Module 6: Constantine & Victory
Hi everyone, and welcome to the sixth module of the History of Christianity 1 Course. In this section, we'll be looking at a pivotal series of events for the early church, and the effects of these events for the following centuries.
This module will help you to understand not only the events surrounding the outward conversion of the Roman empire and the privileged place the church was given in that society, and the reasons for this. But in this module, you will also wrestle through what was beneficial about these events as well as the detrimental effects of this turning point in history. This module will introduce the short-term, and the more long-term effects, which will be explored in later modules. And the student will be given opportunity to process how these lessons can be applied to current social situations, by learning from their successes, as well as their failures.
The student will have opportunity to evaluate the longer-term effects of these movements, approaches, and practices, and the lessons that can be learned from the changes made by Constantine. This module will also aid the student to work through how the lessons learned are applicable in their own life and ministry.
Introductory Scenario
Imagine you just found out that you are the long-lost heir to the throne of a thriving country. You have a responsibility to rule wisely and in a godly manner. What kind of a leader would you aspire to be? What kind of laws would you pass? What principles and goals would inform how you ran the government? How would your Christian faith influence your approach to government? How would your government interact with the church? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.
Module Objectives and Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:
- Describe the history of the conversion of Constantine and its impact on Christianity in the Roman Empire.
- Articulate the evidence for and against Constantine's conversion being genuine.
- Describe both the positive and the negative outcomes of Christianity becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire.
- Evaluate the long-term impact of the changes after Constantine realistically in light of the options available at that time, and apply this evaluation to current situations.
- Articulate the lessons learned about the ideal state, ideal leader, and ideal church, and how those lessons can be applied.
- Place the major people and events from this period in a general chronology.
Instruction Guides
In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.
Textbook Content
In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 6. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.
This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the banner below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.
Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit
button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Lecture Content
In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Constantine & the Victory of Christianity module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each banner to open access to each video. There are also links with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.
Supplemental Reading
In this section, you'll find a link to the supplemental reading article on the historical relationship between the church and the state. Think through the content of this brief article and use the insight gained as part of the course material Response and Application Reflection or Discussion.
Reviews
In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 8. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.
Click the prev.
and next
buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.
Discussion/Reflection Questions
This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 6. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.
The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:
- Was Constantine's conversion good for the church? Why or why not?
- Should the church exercise political influence? Should the church accept political preference? Why or why not?
- What could have been done better? How?
- What else did you learn? How does it apply?
(Optional) Timeline - Part 6
This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Six of the Timeline should include the following information:
- Any significant events in the conversion and rule of Constantine, and how they impacted the church.
- Any other significant events in the life of the church in the transition to official religion of the Roman empire.
Annotate any significant approaches, ideas and principles from the church, which resulted from its new favored status in the Roman empire, and which are applicable to the current church and Christian life.
(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 6
This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Six of the Principles Chart will add any important principles noted from the conversion of Constantine and the resulting relationship between the church and the government, as well as the impact these issues had on the short-term and long-term health of the church and society, as well as the discussion about the ideal government, leadership, and church.
It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles
portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.
(Optional) Term Project - Research
The student will continue researching about their chosen topic for their term project. The student should read the research of reputable historians (hopefully at least some writing from a faithful Christian world view). But, as much as possible, the student should also read primary sources, to learn firsthand the views and experiences of the people involved in those things. The course textbook the course bibliography, the course lectures, and the primary resource reading lists are good places to start for finding quality resources. And the student should continue research, following where their research leads, and filling any gaps in their knowledge.
Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.
Primary Source Reading
This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.
The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:
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Edict of Toleration,Online: fourthcentury.com
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Edict of Milan,Online: fourthcentury.com
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The Life of Constantine,Print ISBN: 9781602065079, or 9781088165430Online: fordham.edu
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Oration in Praise of Constantine,Print ISBN: 9781602065079
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Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History - Book 9, ch. 9 - Book 10Print ISBN: : 978-1565638136, 978-0140445350, or 978-0825433078
Online : ccel.org, or Newadvent.org -
On the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died (ch. 44 covers Constantine's conversion),
Review Quiz
This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 6. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit
button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.
Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Module Completed!
Congratulations, you have reached the end of the sixth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.
I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 7.
