He wrote just a few years after the victory. And every dime goes to charity!! Even if Constantine were using Christianity to conduct … The evidence points to Constantine interpreting the vision to mean that the sun god gave him the vision and the victory. After winning victory Constantine gave credit to the Christian God and is said to have converted to the faith. New Free Booklet: How Do We Know Jesus is Real? Credit and Debit Cards Processed: Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, AmericanExpress, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay, ApplePay, and GooglePay. The Panegyrici Latini. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died, 44. For one thing…. The vision that Constantine claimed to have seen in the sky before the battle of the Milvian Bridge was apparently the second sign that he had seen in the sky. Before this, Constantine was considering converting to Christianity, but was undecided. Did Constantine even have a vision? He was then informed in a dream about the meaning. Did he do it because he hated seeing the persecution of Christians, because he really believed, or out of ulterior personal gain? Two Live Lectures This Sunday, On Hot Topics, The Importance of What Is Lost: Paul’s Letters. The chi-rho was used by the ancients to denote something excellent and was even used as a marker for important passages in manuscripts (Mitchell, pp 34-35).Picture #1: Ptolemy III with picture of Zeus on one side and on the other an eagle with chi-rho between its legs. Vol. Here is the account for students in Memoria Press’ Famous Men of Rome: One day, while he was in front of his tent with his offi cers and troops around him, he had a vision of an enormous cross of fire in the heavens. If Constantine only told him long afterwards, then why would Lactantius have written a version of the events two decades before? Lactantius said that these letters were short hand for Christ. Constantine’s Vision Accordingly Constantine called on him with earnest prayer to reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. Alexander and Donaldson, James, eds. This was controversial in the early church. Its History from Domitian to Constantine” (Jul-Sept 1912).Lactanius. To see if Constantine’s conversion was valid we must first describe and understand it. Even later in life, coins were made which depicted him as the sun god. Two types of Sol Invictus coinage issued between 320 and 325 are very instructive. Please keep your comments relevant to the issues discussed in the post. trans. Lactantius said that Constantine had a dream with the chi-rho alone, whereas Eusebius wrote that he had a daytime vision with an elaborate cross above the sun. Vol 7. Whenever Tommy came home from drinking, which John stated was \"every night\", he would physically abuse his son, reminding him that Mary Anne died because of him. Arthur Cushman. Pliny was a young lawyer and governor over the territory of Bithynia and Pontus, along the southern edge of the Black Sea where some in the Church had originally settled (1 Peter 1:1-2). On one side … The first account was written by Lactantius, who was the personal tutor of Constantine’s son, Crispus. It may not be the story, or legend, that you have probably heard all your life. The coins he minted just before his death depicted the god Jupiter, the deified Hercules, and the god Genius (Sear, pp 233-264). A panegyric is formal speech given to honor the virtue of a person and exalt praises for him/her. Chrestos: A Religious Epithet; Its Import and Influence. Some think he had just one vision, two years before the Battle at the Milvian Bridge (just before the panegyric of 310 CE), which at the time he took to be of Sol Invictus but later came to interpret as being instead a vision of Christ. When Eusebius finally recorded Constantine’s vision almost 20 years after the event, he said that Constantine only told him about the vision. It had an inscription attached to it: “Conquer by this.” He then wrote that Christ came to Constantine at night and instructed him to make a cross with a vertical spear, a gold bar horizontally across it and precious stones adorning the cross. During Constantine’s travels, he also had a vision of Apollo near Marseilles. Could these coins depict what Constantine viewed as the fulfillment of the panegyric from years before? Article: CrossEusebius of Caesarea. In this account, he never mentioned a vision, dream, or any similar experience. Did Lactantius and Eusebius edit his real experience? The second problem with both stories is the use of the chi-rho. The cross was not a symbol used by the earliest church; it pre-dates Christianity for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Unfortunately, Constantine was too vain to wear his prescription glasses except in the privacy of his own bedroom. Constantine had two visions. He made one of his largest contributions to the faith by summoning the Councils of According to tradition, just before the battle of the Milvian Bridge (Rome) in 312, he experienced a vision of a flaming cross with the inscription ”In his sign conquer”. He made an inscription to Mithras. What Is Gnosticism? Roberts and Donaldson ed. It doesn’t cost much and pays huge dividends. This was interpreted by his advisors as a divine sign of good fortune in coming battle. ( Log Out / The Christian ministers had special privileges. If you haven’t read those posts, you should do so to make the very best sense of this one. But History? Constantine’s father, Constantine Chlorus, was not known to worship or honor any one deity. Did you know that Constantine had a similar vision about two years before the battle of Milvan Bridge? He claimed that Constantine used this symbol in his armies (Life of Constantine, 1.27-31). The first is by Lactantius, a tutor to Constantine's son and a good authority. Constantine obeyed his vision and removed the normal Roman standard from all weapons, shields and standards and replaced it with the cross. It is here, according to Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius, that Constantine had his vision. London. Works CitedEncyclopedia Britannica 11th edition. Today is October 27, 2017, and on this date, 1,705 years back, in 312, Constantine the Great had a vision of the cross. He played a major role in