Page 23 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

Nicaea to Chalcedon (325-451)

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We learned that the church in the 2 and 3 centuries endured great persecution from Rome. Thousands were
burned, eaten alive, crucified, tortured and put to death because they would not worship Caesar as God.

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During the last great persecution of the 2 century (cir. 303 AD) Diocletian killed thousands of Christians.
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However, some believers under threat of death recanted and were called Tratatore or lapsi. Diocletian even
forced his Christian wife and daughter to recant their faith.

After the persecution ceased, the question arose of what to do with those who had recanted
their faith, but wanted to come back to worship Christ in the church. Whether to allow them
back or not became known as the Donatist Controversy. Some African churches,
championed by Augustine, believed lapsi should be allowed back into fellowship since they
believed the pureness and validity of the church depended upon the person of Jesus Christ
and His forgiveness. However, Donatists, such as Petilianus, rejected this idea and believed
only that the church could consist only of saints not sinners (we will learn more of this
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later).

When Diocletian died, his assistant emperor’s sons battled one another to ascend to the
throne. Constantine (controller of Britain and Gaul (France)) and Maxentius (controller of
Italy and Rome) fought the final Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD). The evening before the battle, Constantine
marched toward Rome and saw a cross of light above the sun with the words, “Hoc Signo Vinces” which means,
“By this sign thou shalt conquer.” Constantine believed the Christian God must be very powerful so decided
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to declare himself a follower of Christ.

In spite of the fact that Maxentius had overwhelming odds in troops and position, He was defeated and the
entire empire came under Constantine’s power. The Church which had been tried by fire was now to be tried by
favor.

In February, 313 AD, Constantine wrote the Edict of Milan, officially recognizing Christianity as an acceptable
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faith. Basically it permanently established religious toleration for Christianity within the Roman Empire. The
proclamation granted all persons freedom to worship whatever deity they pleased, assured Christians of legal
rights, including the right to organize churches, and directed the prompt return to Christians of confiscated
property. It was a day of rejoicing among all believers in Christ.

12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsi
13 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petilianus
14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_hoc_signo_vinces
15 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Edict-of-Milan
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