Constantine, what did he do for Christianity?

Question

Did Constantine relly help the church?

Answer 1

Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor. He established the new capital of Rome at the old Greek town of Byzantium, which he renamed after himself (Constantinople) and which would be the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. He raised Christianity (which had not long been legal in the empire) to the status of a "permitted religion." He took a direct interest in matters of doctrine, setting a precedent for future emperors, and called the first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church (at Nicaea).
Constantine saw a vision earlier in Gaul on his way to Rome. The most widely known is that at noon on the day of battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine saw a cross of brilliant light imposed over the sun with the words "By This, Conquer" attached. Eusebius the historian in his "Life" says that Constantine personally told him the story. Some sources say Constantine was a "closet" Christian for much of his life. Others say that Constantine became a Christian later in life.
A triumphal arch was built three years after the battle with words about how Constantine saved the republic '"by greatness of mind and impulse of divinity." After Rome was conquered the troops carried a pennant bearing the monogram of Jesus - the Greek letters "chi" and "rho" standing for the word "Christ".
``Soon after the victory (313) Constantine issued the Edict of Milan( recognizing Christianity as an acceptable religion, restoring previously confiscated church property and protecting Christian people from persecution.) Within several years he sponsored the Council of Nicaea to negotiate a statement of orthodox Christian belief that could be recognized across the Empire. The Nicaean Creed continues to be used today``.
Therefore it is complete nonsense to say that Constantine started the Catholic church but it is truthful to say that Christ used him to set the persecuted church free from Roman tyranny,and allow it to flourish as Christ intended.

Answer 2

He stopped the persecution of Christians for one thing.

Constantine can rightfully claim the title of Great, for he turned the history of the world into a new course and made Christianity, which until then had suffered bloody persecution, the religion of the State. It is true that the deeper reasons for this change are to be found in the religious movement of the time, but these reasons were hardly imperative, as the Christians formed only a small portion of the population, being a fifth part in the West and the half of the population in a large section of the East. Constantine's decision depended less on general conditions than on a personal act; his personality, therefore, deserves careful consideration.

For an in-depth study of Constantine's contribution to Christianity and the world please go to this link.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm

Answer 3

Thanks to Constantine's "religious revolution" and the establishment of a state-endorsed Christian Church, the manpower that might have defended the empire was drawn increasingly into the ranks of the priesthood. The Church offered "the officer class" an alternative career to that of the marching camp or frontier garrison, one superior in rewards of status, wealth and power – and all in safety and comfort. Not for nothing did the Church model its hierarchy on that of the army; it was a fine career for a bright young Roman who preferred to fight the hordes of Satan to the horsemen of Germany or Asia.

Christianity, far from unifying the Roman world with a single faith, sent division and civil conflict throughout the empire. Yet the fanatical intolerance rampaged on, with increasingly more severe rescripts.

Again and again, the pagan religions and the 'philosophies' (that is rational thought and science) were criminalized with the severest of penalties. The repetition of the legislation itself gives evidence that the populace of the empire had to be brought kicking and screaming to the Church of Christ.

Yet every measure designed to crush and stamp out non-Christian belief met with renewed resistance, disaffection from the imperial cause and civil commotion.

In time, many would prefer the more tolerant rule of a barbarian king to the adolescent fanatics in Milan, Ravenna or Constantinople.

The campaign to wipe out heterodox opinion realized its zenith with the reign of Theodosius I late in the 4th century. Barely a decade later, the city of Rome fell to the barbarians. The parasitic Christian religion had fatally weakened the host body; yet as the western empire died, the psychosis of "Christian Faith" had already migrated to the newcomers

Answer 4

He gave it total control over the full power of the Great Roman Empire! All of the Roman armies, their manfacturing might, their global businesses, all of the tax base, suddenly became property of The Catholic Christian Church.

It is so wonderful, Constantine was a true inspiration to totalitarians everywhere ever since.

As my Jesuit instructors used to tell me the Great St. Constantine should be a guide in how we conducted our own lives.

Answer 5

that's an extremely good question! maximum Christians does not be able to accurately answer this question. the belief gadget of modern-day-day Christianity derives from submit Constantine's Christianity, which does not facilitate the perception to wisely answer this question. The roman emperor Constantine had a political schedule to unify the empire via way of religion. Christianity substitute into chosen by way of fact the common faith. subject substitute into that the empire substitute into chuck crammed with polytheistic religions that had not something to do with Jesus Christ. Constantine out smarted this occasion via coming up a Christianity that chuffed the needs of each and every faith in the empire. In different words... submit Constantine Christianity is a mut version of real Christianity that regulate into made to fulfill each and every of the religions in the empire. that's why pagan rituals, holidays, and satanic customs are unknowingly practiced interior of Christianity til this very day. Many present day-day Christians are blind to this certainty. inspite of the two BIBLICAL, and historic evidence needless to say pointing out. Even the logo for present day-day Christianity is a pagan. the unique image of Christianity (or submit Constantine image) substitute into an elementary lamb and a fish. not a blood sacrifice rotting corps on a pagan bypass. Even the bible substitute into altered below Constantine's reign. This substitute into additionally executed to fulfill the needs of all religions in the empire. Christians on the time have been livid, yet have been purely given 2 techniques... Comply or be placed to death, and various died. Christian communities won't facilitate this style of perception by way of fact the Christianity that regulate into left via Constantine (and others) is all that we ought to consistently artwork with. while heavily examined for accuracy present day-day Christianity as a faith falls aside. unique Christianity, from my examine, looks to have been very organic, and easy. Very distinctive from Christianity of in the present day. sarcastically, It did not facilitate the % for a preacher, pastor, bishop or pope. greater so a divine and non secular relation deliver with each and every guy and the writer, performed and not employing a center guy between themselves and god. No trinity, God got here down, and god substitute into the Christ. No communion, which represents ingesting flesh and ingesting blood (additionally made to fulfill different religions of the empire). just to furnish some info, yet in different words my buddy..... there substitute right into a worldwide of distinction!

Answer 6

He allowed Christianity to exist in Rome and other beliefs. He is said to be the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. Some disagree with his true intent on his conversion. He presided over the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (C.E). From there, it gained momentum continues to grow throughout the world, even in China.

Answer 7

Twofold.

On the positive side, he mainstreamed Christianity to the world.

On the negative side, he paganized Christianity by incorporating the traditions of the pagan societies he conquered into the Christian faith... most notably mother-worship (in the vein of Isis, & Diana-archetypes) and allowed pagan gods and goddesses to be "Christianized" by commuting their worship into patron saints.

All in all, I think his involvement did more good than harm, but we are still today fighting against pagan influence in our faith. The reformation corrected much of this, but a historical and honest look at our faith and extra-Biblical traditions lead in many cases, squarely to the doorstep of pagan worship. That's a fact that will unfortunately inflame many who have not studied history.

Answer 8

No. He messed up the christianity making his country fellows to get baptized without being born again. He included all kinds of rituals from his old religion into Christianity, like idol worship, candles etc.

Answer 9

Introduced the false doctrine of the trinity and converted to Christianity from being a pagan high priest on his death bed , so I would say he was a major spoiler of the true christian path.

Answer 10

He screwed it up. It was then that the Church became a power and was corrupted by that power.

It feels like they were trying to preempt the Messiah by making a Messianic kingdom by their own hands.