In what year did the emperor Constantine decide which books formed the canon of the bible?

Answer 1

Yes, he headed the council of Nicaea! 200 years after the death of Christ. Please look this up in both World and Religious history. And he was Pagan until he died and the Church had him converted because they didn't want it known that a Pagan headed up the editing of the Bible!

Answer 2

He didn't ever decide that. You're confused. In AD 325 Constantine held a religious council, summoning the bishops of the east and west to Nicaea. At this council the branch of the Christian faith known as Arianism was condemned as a heresy and the only admissible Christian creed of the day (the Nicene Creed) was precisely defined.

Perhaps you're talking about the Council of Trent.

Answer 3

Constantine was a pagan until his deathbed.
St Jerome translated the bible into the Vulgate (the language of the commoners at the time---ie: Latin)

St Jerome lived in a monastery in Bethlehem during the time he was involved in the translation. He knew several languages and met with the local Hebraic counterparts.

Answer 4

He didn't.

The church fathers of the time did. Kind of.

The Old Testament canon was actually agreed upon many years prior to that. The New Testament canon wasn't official until 325 A.D., but many of the earliest Christians already had a canon.

Look up the Council of Nicea.

Answer 5

The Council of Nicaea did in 325...Constantine called the council but he did not make that decision.

Answer 6

That was decided at the council of Trent

Answer 7

Constantine did not determine the canon.

Cordially,
John
http://www.GodSci.org

Answer 8

Here are some historical notes for you:

1. At the Council of Nicea, 325 A.D., there were two groups: the Pauline group and the group of people led by the followers of Arius, called Arians.

2. "The representatives of the Pauline Church wanted to put three 'parts' of God on the Divine Throne, but could produce arguments from their Scriptures in favor of only two. In spite of this, the third 'part' of God, namely 'the Holy Ghost', was declared to be the third person of Trinity, although no reasons were given in support of this innovation...They said that the 'Son' was of God.' The Arians replied that they themselves were 'of God' since it is written in the Scriptures, "All things are of God." Therefore, if this argument was used, they argued, then it also proved the Divine nature of all things."

3. "The Pauline bishops then argued that Jesus was not only 'of God', but also 'of the Essence of God.' This distinction aroused opposition from all of the orthodox Christians since, they pointed out. these words were not be found in the Scriptures."

4. "In desperation, the Trinitarians argued that the Scriptures say that, 'Jesus is the eternal image of the Father and True God.' The Arians replied that the Scriptures also say, 'We men are the image and glory of God.' Therefore, if this argument was used, they argued, then not only Jesus but all men could claim to be Divine."

5. While this went on, Helena, the Queen mother, favored the Pauline Church...On the other hand, Constantina, the sister of the Emperor, was a believer in the Divine Unity and supported Arius.

6. Both parties were looking for the support of the Emperor who remained neutral; however, Princess Christina advised the attendees that if no decision was reached, the emperor may loose all interest in Christianity.

7. "Counseled by Eusebius, Arius and his followers adopted a passive role, but disassociated themselves from the following changes to which the Council agreed: Since the worship of the Roman sun-god was very popular throughout the Empire at this time, and since the Emperor was considered to be the embodiment of the sun-god on earth, the Pauline Church therefore:

a). Declared the Roman 'sun' day to be the Christian Sabbath - which is why it is called Sunday, and not because Jesus gave it that name;
b). Adopted the traditional birthday od the sun-god, the twenty-fifth of December, the the birthday of Jesus, for by then no one could remember which day his real birth day had been;
c). Borrowed the emblem of the sun-god, the cross of light, to be the emblem of Christianity; and
d). Although the statue of Jesus replaced the idol of the sun-god, decided to incorporate many of the ceremonies which were performed at the sun-god's birthday celebrations into their own ceremonies."

8. Many of those who signed the document did so, not because they agreed with it, but to please the Emperor. One of them is reported as having said, The soul is nothing worse for a little ink.' Many felt that they signed the document
under duress.

9. "So it was decided to resort to a miracle of God in order to affirm and confirm the decision of the Council: All the various Gospels- the written record both of Jesus' teaching and, in come cases, of what had become of that teaching after it had been changed - still lay in a pile in the middle of the hall where they had been placed at the beginning of the Council. Which of these Scriptures were the most accurate and reliable?"

10. "According to one source, there were at least 270 versions of the Gospel at this time, while another states there were as many as 4,000 different Gospels. Even if one accepts the most conservative record, the number must have been quite overwhelming for a literate Christian of that time."

11. "It was decided that all the different Gospels should be placed under a table in the Council Hall. Everyone then left the room and the door was locked. The bishops were asked to pray for the whole night that the correct or most accurate and reliable versions of the Gospel of Jesus might find their way onto the top of the table. There is no record of who kept the key to the Council Hall that night."

12. "In the morning, the Gospels most acceptable to Athanasius, the representative of Alexander -Matthew, Mark Luke, and John - were found neatly placed on top of the table. It was then decided, in order to simplify matters, that all the other Gospels which still remained under the table should be burned."

13. "It subsequently became a capital offense to possess an unauthorized Gospel. As a result, over a million Unitarian Christians were killed in the years following the Council's decisions. This was how Athanasius tried to achieve
unity among the Christians."

14. In 328 AD, Bishop Alexander died and Athanasius was declared elected as a bishop after a disputed elections. "Meanwhile, at Constantine's court, Constantina, his sister who feared and loved God, continued to voice her opposition to the killing of Christians. She never tried to hide the fact that she thought Arius represented true Christianity. She also opposed the treatment of Eusebius of Nicomedia who had been banished by the Emperor for his beliefs.
At long last, she had her way, and Eusebius was allowed back. His return was a great blow to the Athanasian faction. The Emperor gradually began to lean towards the side of Arius."

15. "In 335 AD, a Council was held in Tyre to celebrate the thirteenth year of Constantine's reign....He [Athanasius] was condemned. The bishops then gathered in Jerusalem where the condemnation of Athanasius was confirmed. Arius was taken back into the Church and allowed to receive communion."

16. "The Emperor then invited Arius and his friend Euzous to Constantinople. The peace between Arius and the Emperor was now complete....Eusebius of Nicomedia was also present at this occasion. He well knew that the decision made at the Council of Nicea had gone against Arius for political reasons."

17. Athanasius was then accused of hindering the supply of corn to the capital, and he was sent away to Trier in Gaul.

18. "Arius was then appointed the Bishop of Constantinople. He died soon after, however, from poisoning, in 336 AD. The Paulian Church called it a miracle, but the Emperor suspected murder...Athanasius was found to be responsible, and was condemned for the murder of Arius."

19. "The Emperor, greatly moved by the death of Arius, and doubtlessly influenced by his sister, became a Christian soon after. He was baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia. He died only a year later, in 337 AD. Thus Constantine, who had spent so much of his reign persecuting those who affirmed the Divine Unity and supporting their opponents, died in the faith of those he had killed."

Answer 9

Constantine had nothing to do with the Bible.

GOD bless