The word "canon" comes from the Greek word kanōn, which means "rule" or "measuring stick". The word is first used by Church leaders in the 4th century to reference a body of sacred Scripture. The New Testament consists of 27 books and was a political choice made by Roman Authorities under Constantine to establish a universal or Catholic state religion. Prior to Constantine Christianity consisted of many different gospels, beliefs which Christian groups considered sacred. After the Council Of Nicaea, the Roman Church would systematically condemn all other gospels as heretical and attack their believers. 435
Rome established Christianity as a state religion in the Fourth Century. It was carefully crafted to govern the population of the Empire, and the Catholic Church would evolve to dominate European civilization. By the time we get to the medieval period, “religion” became deeply intertwined with daily life, with no distinction between religious, social, and political activities. The concept of “religion” as we understand it today is relatively recent, emerging only after the Protestant Reformation had effectively separated the Church from the State. Before this period, the idea of “religion” as a distinct category separate from other aspects of life did not really exist. In fact, many ancient languages, including Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, lacked a specific word equivalent to the modern term “religion.” Instead, they used terms that referred to practices, rituals, or duties. 412
In 306 AD Constantine the Great, became the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, he decriminalized Christian practices and ceased Christian persecution, in a period referred to as the Constantinian shift. He had a religeo-political ideology called Constantinianism, which called for the unity of Church and State, in simpler terms a "state religion". In 325 AD he called a council in the city of Nicaea, which brought together bishops from all over his Empire to resolve divisive issues and ensure a unified church which met his political necessities. This gave us the Nicene Creed, and firmly established the Universal Church of Rome. Universal or Catholic because this would unify the many different religions of his Empire, by combining aspects of all, into one. 386
DID YOU KNOW: that in 306 AD Constantine the Great, became the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, he decriminalized Christian practices and stopped its persecution. He had a political ideology called Constantinianism, which called for the unity of Church and State, one single "state religion." Universal or Catholic because it combined the many different religions of his Empire, and thereby solved many political problems. Familiar aspects would be, the Unknowable God and Trinity of the Greek Platonist's, Eternal life of the Egyptians, and many elements from both Roman and Greek religio-philosophy. It would have a Jewish back story and Messiah. One of the largest religions of his Empire was the Persian faith of Zoroaster, their priest were called Magi, the same wise men who followed a star to Bethlehem looking for a newborn king, and why the Book of Revelation was added to the Bible 70 years after the Council of Nicaea. 390
SHORT written-in-greek.mp4 RE LEGION versus Roman Legion On March 27, 47 B.C. Augustus Caesar conquers Egypt. Rome will then conquer the rest of the known world, and TAX it! That will upset a lot of Greek speaking people! Since Alexander the Great, for over 300 years, Egypt, Persia and Israel had enjoyed being Greek. In 66 C.E. the Jews led a revolt and occupied Jerusalem. In 70 C. E. the Romans reclaimed Jerusalem, kicked the Jews out, and destroyed the Second Temple. To control the New Greek Territories, Rome will establish a religion to make these new territories obey and love thy neighbor. A Roman Catholic, or Roman Universal faith will include Greek Platonism, Persian Zoroastrian, an afterlife for the Egyptians, and will be based on Jewish Scripture. The pen is truly mightier than the sword, re legion will win every time, and the truth will set you free.
