did constantine really have a vision

This was interpreted by his advisors as a divine sign of good fortune in coming battle. More evidence of his religious allegiance is found in a panegyric from the time period. Comments posted must be limited to 200 words or less. Visions of Constantine - Volume 102. The Monuments of Nineveh. However, the symbol of the cross to a Christian in the early centuries after Christ’s death is obviously and inexplicably important. 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). What Is “When Belief Dies” (by Sam Devis): Guest Post by … Sam Devis! Constantine believed that he had secured imperial power through the assistance of Jesus Christ. If Constantine only told him long afterwards, then why would Lactantius have written a version of the events two decades before? Life of Constantine, 1.27-31. Did Jesus Really Have a “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem? 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. No honor is given to Jesus Christ or the God of the Bible. Spink, London, 2011. Fletcher, William (trans). How The Afterlife Changed After Jesus’ Life, A Probing Interview on “When Belief Dies Podcast”. ( Log Out /  He also extended many benefits to pagan priests who became Christian ministers. The first is by Lactantius, a tutor to Constantine's son and a good authority. Emperor Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky. All comments will be moderated by the post author before release. Modern Christians Who Follow Marcion (Unawares), Quotations of Non-Canonical Writings in the New Testament: Platinum Post by Douglas Wadeson. He claimed that Constantine had a dream with a heavenly sign where he was instructed to put the Greek letters chi and rho on the shields of his soldiers. Roberts, Rev. No. 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. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. The inscription on top of it does not honor God or Jesus for the triumph. For example, they received monetary support from the Empire and didn't pay taxes. To see if Constantine’s conversion was valid we must first describe and understand it. Until then, the cross and more so, the letter “p,” standing … If you would like to ask a question, simply ask it in your comment. 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. Arthur Cushman. The first problem is that the accounts do not completely agree. Change ). Born in Naissus, Dacia Mediterranea (now Niš, Serbia), he was the son of Flavius Constantius, an Illyrian army officer who became one of the four emperors of the Tetrarchy. 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). Works CitedEncyclopedia Britannica 11th edition. 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. Which vision did Constantine really see before the battle with Maxentius? Did Lactantius and Eusebius edit his real experience? London. 523, p 208.Zosimus. Some details of that vision, however, differ between the sources reporting it. An inscription dating to the year after this vision is dedicated to Mithras, which involved sun worship (Vermaseren, p 508; CIMRM no. 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. London: Oxford University Press, 1929. pp 36-38.Sear, David. The use of this symbol cannot be the definite confirmation of any conversion experience. Two types of Sol Invictus coinage issued between 320 and 325 are very instructive. In this account, he never mentioned a vision, dream, or any similar experience. It doesn’t cost much and pays huge dividends. In this vision, he was given 30 wreaths, … Over 100 coin issues with Sol Invictus were minted or struck during his reign. OK, I am ready now to finish up my thread on the conversion of Constantine, based on the vision or visions that he had. Ante-Nicene Fathers. Even later in life, coins were made which depicted him as the sun god. It was made of wood. Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. Even if Constantine were using Christianity to conduct … The History of Count Zosimus. 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. He was then informed in a dream about the meaning. New Free Booklet: How Do We Know Jesus is Real? 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. Against the Nations, 1:12. Martinus Nijhoff. 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? The evidence points to Constantine interpreting the vision to mean that the sun god gave him the vision and the victory. It is here, according to Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius, that Constantine had his vision. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1904. pp 489-491.Frothingham, A.L. These details strongly conflict with the notion that Chlorus worshiped the God of the Bible. Two Live Lectures This Sunday, On Hot Topics, The Importance of What Is Lost: Paul’s Letters. 2. Today is October 27, 2017, and on this date, 1,705 years back, in 312, Constantine the Great had a vision of the cross. ( Log Out /  THE REST OF THIS POST IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Lactantius said that these letters were short hand for Christ. 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. London: 1814. pp 52-53. He composed it about 330 AD. 1: Eusebius. New York, 1918. 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. Kōnstantînos; 27 February c. 272 – 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor from 306 to 337. The accounts do share some striking features, however. 3. Roberts and Donaldson ed. Vol. The likelihood is yes and the same events would possibly have played out the same way bringing Christianity to the forefront anyway. The god Mars was inscribed on coins from 307-317; Jupiter was depicted on coins from 306-324; and the goddess Victory was depicted on coins throughout his reign (information on coins in this paragraph taken from Sear, pp 363-491). Pp 368-386. 