God's Generals - Constantine

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT(died 337AD)

The greatest onslaught the church of God had ever faced took place during the reign of Emperor Diocletian(284-305AD) which was the final attempt to wipe away Christianity. Many believers were killed. It was around this time that the young Constantine rose to be one of the greatest Emperors of Rome.

Unlike the other God's Generals, Constantine was neither a Priest nor a Bishop. Constantine was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 AD. Later in his reign, he became a Christian but his allegiance to the Roman gods raised some doubts about his conversion. However, Constantine is historically referred to as the "first Christian Emperor" because of his great work in promoting the Christian faith.

Constantine declared that state sacrifices to the gods be discontinued. He gave the church a favored position in the city. He declared that all properties seized from Christians during the persecution be returned to them. He also enacted laws which introduced Christian morality to the state.

It was also forbidden to brand slaves in the face because "men were made in the image of God". He also abolished the crucifixion of slaves and he attempted stabilizing marriages by punishing sexual immorality. The church grew powerfully under the reign of Constantine. He promoted the publishing of more copies of the Scriptures and also more church buildings were erected.

Constantine died in 337AD as a baptized Christian amid universal grief. He was later accorded the highest tittle the "Great". At a time when the church of God was facing it's greatest attack from the Romans, God raised up Constantine as an Emperor to defend the church and promote the growth of the church of God.

Source: "70 Great Christians" Geoffrey Hanks