Constantine The Great's Influence To Christians In Ancient Rome

Constantine the Great is arguably the most pivotal figure in the history of Christendom. Constantine was the first Roman emperor to publicly state his Christianity, as a result he granted religious freedom to all, he granted bishops a status equal to senators, in effect making them officers of the state. 1 Constantine also financed new copies of the Bible, used Christian symbols on his currency, introduced Christian ideals into the Roman statutes to protect children, slaves, and prisoners; and declared Sunday a day of rest replacing the weekly celebration of the mythological god Mithras 2. However despite public confession of his faith, and the benefits he extended to Christians in ancient Rome, was Constantine actually a Christian, or
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2 While Constantine was still a young boy, he was assigned to military service in the Eastern court under the tutelage of Diocletian. As Constantine rose in rank, he also served under Galerius in the Persian war(3). In 305, the Emperors Diocletian and Maximinius abdicated, and were succeeded by Constantine’s father, Constantius Chlorus and Galerius. Constantine fled from the command of Galerius evading pursuit by freeing the platoons horses(4). Constantine then traveled across Europe, and reunited with Constantinus crossing over to Britain to repel an invasion of the Scots(5). After gaining the victory in that campaign, Constantinus died on July 25, 306, Constantine fought so valiantly, the Roman army recommended his promotion to the rank of Augustus which meant that Constantine was now in charge of the army(6). Aside from being a shrewd military officer, Constantine was also ambitious; he requested recognition as Caesar, a request that was granted; Constantine even had currency made in his image with the Latin phrase “princeps iuventutis”, the “Prince of Youth”(7). As Caesar, Constantine won victories against the Franks and reorganized the defense of the Rhine by building a bridge at Cologne. However Constantine had opposition on the horizon in Rome, as Maxentius, supported by his father Maximianus led to the defeat and
Constantine won the battle and control of the West. As he triumphantly entered Rome, it was payoff time for the Christians who helped him secure his victory(31). The customary tributes to the pagan gods of Rome were deleted; the Christian GOD who delivered him in battle was now protector of the Roman empire, and Constantine was now championing the growing but still minority cause of Christianity with his own mission of reform(32). Constantine was extremely cautious in how he presented his new allegiance with Christianity. He accepted the pagan title of Pontifex Maximus, and his currency still showed emblems of the sun-god(33). Now Constantine declared himself a Christian, but his actions contradicted that declaration. If he accepted a pagan title and still displayed the sun-god on his currency, in whom was his faith and loyalty really placed?. In a meeting in Milan in 313(34), it is widely reported that Constantine and Lincinius, the emperor of the East reached an agreement about the treatment of Christians known as the Edict of Milan; this edict granted freedom of worship to all religions, giving Christianity full legal equality with other cults and restored Christian property confiscated during the persecution(35). However this