Constantine The Greatest

He gazed upward to the sky—and there, emblazoned above the sun, stood a cross and this mighty creed, “In this sign, conquer.”

It is a well-known story, Constantine’s famous vision before he became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Most believe it to be the pinnacle of his dramatic conversion to Christianity—but was it?

At that time the empire’s Tetrarchy was quickly dissolving into a series of civil wars, with Constantine at the forefront. After winning a decisive victory at the Milvian Bridge, Constantine, surmising that the vision had been prophetic, went on to defeat his rivals one by one, attributing his conquests to God. But was Constantine’s life truly changed after his so-called conversion? Did his life speak of the almighty, merciful God?

As a self-proclaimed defender of the faith, Constantine instituted religious tolerance by the Edict of Milan, quelling the rage of Christian persecution. He also showered the Christian church with buildings, land, and employment. In his reign the church became rich, powerful, and protected. And while that may seem like a good thing, was it the will of God?

At the same time that the church began to succeed, it also began to be heavily influenced by its celebrated patron. Constantine’s favors vastly eliminated the separation of church and state, indebting the church to its earthly savior—himself.

While he claimed Christianity as his faith, he also propagated pagan religions. As a result, the religions of Christianity and paganism began to bleed into each other, mixing, melding, uniting. For example, in AD 321, Constantine enforced Sunday as the day of rest over the biblical Sabbath, paying homage to the Roman sun god.

Constantine was, above all, a politician. His conversion to Christianity was marked by a ruthless ascendance to the throne, all in the name of God. He had his firstborn son and second wife killed after rumors of infidelity, one by poisoning, the other in a vat of boiling water. He purposely declined to be baptized until he knew he was about to die, so as to be absolved of all the sins he believed he had to commit in order to sustain his position.

Was this a man whose heart had been touched by the grace of Christ? As he lay dying, did he feel remorse for his deeds? Was his true conversion actually on his deathbed? Only God knows.

Reflect: How do you know if you are truly converted? Do your actions have any part in it or are we saved only by grace through faith?

Key Bible Texts

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7:16 KJV)