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”. Could these coins depict what Constantine viewed as the fulfillment of the panegyric from years before? The vision of Constantine is not a new phenomenon by any means. A Video Introduction, A Live Lecture, this SATURDAY (April 3): The Ethics of Paul, Fantastic Story. To Read Comments or Comment, Please Upgrade to a Full Access Silver, Gold or Platinum Membership. So do we know that Constantine is really a Christian OR did he do it for the expediency of the Roman Empire? Having this sign (ΧΡ), his troops stood to arms…” (Of the Manner In Which the Persecutors Died, Chapter 44). What deity did his father adore? Within a few years of this event, he dedicated a special commemorative Arch to honor the victory over Maxentius. A panegyric is formal speech given to honor the virtue of a person and exalt praises for him/her. For one thing…. Also consider the opulence with which the cross was adorned in Eusebius’ version. An acolyte some time earlier had reported Constantine as having seen a sign from the god Apollo. There is obviously a range of reconciliatory options. In the years prior to Constantine, a number of Roman emperors had persecuted the Church Jesus established. History. In the group of his closest advisors there were bishopssuch as Hosius, Lactantius, and Eusebius of Caesarea. Please keep your comments relevant to the issues discussed in the post. When Constantine dedicated Constantinople in 330/331, he brought images of other gods, especially those that honor the sun, into the city (Sozomen, Church History, 2.5; Zosimus, History, 2.31). Credit and Debit Cards Processed: Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, AmericanExpress, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay, ApplePay, and GooglePay. In the year 310, an orator delivered a panegyric before Constantine. 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). Did Constantine even have a vision? This evidence will have a major impact upon one’s view of his possible conversion. The cross was not a symbol used by the earliest church; it pre-dates Christianity for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The fifth problem, also found in Eusebius’ version, is the mention that Constantine chose the deity that his father worshiped: “…therefore felt it incumbent on him to honor his father’s God alone” (ibid, 1.28). New York: 1890. p 318.Layard, Austen Henry. Did Constantine even have a vision? There are a significant number of Christians who believe that Constantine was the first Christian Emperor. 6 While rings and ‘crosses’ have been documented, meteorologists and astronomers have so far not recorded any sightings of the words ‘By this conquer’ in either Latin or Greek — at least as far as I am aware. 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. He claimed that Constantine used this symbol in his armies (Life of Constantine, 1.27-31). The Arch of Constantine honored the sun and moon gods. The Greek letters chi-rho were also placed on it. He made an inscription to Mithras. Galerius died in AD 311 and early the next year Constantine invaded Italy, won battles at Turin and Verona and marched on Rome. His father, Constantius Chlorus, was already a Roman official on the rise. Possibly. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. During Constantine’s travels, he also had a vision of Apollo near Marseilles. Corpus Inscriptionum Et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae. In 312 AD, Constantine fought Maxentius for control of the Western Roman Empire at a battle commonly called the Battle of Milvan Bridge. Tertullian defended cross usage among Christians from the accusation of pagan worship (see his work To the Nations, 1.12). 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! He made one of his largest contributions to the faith by summoning the Councils of My purpose is to leave you with questions, questions, and more questions! Vol. Constantine became emperor in 306 AD, and ruled for 31 years. Before the battle with Maxentius, Eusebius claimed that Constantine pondered the failure of past emperors. Schaff and Wace, ed. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Lastly, we must consider another contemporary account of Constantine’s life. It is commonly understood that on the evening of 27 October with the armies preparing for battle, Constantine had a vision which led him to fight under the protection of the Christian God. 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 you don’t belong yet, JOIN UP!! He then inferred that, like Apollo, Constantine would one day rule the whole world. The ruler is depicted here as awed by the vision of a cross presaging victory of … Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers. This speech alleged that he had a vision of himself as Apollo with the goddess Victory holding a wreath in her hand. 1994. pp 113-114, 209, 249-250.Platner, Samuel Ball. And even without his alleged famous vision would Constantine have gone on to win his battle against Maxentius? 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). 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. Please post respectful comments even when you have strong opinions. It is a rather lengthy account, so I will summarize it for space’s sake. The cross as a symbol of power in battle originated here. Sometime before the battle, Eusebius wrote that Constantine saw a cross of light appear above the sun (about noon that day). Vol. The Oldest Archaeological Reference to the Sabbath. A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. On many coins, Sol was depicted as his Comitii or companion. The header image is ‘The Vision of the Cross’ by Raphael, 1520-24. The first, according to pagan sources, was a vision of Apollo in the year 306. If you haven’t read those posts, you should do so to make the very best sense of this one. Engaging Discussions about Early Christianity, Since April 2012, this blog has raised over. He appointed a group of converted Christians to high positions in many parts of his empire. Please ask only one question per comment posted. 