This is a facinating and well documented historical account of the trials, conflict and survival of Christianity in the first four centruries after the ressurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The title would be more accurate if it were "when Jesus was accepted as God," or "When true Chistianity was defined and all heresy rejected." The current title implies that it was an action of one man - Emperor Constantine - as some today beleive, to "declare" Jesus is God. However, the book makes it relativley clear that the diciples, the apostles and the believers who walked with Jesus Christ believed Him to be God although the pendelum of belief swung back and fourth in the battle between Athanasius and his followers and Arius and his followers. The battle to repel the supporters of the archetypical Arian heresy raged with each new Cesar that followed in the East and the West or assention of a new Roman emporer and is well documented. With Constantine's Coucnil of Nicea Jesus was recognized as God in the flesh and it was first put into written words.. Subsequent councils in the period stated He as fully God and fully man. However, it was not until the time of Theodosius (389)that Arianism was officially and finally banned. The movement begun by Constantine had come full circle after much Christian turmoil and Christianity as we know it today - defined God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) - was declared the official religeon of the Roman empire. All else was declared and remains hertical.Read full review
It is interesting to read this information from someone with a Jewish perspective.
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Excellent read
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Food for thought!
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