CHURCH IN THE AGE OF CONSTANTINE: THE THEOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

In the Age of Constantine Christians experienced for the first time official recognition and support. The Roman Empire used religion not only as cement to unite its different populations, but as a means to win divine favor as well. When this mechanism was threatened by doctrinal dissensions or regional rivalries, the Emperor would intervene contributing to the supremacy of one persuasion. In the 20th century European Christianity lost its dominant position. Critics, seeing dominance as foreign to the Gospel's nature, blame the Constantinian Age as a time of error and fall. However, African and Asian Christians are fascinated by its successful inculturation. Such discussions demand examination and Roldanus provides a refined theological screening of the doctrinal and ethical thinking during the fourth century. Roldanus uses the concept of "contextualization" to appreciate this process. He makes clear that, however much the winning positions were dependent on the interfering of the State, the theological reflection went nevertheless its proper way, conditioned as it was by various understandings of salvation-in-Christ. There was a natural concern to relate salvation to the most important elements of the existing culture. This study aims to help students and interested lay-people to focus on the essentials and to form and unprejudiced opinion on this crucial period of history.