History of Emperor Constantine
For the believers of Bible readers the study of Christian history should be seen as something more than academic pursuit. Here our attention must be drawn to look into the history of Emperor Constantine who did a lot of things for the spreading of Christian religion in his empire. Our perspective must allow us to see the movements of God’s plan through time and how far it is related to current events as well as the Bible prophecy. Coming to Roman history Emperor Constantine was one of such personalities. Many events that occurred in Constantinople, and the spreading of Christian religion throughout the Middle East during the rule of Byzantine Empire, are wonderful for Bible readers. So to say, they have significant manifestation to- day. That Constantinople after Constantine became “Istanbul” as its name was changed and today it was called Modern Turkey. Emperor Constantine was a courageous hero of faith and God used him for many purposes. He was a Roman hero. But out of 54 Roman emperors who ruled Israel, he was the only emperor who embraced Christianity with his mother Heleona. He lived during 272 – 337 A.D. and ruled the empire from 305 A.D. He accepted the system of dividing the empire into four parts called four empires, and he became the emperor to the Eastern part. Then he happened to do some battles and at that time, his army was about to be drowned in the river. In such crucial situation the emperor proclaimed before the battle that he saw a cross in the sky among the clouds and heard a voice in the dream. He cried out, “in hoe signo vinces”, which means “in the sign you will conquer”. Then before the battle, the emperor put the soldiers in (Greek ehi) as a form of the cross or as the first letter of the Christos, on their shields. And in the battle the king got a wonderful victory. Then in jubilant mood he proclaimed that he became a Christian. This extraordinary event took place in January 313 A.D. 160The Mysteries of the Mysterious God Then the emperor passed the Edict of Milan (also called the Edict of Tolerance). This law finally permitted Christians to practice their faith legally and openly along with Roman traditions of Mount Olympus along with paganism and Judaism. After he won another battle his solders kept the symbol which is the clear representation of Christ. With that amazing victory all the opposition leaders were surprised and Constantine stood as unconquerable and absolute ruler of Roman Empire. Then in 325 A.D. byzantine the capital city of Greeks was made capital city to New Roman Empire. But the Greeks did not show any interest in changing the name. even than it was changed into the city of Constantine and finally it became Constantinople. Later this great city caused the separation of Europe and Asia. This chief city at last became the capital city of Eastern Christian world, for about a Millennium (one thousand years) till it fell into the hands of ‘Ottoman Turk’ on May 29, 1453. The new conquerors called it Estamble, which became Istanbul. Some commentators accused Constantine with the following three questions:
1.Some people either studied or heard it somewhere suggested whether
Constantine made Christianity a legal religion, because he was in which
way the political wind is blowing and he wanted to be on the winning
side, with this their question was whether he was really born again.
2.They noticed that he was responsible for conveying the council of
‘Nicaea’ in 325 A.D, which had link with “Easter” also and which has
connection with the Roman Solar calendar and moved it away from the
Hebrews, from this lunar calendar and its Passover connection.
3.As somehow paganized the Christian religion by raising it to the status
of in the house Roman empires state religion. What Constantine Accomplished? And also we have to take into account, what God accomplished through Constantine. There are about 10 salient points the emperor did for the spreading of Christianity.
1.Constantine stopped persecution which was in action for about three
hundred years. That is from 64 A.D. to 312 A.D. the Romans ruled and 161The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
waged wars abut 10 and prosecuted Christians. This brutal and amazing
persecution took place once in 25 years in their calculation. They
persecuted Christian in every generation and millions of people became
victims to that. At the same time millions of prayers had gone to heaven
requesting God to save them from the cruel hands of the Roman rulers.
It is the opinion of some scholars that God used Constantine to liberate
Christians from the cruel hands of the Roman rulers.
God used the services of Constantine to curb this evil attempt of the
Romans. So, we must lift our prayers to God saying “Thank you Lord”
gives God the glory, but we should not speak ill of Constantine the
great. The ceasing of persecution would suffice to call him with that
title.
2.Constantine made Christianity an authorized religion. He did many more
things for Christians on humanitarian grounds. As he stopped killing of
Christians, he also stopped future mass slaughter of innocent people by
making Christianity an approved religion with the following conditions.
a)Christians can openly read and possesses the New Testament.
b)Christians can hold their church ministries or meetings openly without
any fear.
c)Christians can openly take part in the Lord’s Supper without accusation.
d)Church edifies must be rebuilt at least and it must be remembered.
3.He himself proclaimed as Christian and supported Christian causes.
Now we see Emperor Constantine fully and publicly accepted
Christianity. It is really surprising to come across such national leaders,
who would stand up for their faith in Christ, and Constantine was one
of such leaders. He professed his faith on Christ, openly, clearly and
publicly, though he was a government leader and official. He fearlessly
proclaimed himself a true Christian believer. He did not care for the
consequences.
