Comments on: Welcome to Fourth-Century Christianity

By: GlenThompson

GlenThompson — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:48:08 +0000

In reply to David Laughlin. David: In recent decades it has often been claimed that Constantine influenced the council to adopt a specific canon of the New Testament. This is based loosely on a letter in which Constantine asks Eusebius of Caesarea to prepare 50 luxury copies of the Holy Scriptures (τῶν θείων γραφῶν) for the expanding church in his new capital of Constantinople. Eusebius puts this letter in book 4, a sort of appendix to his imperial biography, together with other letters showing the emperor’s concern for the church, thus making it difficult to date. However, since the letter confirms that the new capital was expanding rapidly, the letter must surely date to several years after its dedication in 330. It also makes no specific mention to the New Testament or any canonical issues, or to Nicaea. Socrates Scholasticus, compiling his Church History a century later, placed the letter immediately after the four letters of Constantine from the end of the council (Doks. 25, 28-30) with the simple heading “Another letter.” This apparently opened the door for the false claims that the council discussed and decided the New Testament canon with Constantine’s input. There is nothing in the ancient sources to support this. The later letter with the incipit Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν is preserved in Eusebius, Vita Constantini 4.36. from there it was copied into Socrates HE 1.9; Theodoret, HE 1.16.1-4; Anonymous Church History 3.4.1-5; Nicephorus HE 8.27; and Cassiodorus Hist. Tripartita 2.16.1-5. GLT

By: David Laughlin

David Laughlin — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 21:21:09 +0000

I’m looking for documentation that Constantine did NOT choose or dictate the books to go inside the NT – that he was only really interested in solving the arguments and disputes that the various bishops were having with each other over different doctrinal understandings.
My understanding is that Constantine was using the Church to bring peace to his new kingdom now consisting of both the East and West parts of the Roman Empire. So, he saw this new unpopular faith as a way to help him with bring both parts of the Roman empire into one faith would help him unite his “new” kingdom.
Any new understandings or help would be greatly appreciated.

By: Austin Claflin

Austin Claflin — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:44:42 +0000

In reply to Alistair C Stewart.

Thank you for pointing this out to us! A note has been added, and we have included a link to your article addressing this issue.
Regards,
The Fourth Century team

By: Austin Claflin

Austin Claflin — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:35:37 +0000

In reply to Stephen Kolenic.

Hi Stephen,
Thank you for pointing out the typo to us. It has been fixed.
Regards,
The Fourth Century team

By: Stephen Kolenic

Stephen Kolenic — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 05:10:10 +0000

Thank you for this excellent historical information.

Please change the following
https://www.fourthcentury.com/urkunde-20/
Sometime at the end of 324 or very early in 325, Emperor Constantine sent a letter throughout the EMPIRE (not emperor), summoning church leaders everywhere to a council at Ancyra.

By: Alistair C Stewart

Alistair C Stewart — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:15:24 +0000

I have long been a fan of your site. Having recently returned to teaching in semi-retirement I am more grateful than ever.

I’m sorry that it has taken a picky comment to get me to thank you. However, I note that under Alexander of Alexandria the homily on Soul and body is listed. Although it is attributed to Alexnder in the Syriac version (and, as you correctly note, to Athanasius in the longer Coptic version) it is now widely believed (a position accepted by Melito scholars) to have been the work of Melito of Sardis. Unfortunately the mammoth Habilitationsschrift of Gregor Wurst demonstrating this is unpublished.

By: Austin Claflin

Austin Claflin — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:32:45 +0000

In reply to Steve Morrison.

Steve,
Thank you for pointing out those typos to us! They have all been updated per your suggestions.
Regards,
Fourth Century Team

By: Steve Morrison

Steve Morrison — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 23:02:53 +0000

One more small typo on Marcellus of Ancyra
Change “heaven an things on earth” to “heaven and things on earth”

By: Steve Morrison

Steve Morrison — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 20:21:27 +0000

I really appreciate the info you provide.
However, on the Marcellus of Ancyra fragments I found a number of insignificant typos. You can fix them and then delete this comment
from “hims” to “desire him”
from “must have know” to “must have known”
from “compostion” to “composition”
from “the the statement” to “then the statement”
from “he is sill willing” to “he is still willing”
from “Pr 8:28-30” to “Pro 8:28-30” (You have “Pro” everywhere else, though “Prov” is more standard)
from “having giving little thought” to “having given little thought”

By: Ian Beck

Ian Beck — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:01:53 +0000

In reply to Steven Dapra.

Steven,

We went ahead and removed the faulty link and will work on creating a functioning one

Thanks.
Fourth Century Team