Church-State Relations, A.D. 313-337

Abstract

T he fourth century witnessed a revolution in history of church results of which continue to be perplexing today. Between 313, date of Emperor Constantine's conversion, and 380, date of Theodosius's edict enforcing Catholic Chris tianity as religion of Roman Empire, momentous changes were set in motion. The church, which was at first under Constan tine a religious institution on equal footing with pagan cults, became under Theodosius preferred institution of Empire, a state church. This change was accomplished slowly and only after much experiment. Inextricable confusion marked its progress, for church and state lacked any thought-out policy for establishing their rela tions. W. Schneemelcher, in an important study, has warned that modern phrase the age is of doubtful value for understanding of fourth century.1 There was no such entity as a Constantinian State-Church in time of Constantine and his immediate successors. Such an entity did not fully materialize until 380s. In first half of fourth century church and state were feeling their way as state's ecclesiastical attitude changed and developed under successive emperors. The fourth century was dominated by Arian controversy, which went on for more than sixty years. This not only caused great difficulties for emperors, some of whom were uncertain which church party to support, but also for relations between Eastern and Western halves of Christendom. Arianism dealt a mor