4.He sent his mother Helena to the holy land to locate ancient Christian
sites and build shrines over the holy places. Helena was a Christian 162The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
scholar a pious and energetic woman. She was popularly known as “Saint
Helena” among the Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic churches, and
also Anglican and Lutheran churches. She was honored with a little
“Augusta Imparadise”, which means “Revered Royal Lady”. As she
was supported by the royal treasury, she made her journey to Israel to
locate Biblical Holy places. The days were such that Christianity had
become permitted faiths and no longer persecuted church buildings were
built. Therefore, Cusebius wrote that Helen built the “church of Nativity”
in Bethlehem and the “church of Ascension”, on the Mount of Olives to
mark the three traditional holy sites.
Helena also identified two more sites outside the walls of Jerusalem. Those
two places were Christ was crucified and buried. She believed that she was
guided by God to locate the place of crucification outside west of Jerusalem.
And it was confirmed by three pieces of ancient wood signifying three
crosses, when they dug into the hill Constantine constructed the church of
the Holy Sepulcher. This church was built with two large connected
rounder’s the larger one over the burial tomb and the other over the rock of
Calvary. Apart from all she did, she selected some more places to build
churches in commemoration of Biblical events. Today many Protestants
prefer the nearby “garden tomb” as the site of the crucification and
resurrection. In other land marks, she built a chapel at Senai Mount
peninsular where St. Catherine’s Monastery is still there Constantine asked
Eusebites to write about his early life of Christianity. Constantine gave
complete liberty and encouragement to Eusebites. So that he could give
the Ecclesiastical History which was considered by many as the finest and
most detailed account of about 300 years of Christian era. It was originally
written in Greek. It contained the origin of each of the gospels. Eusebites
was the contemporary of Constantine a Roman of Greek Linege. He was
brilliant pious and staunch founder of Christian faith. He quoted extensively
from the writings which were no more to be found. He wrote the full details
about the vision of Apostle John in Revelation. 163The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
Anyone who was doubtful about the authenticity and genuineness of John’s
or Matthew’s gospels should read Ecclesiastical detailed history, and their
faith be strengthened. Constantine ordered for 50 copies of the New
Testament to be written on the best parchments. It is said, it is our oldest
New Testament.
We have to remember one important thing here that is there are many
parchments of individual New Testament books, which were centuries older.
Than one sumailtieus and secone veticanus but these two were the oldest
complete Bibles. It is believed by many that these two earliest Bibles were
among those 50 which were commanded by Constantine to copy from the
ancient manuscripts. Eusebites said that Constantine ordered for copying.
He declared that he wanted to hold a meeting of ‘Nicaea’ which was about
45 miles from Constantine nople. And for that marathon conference about
2000 delegates were invited. The result of that council was the ‘Nicaea
creed’ which announced that the scriptures teach and demand the diety of
Christ and a truing nature of God, according to John 1:1 + 4:10 by 10:30
Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 1:8-20; The Nicaea creed” reads as follows.
“We believe in one God, father Almighty master of heaven and earth, and
of all time visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only
begotten son of God begotten of the father before all worlds, God of God,
Light of Light – very God of very God, begotten not made being of one
substance, with the father by whom all things were made, who for us men
and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnated by the
Holy spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man and was crucified also,
for us under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified and buried and on the third
day he rose from the dead, according to the scriptures; and ascended into
heaven and sat on the right hand of the father. And he shall come again
with glory and he shall judge both guilty and dead, whose kingdom shall
have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord and giver of life who proceeded
from the father and the son added in the 4th century in the west who with 164The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
the father and the son together are worshipped and glorified, who spoke by
the prophets. And we believe in one Holy catholic and apostatic church;
who acknowledge on Baptism for the remission of sin. And we look for the
resurrection for the dead, and the life of the world to come Amen.
Constantine also asked the council of Nicaea to settle the date of the
resurrection Holy day “Easter”. Many Christian today do not give respect
to the Christian calendar as it was done in the past centuries. The resurrection
was commonly called Easter. It was because of Germans, who settled in
Rome in the fifth century called it “Osteen” which means ‘Easter’ or sunrise
some others suggested “Easter” come from eistri the pagan goddess of
dawn from the pagan origin. Such as goddess “Ashhari” (of ahonician)
and ishera. (Babylonian). The main issue here was that Christians have
been observing Good Friday across the whole empire (on the day Christ
was crucified) and a resurrection on different days Constantine listened to
the words of Bishops patiently and finally declared that the whole church
should observe resurrection on the same day but again referred the problem
to the council. The council after prayer and debate, decided not to put on
the same fixed date but to make it changeable feast.
