

Actually, early Christians were meeting on Sundays long before Constantine. This started with the apostles, in the book of Acts.

Eventually made Christianity the state religion of Rome and helped clarify Christian beliefs in the face of heretical teachings through the Nicene Coucil of AD 325, from where we now have the Nicene Creed (among other things). I doubt Christiianity would have gained the foothold that it did in the Roman Empire without Constantine.

Constantine is a wolf in sheeps clothes. A saint? I think not. No man can not call another man a saint, that's God call. The Catholics didn't do us any favors either.

I understand what you're saying completely. I think Constantine probably had a heart to do something for Christ, but he did it his own way (or, to quote Paul, he had a zeal, but not according to knowledge)...and as a result he got human results. I don't think he did Christianity any favors; I think Satan recognized he could not stomp out Christianity...so he decided to try to make it fat and lazy through lack of persecution and doctrinal confusion instead.

All Christians are saints according to the New Testament:

Romans 12:13 "Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

Ephesians 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,"

God's people were saints in the Old Testament also:

2 Chronicles 6:41 "And now arise, O Lord God, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might. Let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,

and let thy saints rejoice in thy goodness."

Psalms 30:4 "Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name."

- made Byzantium his capital

- restrengthen the his city with protective walls and buildings

- perform church duties