Rethinking Constantine: History, Theology, and Legacy

by Edward L Smither (Editor)

Overview

Constantine's life - his career, faith and relationship to the church - raises questions for Christians and for historians that cannot be ignored. Scholars continue to be intrigued with Constantine the man, the influence he wielded over the church and the paradigm that he introduced for church-state relations. Seventeen hundred years after Constantine's victory at Milvian Bridge, Rethinking Constantine reinvigorates the conversation and examines the historical sources that inform our picture of Constantine, the theological developments that occurred in the wake of his rise to power and the aspects of Constantine's legacy that have shaped church history. Rethinking Constantine reassesses our picture of Constantine through careful historicalenquiry within the scope of the early Christian period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780227174623
Publisher:	James Clarke & Co
Publication date:	08/28/2014
Pages:	178
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

Edward L. Smither (PhD, University of Wales-Trinity St. David; PhD, University of Pretoria) is Professor of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University, the author of Augustine as Mentor: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders and Brazilian Evangelical Missions in the Arab World, and translator of Francois Decret's Early Christianity in North Africa.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations List of Contributors Introduction -Edward L. Smither 1 From Sinner to Saint? Seeking a Consistent Constantine -Glen L.Thompson 2 Lactantius as Architect of a Constantinian and Christian "Victory over the Empire" -W. Brian Shelton 3 Rethinking Constantine's Interaction with the North African "Donatist" Schism -David C. Alexander 4 Reevaluating Constantine's Legacy in Trinitarian Orthodoxy: New Evidence from Eusebius of Caesarea's Commentary on Isaiah -Jonathan J. Armstrong 5 Constantine, Sabbath-Keeping, and Sunday Observance -Paul A. Hartog 6 Did the Rise of Constantine Mean the End of Christian Mission? -Edward L. Smither Epilogue -Bryan M. Litfin Bibliography Index Abbreviations List of Contributors Introduction -Edward L. Smither 1 From Sinner to Saint? Seeking a Consistent Constantine -Glen L.Thompson 2 Lactantius as Architect of a Constantinian and Christian Victory over the Empire -W. Brian Shelton 3 Rethinking Constantine's Interaction with the North African Donatist Schism -David C. Alexander 4 Reevaluating Constantine's Legacy in Trinitarian Orthodoxy: New Evidence from Eusebius of Caesarea's Commentary on Isaiah -Jonathan J. Armstrong 5 Constantine, Sabbath-Keeping, and Sunday Observance -Paul A. Hartog 6 Did the Rise of Constantine Mean the End of Christian Mission? -Edward L. Smither Epilogue -Bryan M. Litfin Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

"It will surely be of good use to you all.", Adolf Martin Ritter, Theologische Literaturzeitung , Vol. 141, No. 7/8, July/August 2016 "This insightful book contains seven essays by scholars who compare and contrast existing knowledge about Emperor Constantine with their original research findings. Their more authentic portrayal of this emperor treats him as a most powerful person in the Roman military, politics and governance. Yet, he faced many theological and doctrinal challenges that he found hard to comprehend and manage."-Daniel Jeyaraj, Theological Book Review, Vol. 26 No.2, 2016It will surely be of good use to you all."-Adolf Martin Ritter, Theologische Literaturzeitung , Vol. 141, No. 7/8, July/August 2016

From the Publisher