spreading Christianity by legalizing its practice and fiscally supporting the church’s activities. Let’s review the events that followed the battle. As we consider the three accounts, Lactantius, Eusebius, and the panegyric, it seems that Constantine had a reputation for having visions (whether he had them or not). McGiffert, Rev. Some details of that vision, however, differ between the sources reporting it. Modern Christians Who Follow Marcion (Unawares), Quotations of Non-Canonical Writings in the New Testament: Platinum Post by Douglas Wadeson. At the other extreme of interpretation, others have argued that Constantine was simply a visionary and that he had lots of visions and dreams and sometimes muddled them all up. Just before his victorious battle, contemporary witnesses claim that he had an experience that changed his life and the course of history. He did as he had been commanded, and he marked on their shields the letter Χ, with a perpendicular line drawn through it and turned round thus at the top, being the cipher of Christ. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Constantine I (Latin: Flavius Valerius Constantinus; Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, translit. The Oldest Archaeological Reference to the Sabbath. The Christian Literature Company: New York: 1890. p 262.Tertullian. London: 1853.Mitchell, JB. The other end depicts Diana, in honor of the moon (Frothingham, pp 368-389; Planter, pp 36-38). Hartranft, Chester D. trans. THE REST OF THIS POST IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. The likelihood is yes and the same events would possibly have played out the same way bringing Christianity to the forefront anyway. The claim that the vision of Constantine was added 13 years after the battle and so is a rewriting of history ignores the fact that we also have an account of the vision in Lactantius *On the Deaths of the Persecutors* 44.5, which was written just after the Edict of Milan. Illustrated in One Hundred Plates. His father, Constantius Chlorus, was already a Roman official on the rise. He appointed a group of converted Christians to high positions in many parts of his empire. The conversion was the result of either a vision or a dream in which Christ directed him to fight under Christian standards, and his victory apparently assured Constantine in his faith in a new god. The Monuments of Nineveh. Other gods were also depicted on his coins during this same time period. 523). Maxentius came out to fight and was destroyed at the Milvian Bridge, which carried the Via Flaminia over the Tiber into the city. Fletcher, William (trans). Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. As the legends say, he understood it as a sign from the Christian God asking him to convert. He initially wrote about Constantine’s victory over Maxentius in the 320s AD in a work titled Church History. To Read Comments or Comment, Please Upgrade to a Full Access Silver, Gold or Platinum Membership. Comments posted must be limited to 200 words or less. Please post respectful comments even when you have strong opinions. If you don’t belong yet, JOIN UP!! American Journal of Archaeology. Actually, Constantine's vision was 12:40, correctable to 16:26. It is striking that Eusebius himself, in a speech praising Constantine near the end of his life, indicates that Constantine was a famous visionary, that he had “thousands” of visions along with “thousands” of dreams in which Christ … Did Jesus Really Have a “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem? In this view, at a still later date Constantine came to think that he had always understood it to be Christ and that, since the vision was so closely connected with his ultimate victory, he came to “remember” that it occurred the night before the battle. It was made of wood. How The Afterlife Changed After Jesus’ Life, A Probing Interview on “When Belief Dies Podcast”. Constantine believed that he would be awarded with unusual power, the support of a deity, and the greatest kingdom of the world if he followed through with the vision. Second series. Over 100 coin issues with Sol Invictus were minted or struck during his reign. Martinus Nijhoff. It is neither suggested to be replicated nor adorned in the New Testament. Each blog member is allowed to make 2 comments a day. July 3, 321 AD – Constantine’s Second Sunday Law – The Sabbath Sentinel. This sculpture of Roman Emperor Constantine was created by the Baroque artist Bernini. In Praise of Later Roman Emperors. Click Here for all Posts in a List Format. Following is a portion of Pliny’s letter… Did he really have a supernatural experience that led him to the God if Christianity or was this a contrived attempt to manipulate an empire? There are multiple other errors in this article – we have no evidence that Constantine was ever … ( Log Out / Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. What does John 5:18 really teach about Sabbath Keeping? If you would like to ask a question, simply ask it in your comment. Life of Constantine, 1.27-31. The vision of Constantine is not a new phenomenon by any means. The sixth problem, found in Eusebius’ version, is the use of the cross. Ten years later, perhaps, he may have come to see Christianity as a more powerful version of Sol worship – from the Sun God to the Son of God, we might say, in one easy step! OK, I am ready now to finish up my thread on the conversion of Constantine, based on the vision or visions that he had. It probably won't surprise you to learn that John and his father, Thomas Constantine, didn't really get along while John was growing up. Some Doubts about the Triumphal Entry. 2. However, there are carved medallions on each end. There is obviously a range of reconciliatory options. