Constantine the Great

This video covers the life and reign of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. We look at Constantine's conversion at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, his attempts to bring Christian faith to Rome, and the complex nature of Constantine's faith.

My books (affiliate links):

[dlwatib]

Thanks for setting the record straight on Constantine's role during the Council of Nicaea, and the controversy that the council discussed. I frequently see accusations that Constantine imposed his will on the theology of the church and the canon at that council. As you say, Constantine unavoidably changed the church by making it legal, ending the persecutions and giving it his personal allegiance. But he didn't intentionally change the theology of the church or its writings. He didn't even try to exercise power to appoint bishops, as kings often try to do in subsequent ages.

[dlwatib]

I've always felt that Constantine's mother Helena must have been a closet Christian all along and must have raised Constantine in the faith. The vision at the Battle of Milvian Bridge then becomes a coming out of the closet for Constantine rather than a conversion out-of-the-blue to an unpopular and illegal religion that he knew nothing about and had no reason to favor. Certainly during Constantine's reign Helena enjoyed an exaggerated level of honor and privilege, and she used that position to build churches and shrines and promote the church in every way possible. For Helena, and apparently also for Constantine, Christianity was seen as their spiritual basis for assuming power, not just a cynical ploy to unite the empire under one religion as some historians assume. Helena had been been replaced as the wife of Constantius Chlorus, and Constantine had been officially passed over for the succession, but circumstances had allowed him to rise above that and assume power anyway. In his own mind he wasn't usurping power so much as taking on his God-given destiny. And that destiny-bestowing God was the Christian God, so He had to be properly acknowledged in public, which Constantine through his mother set about doing with conspicuous enthusiasm.

[ststrength]

Incredibly informative especially for the lay theologian like myself. Love this channel. Thank you Dr. Reeves.

[johnkim]

This lecture is truly a good simplified overview of the situation. Such leaves me to wonder what went on in the heads of the participants and actors of history. Of course, a lot of what really went on ends up to be speculation as we can't recreate history. But definitely a great lecture and one which I look towards as I continually study the later Early Church and it's penetration into government.

[johnechterhoff]

I am a Protestant and my wife Catholic, (a cradle Catholic she'll tell you) and both 64 y.o. My request to you sir is please explain St. Peter's role as the first Pope. You have enlightened me in "tons" of knowledge which I very much appreciate. I have studied both the OT and the NT and C.S. Lewis' writings...and believe. By 330 A.D. Peter should have already be dead (or killed). Thanks in advance for any clarification.

[petermaher]

When you said that Constantine entered Hagia Sofia, I'm guessing we're not talking about the 6th Century building?

[efsallenave]

Dr. Reeves, I'm learning a lot watching your lectures. Thank you very much. Your channel is amazing! Please, keep sharing your knowledge with us. Greetings from Brazil =)

[Randomoter]

I dig the tune you play in all the credits.

[keebiation]

Thank you so much for enlightening us with this amazing lecture series. Albeit; I've to point out two observations/reservations I have regarding this episode.
1) You mentioned that Constantine entered Hagia Sophia. (major)
2) In a map the Egyptian city of Alexandria is shown to be east of the Nile delta where in fact its west. (minor)
I've to add that I seldom comment on YouTube videos and wouldn't have commented if these lectures weren't so perfectly amazing so that's how I'd like them to be .
cordially;
a big fan

[DystopiaFatigue]

Dr. Reeves,

As a Catholic, I find your lectures, fascinating, as well as very fair to the Catholic Church. There seems to be no attempt to read history through your own faith tradition, but rather a straightforward presentation of the history of Christianity.

As regards Constantine, is there reliable evidence that his baptism by the Arian Bishop, Eusebius of Nicomedia, indicated his assent to the Arian heresy, or was it more a practical matter of just being baptized by his local Bishop.

There seems to be some considerable theological controversy about the validity of Conatantine's baptism, as well the nature of the relationship between Eusebius, and Constantia and Licinius. It's difficult to find an unbiased assessment.

Pax et Bonum.

