Infallible Constantine?

The epigram to chapter 11 of Charles Freeman’s Closing of the Western Mind is from a letter of Constantine to the churches in Alexandria: “We have received from Divine Providence the supreme favor of being relieved of all error.”

The footnote leads to Ramsay Macmullen’s Christianity and Paganism in the Fourth to Eighth Centuries where Macmullen says that Constantine defied the Council of Elvira’s prohibition of images in church by erecting statues of “Jesus enthroned like a Roman magistrate” in San Giovanni in Laterno. “What could one do,” Macmullen asks, “with a man frank to acknowledge to the chief of his churches” that “we have received from Divine Providence . . . .”

Macmullen and Freeman both imply that Constantine was claiming this infallibility as a peculiar personal charism. The “we” is a royal we.

That’s not what he meant.

The letter from which the quotation comes was written in the aftermath of Nicea. It self-evidently celebrates the triumph of the church, and especially the bishops, over the errors of Arius. The infallibility, if it is claimed at all, is an infallibility that belongs to the church as a whole, and especially to bishops. The charism, if there is one, belongs to the bishops. As Constantine states: “that which has commended itself to the judgment of three hundred bishops cannot be other than the doctrine of God; seeing that the Holy Spirit dwelling in the minds of so many dignified persons has effectually enlightened them respecting the Divine will.”

In fact, it is not a claim to infallibility at all. It is a celebration of the fact that the church has, through the council of Nicea, been relieved of the “dissensions, schisms, tumults . . . deadly poisons of discord.” It is not a claim that the church is infallible in general, but that through the bishops assembled at Nicea God delivered the church from the very particular errors of Arianism.

The letter in full:

“Constantine Augustus, to the Catholic church of the Alexandrians. Beloved brethren, hail! We have received from Divine Providence the inestimable blessing of being relieved from all error, and united in the acknowledgment of one and the same faith. The devil will no longer have any power against us, since all that which he had malignantly devised for our destruction has been entirely overthrown from the foundations. The splendor of truth has dissipated at the command of God those dissensions, schisms, tumults and so to speak, deadly poisons of discord. Wherefore we all worship one true God, and believe that he is. But in order that this might be done, by divine admonition I assembled at the city of Nicaea most of the bishops; with whom I myself also, who am but one of you, and who rejoice exceedingly in being your fellow-servant, undertook the investigation of the truth. Accordingly, all points which seemed in consequence of ambiguity to furnish any pretext for dissension, have been discussed and accurately examined. And may the Divine Majesty pardon the fearful enormity of the blasphemies which some were shamelessly uttering concerning the mighty Saviour, our life and hope; declaring and confessing that they believe things contrary to the divinely inspired Scriptures. While more than three hundred bishops remarkable for their moderation and intellectual keenness, were unanimous in their confirmation of one and the same faith, which according to the truth and legitimate construction of the law of God can only be the faith; Arius alone beguiled by the subtlety of the devil was discovered to be the sole disseminator of this mischief, first among you, and afterward with unhallowed purposes among others also. Let us therefore embrace that doctrine which the Almighty has presented to us: let us return to our beloved brethren from whom an irreverent servant of the devil has separated us: let us go with all speed to the common body and our own natural members. For this is becoming your penetration, faith and sanctity; that since the error has been proved to be due to him who is an enemy to the truth, ye should return to the divine favor. For that which has commended itself to the judgment of three hundred bishops cannot be other than the doctrine of God; seeing that the Holy Spirit dwelling in the minds of so many dignified persons has effectually enlightened them respecting the Divine will. Wherefore let no one vacillate or linger, but let all with alacrity return to the undoubted path of duty; that when I shall arrive among you, which will be as soon as possible, I may with you return due thanks to God, the inspector of all things, for having revealed the pure faith, and restored to you that love for which ye have prayed. May God protect you, beloved brethren. ”

I don’t expect Charles Freeman to be fair to Constantine; he thinks he started a dark age. But I would have thought Ramsay Macmullen was more trustworthy.