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Joe Carstairs
2025-12-11 13:43:17 +00:00
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website/src/content/blog/2025/12/11/persecution.md
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@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ pubDate: 2025-12-11
In the year 325, Constantine stood before an assembly of Christian bishops. He In the year 325, Constantine stood before an assembly of Christian bishops. He
had just the year before killed his last remaining rival in battle, leaving him had just the year before killed his last remaining rival in battle, leaving him
as the sole Augustus of the Roman Empire, from Brittania to Arabia. Many of the as the sole Augustus of the Roman Empire, from Brittania to Arabia. The bishops
bishops assembled before him in reverent awe sported scars from torture they had must have assembled before him in reverent awe.
endured in the reign of Diocletian, Constantine's predecessor. Diocletian had
sponsored an enormous and brutal persecution of Christians. But that generation Many of them sported scars from torture they had endured in the reign of
of bishops were witnessing an epochal shift of power. Over his reign, Diocletian, Constantine's predecessor. Diocletian had sponsored an enormous and
Constantine would divert large chunks of the wealth and influence of the Roman brutal persecution of Christians. But that generation of bishops was witnessing
state into the safe-keeping of the bishops. Under Constantine's leadership, the an epochal shift of power. Over his reign, Constantine would divert large chunks
bishops would be transformed from enemies of the state to the state's agents. of the wealth and influence of the Roman state into the safe-keeping of the
bishops. Under Constantine's leadership, the bishops would be transformed from
enemies of the state to the state's agents.
Official Roman persecution of Christians was decisively coming to an end. But Official Roman persecution of Christians was decisively coming to an end. But
the tragedy of the fourth century is that rather than ushering in a new age of the tragedy of the fourth century is that rather than ushering in a new age of
@@ -38,11 +40,10 @@ emperors.
The bishops were already in control of an impressive poor-relief system within The bishops were already in control of an impressive poor-relief system within
Christian communities, and, unlike the Roman system, which rewarded rich Christian communities, and, unlike the Roman system, which rewarded rich
philanthropists with honours, the Christian system encouraged patrons to give philanthropists with honours, the Christian system encouraged patrons to give
anonymously via their bishop, meaning the bishops were in control of how anonymously via their bishop, meaning the bishops were in control of how large
alms-money was spent. Some historians think of early bishops playing a social amounts of Christian money was spent. When Constantine ascended, they were ready
role rather like bankers in their communities. When Constantine ascended, they to go with their own bureaucratic systems independent of the imperial civil
were ready to go with their own bureaucratic systems independent of the imperial service.
civil service.
Constantine may have regarded the bishops, fresh out of persecution, as less Constantine may have regarded the bishops, fresh out of persecution, as less
corrupt than imperial pen-pushers. However, in the long run, the effect of his corrupt than imperial pen-pushers. However, in the long run, the effect of his
@@ -53,20 +54,29 @@ into persecution?
As the bishops became ever more powerful, Constantine and his successors became As the bishops became ever more powerful, Constantine and his successors became
increasingly dependent on their power. Bishops had huge moral influence over increasingly dependent on their power. Bishops had huge moral influence over
their congregations, and their word had the power to stop -- or start -- riots. their congregations, and their word had the power to stop -- or start -- riots.
They also needed them to keep distributing poor relief on the emperor's behalf, Emperors also needed them to keep distributing poor relief, an important
an important foundation for the emperor's moral authority. When the hugely foundation for the emperor's moral authority. When the hugely unpopular George
unpopular George of Cappadocia was installed in Alexandria in 357, the local of Cappadocia was installed in Alexandria in 357, the local widows refused to
widows refused to receive alms from him: as a result, they were physically receive alms from him: as a result, they were physically beaten by George's
beaten by George's imperial goons. Since the emperors needed the bishops' imperial goons.
support, they became increasingly willing to acquiesce to their demands. And one
of the bishops' demands was that the emperor use his authority to help them Since the emperors needed the bishops' support, they became increasingly willing
crush heresy. to acquiesce to their demands. And one of the bishops' demands was that the
emperor use his authority to help them crush heresy.
The bishops of the fourth century inherited a dichotomy between orthodoxy and The bishops of the fourth century inherited a dichotomy between orthodoxy and
heresy which had developed in the early church. Orthodoxy meant true belief, heresy which had developed in the early church. Orthodoxy meant true belief,
defined and enforced by the bishop. Whoever promoted false beliefs, and together defined and enforced by the bishop. Whoever promoted false beliefs, and together
with it insurrection against the bishop's authority, was defined as a heretic. with it insurrection against the bishop's authority, was defined as a heretic.
Orthodoxy was conceived of as the unchanging teaching of the apostles, who were
in turn taught directly by the Holy Spirit. Orthodoxy might have to be re-stated
as sneaky heretics sought to twist its language, but orthodoxy was never
supposed to be innovative: only heresy was innovative. Further, heresy was
always thought of as a combination teaching falsehoods, behaving immorally, and
refusing to take part in mainstream Christian community. It all came as a
package. Truth means right behaviour means loyalty.
It's difficult to explain exactly why this system emerged. It's true that faith It's difficult to explain exactly why this system emerged. It's true that faith
lies at the root of Christian religion, and that Christ taught that he is truth. lies at the root of Christian religion, and that Christ taught that he is truth.
The Epistles are clear that false teachings can be dangerous, and Christians The Epistles are clear that false teachings can be dangerous, and Christians
@@ -76,14 +86,18 @@ unchanging apostolic orthodox teaching should have prevailed over the idea that
Christian teaching can grow over time as it encounters new problems and Christian teaching can grow over time as it encounters new problems and
contexts. contexts.
This system may have been partly motivated by the need for a distinguishing This system may have been motivated by the need for a distinguishing feature to
feature for the Christian community in the absence of an identity based on ground Christian family identity in the absence of an identity based on
nationality, social class, sex, or religion. It may have been some kind of nationality, social class, sex, or religion. It may also have been some kind of
reaction or defence mechanism in the face of persecution. Whatever the case may reaction or defence mechanism against persecution. In a world that was often
be, the result by the Constantinian turning point was that bishops had hunting for an excuse to persecute Christians, it was a matter of life and death
significant influence over their local Christian communities, and an ideological that Christian communities were tight-knit, loyal to one another, and visibly
commitment to maintaining their communities' loyalty to the bishop and his living according to the highest moral standards.
teachings.
Whatever the case may be, the result by the Constantinian turning point was that
bishops had significant influence over their local Christian communities, and an
ideological commitment to maintaining their communities' loyalty to the bishop
and his teachings.
And the bishops' desire to crush heretics only increased as the fourth century And the bishops' desire to crush heretics only increased as the fourth century
wore on. With the wealth and power of the civil service increasingly transferred wore on. With the wealth and power of the civil service increasingly transferred
@@ -180,8 +194,7 @@ accept what they teach or to support their political programme.
Finally, established churches are vulnerable to the perverse incentive Finally, established churches are vulnerable to the perverse incentive
structures of the state, and must be disestablished. The Church of England structures of the state, and must be disestablished. The Church of England
should not have seats in the Lords, should not crown British monarchs and should should not have seats in the Lords and should not crown British monarchs.
not be exempt from taxation.
I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church -- but I do not believe in I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church -- but I do not believe in
one opinion or one authority. My realistic ideal of church unity now involves a one opinion or one authority. My realistic ideal of church unity now involves a