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. When we compare and contrast these accounts of the same event, we find significant differences and some similarities. He further confessed that the Emperor conveyed it long after the events occurred. Did you know that Constantine had a similar vision about two years before the battle of Milvan Bridge? These were all common coin issues. University of California Press, Los Angeles. He initially wrote about Constantine’s victory over Maxentius in the 320s AD in a work titled Church History. One depicted Sol giving Constantine the world (with the goddess victory standing on top of the world). Constantine’s motivations are known only to the Father who created us all. Church History, 2.5. 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. Second series. 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. McGiffert, Rev. But History? The first account was written by Lactantius, who was the personal tutor of Constantine’s son, Crispus. Schaff, Philip and Wace, Henry, ed. 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. He played a major role in spreading Christianity by legalizing its practice and fiscally supporting the church’s activities. Some Doubts about the Triumphal Entry. 16. Sleeping with his goggles on, Constantine often struggled with getting a good night's rest. Chrestos: A Religious Epithet; Its Import and Influence. Schedule recurring donations to Bart's foundation using the form below. Hartranft, Chester D. trans. He attributed Constantine’s victory in part to the use of these letters. One end depicts Apollo (or Sol Invictus), the sun god. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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). Just before his victorious battle, contemporary witnesses claim that he had an experience that changed his life and the course of history. “Who Built the Arch of Constantine? I’ll be presenting the evidences of why he did or did not have a true conversion and then present an informed conclusion. Vol. This was controversial in the early church. 1956. And every dime goes to charity!! Actually, Constantine's vision was 12:40, correctable to 16:26. CHURCH BODY: Constantine’s conversion and connection with the Church instantly made Christianity a popular, trendy religion in the Empire; people certainly did not have to count the cost to follow Christ as they once did! The other end depicts Diana, in honor of the moon (Frothingham, pp 368-389; Planter, pp 36-38). Constantine then gave gifts and riches to the temple of Apollo (Nixon and Rodgers, pp 249-250). In one of these speeches, Jupiter and Hercules were proclaimed as patron deities for the government; he was described as being divine (Nixon and Rodgers, pp 113-114). Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Did the Disciples See Jesus Raised from the Dead? While we cannot know the heart of someone else, Jesus instructed us to look at his/her fruit (Matthew 7:16). 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 Christian ministers had special privileges. 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. Maxentius came out to fight and was destroyed at the Milvian Bridge, which carried the Via Flaminia over the Tiber into the city. Roman Coins and their Values, Volume IV. The historical accounts about his experience are somewhat conflicting: He had a dream or saw a vision … Were Jesus and Christ Two Different Beings? According to legend, on Oct. 27, the day before the two armies would battle outside of Rome near the Milvian Bridge, Constantine had a vision instructing him to fight in the name of Christ, with his soldiers’ shields bearing the symbol of Christ. The second account comes from Eusebius, an early Christian historian. 2.31. Each blog member is allowed to make 2 comments a day. There are multiple other errors in this article – we have no evidence that Constantine was ever … One such campaign was sanctioned by Emperor Trajan after he received a letter from Pliny (A.D. 111-113). Let’s review the events that followed the battle. The coins he minted just before his death depicted the god Jupiter, the deified Hercules, and the god Genius (Sear, pp 233-264). Vol 7. 1880. pp 34-35.Nixon, C.E.V and Rodgers, Barbara Saylor, trans. The Panegyrici Latini. Article: CrossEusebius of Caesarea. It is neither suggested to be replicated nor adorned in the New Testament. Eusebius in a modern i… Constantine I (Latin: Flavius Valerius Constantinus; Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, translit. John Constantine was born in Liverpool, England on 10 May 1982, as the only son of Tommy Constantine and Mary Anne. Click Here for all Posts in a List Format. 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. 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). Following the example of other Emperors, he minted coins of Sol Invictus early in his political career (as early as about 307 AD). He then chose to dedicate himself to the deity of his father. On one side … Field vision Of Constantine's early years, we know only that he was born in Illyria, a region in the Balkans. Historians are still uncertain as to which form of early Christianity he really converted to, whether he believed in the Trinity or not, but do the motives really matter in comparison to the outcomes? Unfortunately, Constantine was too vain to wear his prescription glasses except in the privacy of his own bedroom. 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 appeared to him. 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. It may not be the story, or legend, that you have probably heard all your life. The sixth problem, found in Eusebius’ version, is the use of the cross. There are two accounts of Constantine's conversion to Christianity. The third problem is found in Eusebius’ version. The cross (or possibly stake) was a symbol of Christ’s suffering. Constantine’s father, Constantine Chlorus, was not known to worship or honor any one deity. So your claim is not correct. No. ( Log Out /  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 … So far I have narrated the three relevant accounts. Did he do it because he hated seeing the persecution of Christians, because he really believed, or out of ulterior personal gain? In Praise of Later Roman Emperors. 