The Imperial Church -- Constantine, Part 3 (The History of Christianity #82)

Our History of Christianity Scripture verse today is Psalm 37:37 which reads: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace."

Our History of Christianity quote today is from Joseph Addison. He said: "The Christian religion made its way through Paganism, unassisted by the force of human power, and as gentle as the triumphs of light over darkness."

Today, in the History of Christianity, we are looking at "The Imperial Church - Constantine" (Part 3) from Dr. Justo L. Gonzalez's fine book, The Story of Christianity (Volume 1).

"It may well have been during his campaign against Licinius that Constantine became aware of the strategic value of Byzantium. That city was at the very edge of Europe, where it almost touched Asia Minor. Thus, it could serve as a bridge between the European and the Asian portions of the empire. Furthermore, if properly fortified, Byzantium would control the Bosporus, through which all shipping had to pass in its way from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. A peace treaty made with Persia several decades earlier was about to expire, and the emperor felt the need to establish his headquarters near the Eastern border. But at the same time the Germanic tribes on the Rhine were always a threat, and therefore it would not be wise for the emperor to settle too far from the West. For all these reasons, Byzantium seemed the ideal location for the new capital. Constantine's choice - for which he took no credit, claiming that he was following instructions from God - proved to be most wise, for the city that he founded would play a strategic role for centuries to come."

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