The BEMA Podcast 194: AD 300–500
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Nov 5, 2020 Dive into the 4th and 5th centuries, where Christendom takes shape amid political power plays. Discover Constantine's pivotal role in legalizing Christianity, allowing theological debates to flourish. Explore how Gentile inclusion transformed early Christian identity, raising deep philosophical questions. The emergence of ecumenical councils leads to critical discussions on Christ's nature. Finally, witness the decline of orthodoxy and the fall of the Roman Empire, setting the stage for the Byzantine rise.
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Understanding Christendom
- Christendom is the concept of church and world functioning as one unit, often seen as imperial Christianity.
- This Christian world order lasted dominantly in the West until the French Revolution.
Constantine's Vision and Conversion
- Constantine's vision of the Chi-Rho symbol before battle led to his victory and his embrace of Christianity.
- Historians debate if it was a true conversion or political strategy, or both combined.
Christianity's Legalization Effects
- Constantine legalized Christianity, but did not make it the state religion; that came later under Theodosius.
- Legal freedom ended persecutions but also shifted Christian focus toward theological disputes that emerged afterward.