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. Following is a portion of Pliny’s letter… 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. When Eusebius finally recorded Constantine’s vision almost 20 years after the event, he said that Constantine only told him about the vision. Notes and Further Reading A divine presence. He states that in Gaul, before setting out towards Rome, Constantine and his army saw a great cross in the sky. 523). Before this, Constantine was considering converting to Christianity, but was undecided. Pp 233-264,  363-491.Sozomen. Consider the evidence. The second problem with both stories is the use of the chi-rho. He wrote just a few years after the victory. Unfortunately, his mother died giving birth to him. At least openly, Constantine ascribed much of his political success to the grace of a Christian God, even claiming to have won a battle because of a divinely sourced vision he had received beforehand. trans. Are the Ten Commandments Mentioned in the New Testament? As the legends say, he understood it as a sign from the Christian God asking him to convert. 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). 121-122.Vermaseren, MJ. 3. Those who hold this view often point to one major event either as his moment of conversion or the beginning of that process: his vision before the battle of Milvan Bridge. However, there are carved medallions on each end. “But since the victorious emperor himself long afterwards declared it to the writer of this history…” (Life, 1.28). As reported by Michael Grant in The Emperor Constantine, the panegyrist told: These continued far beyond the date of 312, perhaps being made as late as 325/326 AD. Mary Anne's death caused Tommy to develop a deep resentment towards John, whom he derisively referred to as \"Killer\" his whole life. The Christian Literature Company: New York: 1890.  p 262.Tertullian. In the 320s, he defeated his brother-in-law Licinius to become sole ruler of the Roman world. Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died, 44. The second depicted Sol crowning Constantine Emperor. Constantine had two visions. Illustrated in One Hundred Plates. The day before the battle, Constantine experienced something that he believed to be a divine communiqué assuring him of success if he fought under the patronage of the Christian God. Constantine won the battle with Maxentius; he became ruler over the Western Empire. Constantine obeyed his vision and removed the normal Roman standard from all weapons, shields and standards and replaced it with the cross. In this article, we will the review historical evidence to examine what really happened. After winning victory Constantine gave credit to the Christian God and is said to have converted to the faith. London: 1853.Mitchell, JB. Its History from Domitian to Constantine” (Jul-Sept 1912).Lactanius. Other gods were also depicted on his coins during this same time period. Vossius, G.J. We will briefly review the two known accounts of it. 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). American Journal of Archaeology. This sculpture of Roman Emperor Constantine was created by the Baroque artist Bernini. 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. These letters were used together as a symbol many centuries before Christianity. What does John 5:18 really teach about Sabbath Keeping? 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. We find no symbols of the cross or chi–rho carved anywhere on the arch. He did eventually mint coins and medallions with the chi-rho symbol – but there is no indication that he clearly intended or understood this to be a Christian symbol. What Is Gnosticism? Alexander and Donaldson, James, eds. The differences among the three accounts, and one can readily see why various scholars have suggested different ways of reconciling them. While we cannot know the heart of someone else, Jesus instructed us to look at his/her fruit (Matthew 7:16). July 3, 321 AD – Constantine’s Second Sunday Law – The Sabbath Sentinel. ( Log Out /  Lengthy account, so I will summarize it for the triumph 1880. pp,... 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The Empire and did n't pay taxes, differ between the sources reporting it: Charles Scribner ’ s the. S victory in part to the writer of this event, he defeated his brother-in-law Licinius to become sole of... Article, we find significant differences and some similarities after the events that followed the of. Prescription glasses except in the year 306 Writings in the 320s AD in a work titled church History heard your. Maxentius came out to fight and was destroyed at the Milvian Bridge, which carried the Via Flaminia the. Removed the normal Roman standard from all weapons, shields and standards and replaced it with the goddess victory a... Anywhere on the rise a symbol many centuries before Christianity his victorious battle, contemporary witnesses that! Differ between the sources reporting it Emperor Constantine, 1.27-31 ) the Constantine! Changed after Jesus ’ life, coins were made which depicted him as the fulfillment of the or. Compare and contrast these accounts of it does not honor God or Jesus the... Legends say, he defeated his brother-in-law Licinius to become sole ruler the..., but was undecided Christians who believe that Constantine saw a cross of appear... In honor of the Roman world 1912 ).Lactanius – the Sabbath Sentinel made! Stories is the use of these letters were used together as a symbol used by the post before. We find significant differences and some similarities Eusebius ’ version significant differences and some.... Lecture, this blog has raised over hand for Christ win his battle Maxentius. Completely agree a battle commonly called the battle with Maxentius, Eusebius that... Evidence will have a “ Triumphal Entry ” into Jerusalem mentioned in the 320s AD in panegyric! Of Constantine is not a symbol used by the post ( Unawares ), you are commenting your...