Did Constantine invent the Catholic Church?

Question

If so, what should we call the Church during the three centuries before Constantine ended the persecution of Christians?

http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/timeline_of_catholic_church.htm

So far, no one claiming Constantine invented the Catholic Church has answered the second part of my question--If so, what should we call the Church during the three centuries before Constantine ended the persecution of Christians?

If you want to win recognition for best answer, you have to answer the whole question. For details, follow the helpful link to all the Church history preceding Constantine.

Answer 1

No. The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it went all the way back to the time of the apostles

Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return. Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.) Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself. This is unequaled by any institution in history: Even the oldest government is new compared to the papacy. The Catholic Church has existed for nearly 2,000 years, despite constant opposition from the world. This is testimony to the Church’s divine origin: Any merely human organization would have collapsed long ago. The Catholic Church is today the most vigorous church in the world (and the largest, with a billion members: one sixth of the human race), and that is testimony not to the cleverness of the Church’s leaders, but to the protection of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20). For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28). Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19). .

Answer 2

Not likely, considering that there are writings about the Catholic Church and by the Catholic Church centuries before Constantine was born. The earliest known written reference to the Holy Catholic Church by that name is found in the writings of Ignatius, first Catholic bishop of Antioch, from the year 107 AD. Ignatius was catechized by, and probably ordained by, the Apostle John. His reference to "the Holy Catholic Church" was written very matter-of-factly, without any explanation, so it is obvious he expected his readers to be familiar with the term. Therefore we can reasonably conclude that the Church founded by Jesus Christ on the Apostles was calling itself "the Holy Catholic Church" before the end of the 1st Century.

The Holy Catholic Church continued to grow and prosper under constant persecution, right up to the time of Constantine, who finally legalized Catholicism. That act by Constantine, who was the civil emperor but had no authority at all within the Church, obviously facilitated the further growth of the Catholic Church. But the Church would have continued to grow and prosper even without that action by Constantine, just as it had done in the centuries preceding.

Answer 3

If Constantine invented the Catholic Church then why is it that this 'invented' church believed the SAME THINGS as the churhc previous to it?

We know from early Christian writings, either letters or in catacombs that the early Christians believed in Apostolic Succession(Letter from Clement of Rome to the Corinthians (95 AD)), the True Presence(Ignatius of Antioch (c. 107 AD), prayers for the 'dead' (on first century catacombs), etc.

This begs the questions, did Constantine invent anything or did he simply allow Christians to worhip without fear of persecution?

God Bless
Robin

Answer 4

No, Constantine legalized Christianity, bringing it out into the open, and ordered its battling factions (notably the Arians and the proto-orthodox) to settle their differences and restore public peace. Before him one might call it the "Underground Church" or the "Persecuted Church".

People who claim "Catholicism" originated with Constantine ignore history. There were multiple Christian "churches" in the world, in Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, etc. Rome was only the patriarchate for Western Europe, and when it attempted to claim authority over the other patriarchies, these "Orthodox" churches rejected it. Constantine chose to administer both Empires from Constantinole, not Rome. The Protestant Reformation was intended to "fix" the Roman church but ended up separating from it. But Protestant churches did NOT seek reunion with the Orthodox Church and their theology does not agree with Orthodox theology. Their heritage is Roman, not Greek.

Answer 5

Constantine made it the state religion of Rome. had been legal for some time before Constantine after the Emperor Trajan lifted the ban on the followers of "the cult of the man Jesus" (as the Romans of the time called the Christians)

there was a power struggle for many years for primacy between the churches in the major cities of Antioch, Jerusalem, Rome, and Alexandria. until the primacy of the Bishop of Rome was recognized (more than 100 years after Jesus's death) there was NO central organizational theocratic force. each Christian community practiced differently, and had differing and unique doctrines and dogma. the Catholic Church is merely the resulting triumph of ONE of the many Christian communities that existed during that time period.

Answer 6

No.

The Church has referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 C.E. (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the Greek term "Katholikos" (meaning universal) appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church."

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

We do not know how long they had been using the term "Catholic" before it was included in this letter.

All of this was long before Constantine, the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 C.E. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07644a.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

The Church is the body of Christ, all believers, past, present and future. It is always referred to that way in the Scriptures.

(1) "During the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine (306 to 337 AD) there had been 150 years of unbridled torture of Christians. However, Christianity, far from being disposed of by the Roman persecution, continued to grow and thrive. So, when he rose to the throne of Rome, he had a huge social dilemma. Although his personal devotions prove that he worshipped the Roman gods Mars and Apollos, Constantine unilaterally forbid Christian persecution throughout his realm.
The next significant event in Constantine's religious development occurred in 312. Lactantius - who tutored his son, Crispus - and who therefore must have been close to the imperial family, reports that during the night before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge Constantine was commanded in a dream to place the sign of Christ on the shields of his soldiers. Constantine was victorious and he attributed his victory to "the god of the Christians." Consequently, he began the effort to "christianize" Rome, making it the State religion. Since every Roman citizen was required to embrace some form of Christianity - though it was a severely watered-down and superficial form of Christianity - Constantine effectively established the Roman universal (the meaning of "catholic") church and the Holy Roman Empire. And, of course, Roman Catholicism went on to dominate Western Religion for the next 1200 years."

Answer 8

Yes. He did, in a way. He made it official.

When Roman Emperor Constantine Augustus of the western Empire, and Licinius Augustus of the eastern, proclaimed this Edict in 313 A.D., persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire ended.

http://home.inreach.com/bstanley/edict.htm

Before that it was an unorganized unofficial church.

Answer 9

"If Rome is the queen of cities, why should not her pastor be the king of bishops? Why should not the Roman church be the mother of Christendom? Why should not all nations be her children and her authority be their sovereign law? It was easy for the ambitious heart of man to reason thus. Ambitious Rome did so.

Thus, when pagan Rome fell, she bequeathed to the humble minister of the God of peace, sitting in the midst of her ruins, the proud titles which her invincible sword had won from the nations of the earth.

The bishops of the different parts of the empire, fascinated by that charm which Rome had exercised for ages over all nations, followed the example of the Campagna and aided this work of usurpation. They felt a pleasure in yielding to the bishop of Rome some portion of that honour which was due to the queen of the world. There was originally no dependence implied in the honour thus paid. They treated the Roman pastor as if they were on a level with him. But usurped power increases like an avalanche. Admonitions, at first fraternal, soon became absolute commands in the mouth of the pontiff. A foremost place among equals appeared to him a throne.

The Western bishops favoured this encroachment of the Roman pastors, either from jealousy of the Eastern bishops, or because they preferred submitting to the supremacy of a pope, rather than to the dominion of a temporal power..." J.L. D'Aubignée, History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, pp.7,8.

The nominal conversion of Constantine in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing, and the world, cloaked with a form of piety, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.

The compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power--a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.

To secure wordly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the great men of earth; and having thus rejected Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the representative of Satan--the bishop of Rome.

It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope has been given the very titles of Deity. He has been styled "Lord God the Pope," and has been declared infallible. He demands the homage of all men. The same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.

But those who fear and reverence God meet this haven-daring assumption as Christ met the solicitations of the wild foe: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:8.

God has never given a hint in His word that He has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no power over Christ's church except by usurpation.

Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy and willful separation from the true church. But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ and departed from 'the faith which was once delivered to the saints.'" Jude 3.

Answer 10

No, he merely sanctioned it as an official church.