[CivilDistribution]

Good stuff! Really enjoyed this video, most informative. :)

[abrotherinchrist]

To those who are given much, much will be required. Luke 12:48
I think it's clear that from evidence available to us Constantine was not a true follower of Yahshua. Evidence of syncretism was very prevalent in the culture (which is to be expected) and even encouraged by him. He did not make a full stand for Christ Yahshua and did not set a proper example as a leader by fully embracing the cross. He merely made so-called Christianity legal and adopted a SYMBOL (I don't see Christ or the apostles exhorting us to take on symbols like the pagans and heathen do and the Chi Rho is certainly worthy of suspicion IMO). Now I can't knock him for doing what he could and I can admire a person who does not legalistically force everyone to convert to Christianity (but then again is making a religion legal just another form of forced tolerance?), but I also don't see evidence of true discipleship (and perhaps this is because the church had already become corrupt to an extent). I believe this gave rise to the church becoming more infiltrated and influenced by pagan practices, which anyone with eyes to see can recognize the Catholic Church took up and ran with full force (Dagon, Ashereth/Ishtar, Isis/Osiris/Horus, Nimrod/Semiramis, Mithra, Apollo... yada yada you know the story), eventually making their false doctrines and idolatry a legalistic force in the world. Nowadays the RCC does not have the apparent power it did back then but Vatican 2.0 certainly has a lot of political influence and pull. All eyes are still on Rome, and Israel for that matter, but I won't start a rant about Zionists and Jesuits...

EDIT: You know, I do recall an instance where God used a symbol as a sign for me. I won't tell the whole story, but He used the trinity symbol (three interlocked rings - a symbol with pagan origins) to send me a sign at a time I most needed one. So I guess it is possible He does use symbols in this way. I shouldn't set limitations on what God will or will not do to reach someone, nor should I suppose that God does not use those who are not completely dedicated to Him. He does seem to use all thing for His glory.

[marshalldarcy]

How can any one talk of Constantin's conversion with out talking about Constantin's mother?
How can any one talk about the "favored of Diocletian" Constantin's estrangement from Diocletian with out talking about his most Christian mother?

[inwaldernochsogro]

Hey quick question, you mentioned in your video that Constantine attended mass in the Hagia Sophia, isn't that incorrect due to the fact that Constantine was born in 272 AD, and died in 337 AD, but the Hagia Sophia had been built around: 532 AD. So chronologically that wouldn't add up. Otherwise very informative video!

[Dawid_Chomej]

does somebody have tabs to the intro or at least know the name of that piece? Thanks

[eddievangundy]

believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church...

- Nicea, circa 381

[andreasvlamis]

If I may, at this video at 11:23 you say that what Constantine heard was Latin "In hoc signo vinces" but I was taught that what he heard was Greek "Εν Τούτο Νίκα". As a matter of a fact if you look at the top right of the painting you show depicting the fact it is painted! In fact some famous Latin sayings were said by the Romans in Greek but the Latin translation has become famous. Like "Alea iacta est" said by Caesar which was in fact "Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος" .

[rursus]

Nope. I cannot believe it. There's too much of teleology in the reflections about the changes in the church. Constantine did not foresee the rise of Christianity, Eusebius ascribed the "planned behavior" afterwards. The "church meeting" in Jerusalem could be fictional as well as describing a real meeting. While there is something true in the discourse, it is fallacious in that the history writing is not properly situated and explained isagogically, but instead described according to a post-hoc conceived purpose of the events.

[velociraptor]

This guy's presentations are awesome.

[Gatorsguy]

Dioceses aren't some great Roman political structures, they were only instituted by Diocletian, literally the guy you made the last video about and bear a cognate of his name. I'm glad we're getting more of out of the Roman history aspect and more into the Church history aspect be because you're great at theology and early church, but your Roman history could use a little more depth. Like how you mentioned the Senate being in full control of the Army in the Republican era unless they appointed a Dictator in times of crisis, which completely ignores the fact that the Republican era was defined by all kinds of executive powers elected by the people, like Consuls and Tribunes, for example. Also you disregarded the Roman monarchal period that led to their apprehension for leaving a single person in charge, that defined the Roman Republic prior to the late 2nd and 1st century B.C.. Not to mention you painted Julius Caesar as the guy who single handedly destroyed the Republic without a single mention of The Gracci brothers, Gaius Marius, or Sulla, that led to people being open to a man like Caesar ruling over them instead of the Oligarchy of the Senate.