WEEKLY DEVOTIONALS – 2011
The Bible – Absolute Truth – Week 33 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. Romans 1:16
10 periods of persecution would take place in a 300 year period. After this time, a drastic and profound shift in civil governing transpired. In AD 312, Constantine experienced a spiritual awakening and acknowledged that God had blessed him. In his zeal to the vision, Constantine proceeded to "fight under the banner of Christ" and won the military battle that was a turning point in the history of Christianity. (See Halley's Bible Handbook, p. 759) It is said that Constantine would in every way grant his favor to Christians. He moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium (Istanbul) and called it:
Constantinople - New Rome - capital of the New Christian Church.
He had Bibles prepared under the direction of Eusebius. He made many reforms in favor of Christianity and morality. The Bible became center stage, and Constantine appointed Eusebius as chief religious advisor. Eusebius would research and write "Church History". His faithful research determined the authenticity of the 27 Books of the Inspired New Testament. Later, in AD 397, the Council of Carthage formally ratified the New Testament as the Inspired Word of God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER THIS WEEK
God is Sovereign in the affairs of man. The Bible is man's most precious instrument. Godly men and women gave their lives to preserve this Absolute Truth!!
- How precious is the Bible in your heart and home?
Sandy Davis, for the team at Women In Discipleship (sm) womenindiscipleship.org – P.O. Box 694, Goldenrod, FL, 32733 – (407) 325-2986
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