And also Christian at that time did not want to depend upon the Jewish
rabbinical for the contribution of the festival. It was also called, lunar
celebration which used to be adjusted every few years. So, the resurrection
day was to be celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon,
following the bond vernal equired (the paschal full moon). This festival
was put near the Jewish Passover in the month of Nisan, which was the
first month according to Jewish calendar. After studying all that and the
conditions, Constantine wrote, when the question arose, concerning the
most Holy day of ‘Easter’. It was decided by common consent that this
festival should be celebrated on the same day by all churches everywhere.
This judgment became problematic issue, and this issue made to pray by
one and all; because from the celebration of the festival we resume the
hope of immortality. Emperor Constantine established Constantinople as 165The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
head quarters of Christianity for about 1000 years. As a matter of fact the
western Christians did not pay any attention toward the Eastern history
and their affairs. However, from 325 to 1453 Constantinople fell into the
hands of “Ottoman Turk”, actually it stood as the strong capital to
Constantine. This part of Roman Empire had become a base for Christian
faith. After Constantine emperor Justinian ruled that part of empire from
527 – 565 A.D. He could rule this part of the empire, with his strong and
powerful wife “Theodora”. By standing at his side, she proved herself to
be the back ground and also the back-bone of the emperor. And also both
laid a strong foundation for the East for their strong faith.
The pope had given complete liberty thereby even claimed supremacy over
everything. Finally, Constantine crowned the pope as king. As a result they
dispised everything they ruled the empire like kings stopped cruceeds with
all powers and influence. All these things took place only because
Constantine changed his office to the East with byzantine as his capital
which later became Constantine nople. The Bishop was given full powers
as king in the west. This action of making the Bishop as the king to the
western empire was like a donation of Constantine to the Bishop of Rome
and the west. But this was treated as forgery for 400 years, after the death
of Constantine. This forgery contained the suppressed decree of Constantine,
that after his death the authority and the ownership of the city of Rome and
the western portion of the Roman Empire were bequeathed to the Bishop
of Rome. This document was used again in thirteenth century to support
papal claims of ownership, lands far beyond the Vatican and authority over
the entire empire. When it was still debated by Lorango villa, an Italian
Catholic priest in 1440. The outcome of all that was people need not
misunderstand the morality of the emperor Constantine, for entirely giving
the empire to the pope. Here, what we learn from the life history of
Constantine as Christian. We should remember him always for the extensive
work he had done for the Christianity. Apart from all that he had done to
the Christians, many things. It was he who made Christianity a national 166The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
religion. It was he who made the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday. It
was he, who demolished all heathen temples built by King Solomon to
please his heathen wives, and built churches at ‘Bal-Beck’. Finally though
it was mentioned already it is worth to remember again that it was he who
abolished the cross punishment forever. So, to say both the Jews and
Christians were very happy in his reign.
Eusebitus gave his personal opinion about his dear friend Constantine. He
wanted to speak volumes about his friend but there was no enough space,
for that. If we look into the history of Constantine, we can do nothing but
praise him for his noble qualities, for his humanity and for his believing
the true God and Christ in his life. As he did a lot for Christianity, the
emperor received abundant blessings for himself in his life and for his
people. We see in the writings of Eusebitus that Constantine was his personal
friend. He was the finest and most pious Christian ruler who ever lived.
Here is an excerpt about him.
And God himself whom Constantine worshipped has, confirmed this truth
by the clearest manifestation of his well being present to him at the
commencement, during the course and at the end of his reign and holding
him up to the human race as an instructive example of godliness.
Accordingly by the manifold blessings he has conferred on him. He
distinguished him alone of all the sovereigns of whom we have ever heard
as at once, a mighty humanity
This brief study on the life of Emperor Constantine would certainly throw
light on the movement of Christian history and provide some valuable
information that might encourage the believers to estimate their impression
about the first Christian emperor from Roman rulers.
Important accomplishments of Constantine in Nut shell.
1.He stopped the persecutions
2.He made Christianity an approved religion
3.He sent his mother to the Holy land to locate Christian sites and build
shrines over them. 167The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
4.He proclaimed himself Christian and followed Christian causes.
5.Eusebitus to write his early history of Christian life.
6.Ordered 50 copies of the New Testament to be written on the best
parchment.
7.Convinced the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D, which settled the question
of Christ’s deity.
8.Asked the council to settle the date of resurrection as Holy Day.
9.Established the city of Constantinople to remain as the capital for the
entire Eastern Christian world for 1000 years.
10.He moved the chief emperor’s capital to the East which had great
repercussion for western Christianity. Apart from all those things, he changed the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday. He built four churches namely: -
1. The church of Annuciation in Nazareth. The house of Joseph and Mary was changed into a church.
2. He built the church of Nativity in Bethlehem on the birth place of Jesus Christ.
3. He built a church in Christian colony which is called the church of the Holy Sephulchre on the way to the holy Sephulchre.