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Schedule recurring donations to Bart's foundation using the form below. If it was such an important part of Constantine’s life and the battle, then why did he leave it out of that work?The fourth problem is similar. The cross (or possibly stake) was a symbol of Christ’s suffering. He wrote: “Constantine was directed in a dream to cause the heavenly sign to be delineated on the shields of his soldiers, and so to proceed to battle. Pp 368-386. Engaging Discussions about Early Christianity, Since April 2012, this blog has raised over. An inscription dating to the year after this vision is dedicated to Mithras, which involved sun worship (Vermaseren, p 508; CIMRM no. The use of this symbol cannot be the definite confirmation of any conversion experience. Before the battle with Maxentius, Eusebius claimed that Constantine pondered the failure of past emperors. All comments will be moderated by the post author before release. Following the example of other Emperors, he minted coins of Sol Invictus early in his political career (as early as about 307 AD). We will briefly review the two known accounts of it. History. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Possibly. In the 320s, he defeated his brother-in-law Licinius to become sole ruler of the Roman world. Schaff, Philip and Wace, Henry, ed. According to some sources, on the evening of October 27, with the armies preparing for battle, Constantine had a vision of a cross, which led him to fight under the protection of the Christian god. Lastly, we must consider another contemporary account of Constantine’s life. It is entirely possible that Constantine could have seen a cross and chi-rho, but attributed the vision to the sun god (Apollo or Sol Invictus). These continued far beyond the date of 312, perhaps being made as late as 325/326 AD. Galerius died in AD 311 and early the next year Constantine invaded Italy, won battles at Turin and Verona and marched on Rome. Roman Coins and their Values, Volume IV. Also consider the opulence with which the cross was adorned in Eusebius’ version. Constantine experienced a dramatic event in 312 at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine claimed the emperorship in the west and converted to Christianity. More evidence of his religious allegiance is found in a panegyric from the time period. Notes and Further Reading Constantine then gave gifts and riches to the temple of Apollo (Nixon and Rodgers, pp 249-250). Were Jesus and Christ Two Different Beings? Corpus Inscriptionum Et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae. In this vision, he was given 30 wreaths, … However, the symbol of the cross to a Christian in the early centuries after Christ’s death is obviously and inexplicably important. London: Oxford University Press, 1929. pp 36-38.Sear, David. He further confessed that the Emperor conveyed it long after the events occurred. Right after his death, a panegyric was delivered that praised Chlorus for being “divine” and described him as being taken to heaven by the chariot of Sol, the sun god (ibid, 209). The second depicted Sol crowning Constantine Emperor. And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most extraordinary sign appeared to him from heaven – something which it might have been hard to believe had the story been told by any other person. Visions of Constantine - Volume 102. Constantine won the battle with Maxentius; he became ruler over the Western Empire. One depicted Sol giving Constantine the world (with the goddess victory standing on top of the world). The header image is ‘The Vision of the Cross’ by Raphael, 1520-24. One end depicts Apollo (or Sol Invictus), the sun god. Emperor Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky. Please ask only one question per comment posted. He states that in Gaul, before setting out towards Rome, Constantine and his army saw a great cross in the sky. No. Unfortunately, his mother died giving birth to him. The events leading up to the vision and just after it are recorded in his work The Life of Constantine (book 1, sections 27-31). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1904. pp 489-491.Frothingham, A.L. We find no symbols of the cross or chi–rho carved anywhere on the arch. ( Log Out / The Emperor Ptolemy III, who ruled Egypt from 246-225 BC, minted the Chi-Rho with the likeness of Zeus on some of his coins (picture of this coin below). 1880. pp 34-35.Nixon, C.E.V and Rodgers, Barbara Saylor, trans. Did the Disciples See Jesus Raised from the Dead? Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Tertullian defended cross usage among Christians from the accusation of pagan worship (see his work To the Nations, 1.12). Are the Ten Commandments Mentioned in the New Testament? A Video Introduction, A Live Lecture, this SATURDAY (April 3): The Ethics of Paul, Fantastic Story. When we compare and contrast these accounts of the same event, we find significant differences and some similarities. It is originally derived from pagan worship in Assyria and Babylon (for general information see: Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition article “Cross”; for Assyrian reference, see: Layard’s Nineveh Inscriptions plate 59; for cross usage with the god Tammuz, see the alabaster relief in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany). Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. It is entirely possible that Constantine could have seen a cross and chi-rho, but attributed the vision to the sun god (Apollo or Sol Invictus). The battle was one of a succession of victories that in AD 324 made Constantine master of the entire Roman Empire, but it is most famous for its link with his conversion to Christianity, which would prove to be one of the most important events in world history. As reported by Michael Grant in The Emperor Constantine, the panegyrist told: If Constantine had an experience with Jesus that changed his life and these symbols were part of it, then his behavior would bear witness to it. I’ll be presenting the evidences of why he did or did not have a true conversion and then present an informed conclusion. No. In the group of his closest advisors there were bishopssuch as Hosius, Lactantius, and Eusebius of Caesarea. ( Log Out / Constantine seems initially to have adopted the sun god Sol Invictus in the same way – especially after his supposed vision of Apollo in Gaul some time in AD309-310. The accounts do share some striking features, however. In this article, we will the review historical evidence to examine what really happened. To a Christian in the new Testament Constantine as having seen a sign from the Christian God him. However, the Importance of what is Lost: Paul ’ s conversion was valid we must consider another account. 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