4. He built a church called the church of Helena on the Mount Olive in memory of his mother and also destroyed the heathen temples built by King Solomon, to please his heathen wives and built churches in that place called Baal Beck. So, what Emperor Constantine did for the Christianity, no other person would have done in the entire world. 168The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
NAMES OF GOD
ADONAI
- The Lord My Great Lord God is the Master and majestic Lord. God is our total authority.
EL
- The Strong One He is more powerful than any false god. God will overcome all obstacles. We can depend on God.
EL ELOHE YISRAEL
- God, the God of Israel The God of Israel is distinct and separate from all false gods of the world.
EL ELYON
- The God Most High He is the Sovereign God in whom we can put our trust. El Elyon has supremacy over all false gods.
ELOHIM
– The All-Powerful One Creator God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. God knows all, creates all, and is everywhere at all times. The plural of “El”.
EL OLAM
- The Eternal God. The Everlasting God He is the Beginning and the End, the One who works his purposes throughout the ages. He gives strength to the weary
EL ROI
- The God Who Sees Me There are no circumstances in our lives that escape his fatherly awareness and care. God knows us and our troubles.
EL SHADDAI
- The All Sufficient One, God isMountains, God Almighty The God is the all-sufficient source of all of our blessings. God is all- powerful. Our problems are not too big for God to handle. 169The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
IMMANUEL
- God with Us “I AM” Jesus is God in our midst. In him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.
JEHOVAH
- “I AM,” The One Who Is The Self-Existent One God never changes. His promises never fail. When we are faithless, he is faithful. We need to obey him.
JEHOVAH-JIREH
- The Lord Will Provide Just as God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac, He provided His son Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. God will meet all our needs.
JEHOVAH MEKADDISHKEM
- The Lord Who Sanctifies God sets us apart as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, holy unto God, a people of his own. He cleanses our sin and helps us mature.
JEHOVAH-NISSI
- The Lord Is My Banner God gives us victory against the flesh, the world and the devil. Our battles are His battles of light against darkness and good against evil.
JEHOVAH-RAPHA
The Lord Who Heals God has provided the final cure for spiritual, physical, and emotional sickness in Jesus Christ. God can heal us.
JEHOVAH-ROHI
- The Lord Is My Shepherd The Lord protects, provides, directs, leads, and cares for his people. God tenderly takes care of us as a strong and patient shepherd.
JEHOVAH- SABAOTH
The Lord of Hosts The Lord of Armies The Lord of the hosts of heaven will always fulfill his purposes, even when the hosts of his earthly people fail. 170The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
JEHOVAH- SHALOM
The Lord Is Peace God defeats our enemies to bring us peace. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. God brings inner peace and harmony.
JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH
- The Lord Is There the Lord My Companion God’s presence is not limited or contained in the tabernacle or temple, but is accessible to all who love and obey him.
JEHOVAH- TSIDKENU
- The Lord Our Righteousness Jesus is the King who would come from David’s line, and is the one who imparts his righteousness to us.
YAH, OR JAH
“I AM,” The One Who Is the Self-Existent One God never changes. His promises never fail. When we are faithless, he is faithful. God promises his continuing presence.
YHWH
- “I AM,” The One Who Is the Self-Existent One God never changes. His promises never fail. When we are faithless. He is faithful 171The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
JESUS and the Names of GOD
The New Testament alludes to Jesus’ divine nature by comparing Jesus to several names and attributes used for God. Here are a few examples of Jesus being compared to God.
JESUS IS GOD
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”—John 1:1
JESUS IS ONE WITH GOD
Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”—John 10:30
JESUS IS ETERNAL
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” —Revelation 1:17
JESUS IS OMNIPRESENT
Omnipresent means “present everywhere” “And God placed all things under his [Christ’s] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”—Ephesians 1:22-23
JESUS IS OMNISCIENT
Omniscient means “all-knowing” Peter said, “Lord, you know all things ... “—John 21:17
JESUS IS LIFE GIVING
“In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
John 1:4 172The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
JESUS IS EL OLAM
The Beginning and the End: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”—Revelation 22:13
JESUS IS YHWH-JIREH
The Lord will Provide: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
JESUS IS YHWH-ROHI
The Lord is my Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
JESUS IS YHWH-TSIDKENU
The Lord is Righteousness: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God-2
Corinthians 5:21
JESUS IS YHWH-RAPHA
The Lord Who Heals: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”-1 Peter 2:24
JESUS IS EL SHADDAI The All
Sufficient One: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”-2 Cor 12:9 JESUS IS IMMANUEL God with Us: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).”—Matthew 1:23
JESUS IS YHWH-SHALOM
The Lord is Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
John 14:27 173The Mysteries of the Mysterious God
The Mysteries of the Mysterious God The Mysteries of the Mysterious God