Dr. David Gwynn

That's an amazing stat right there. I mean, it's supercharged on steroids. Exactly. I mean, it should be said... The fact that Christians actually got from nought to six million in the first 300 years actually makes them the fastest growing religious movement the ancient world had ever actually seen. Islam is going to change the scale considerably.

That's an amazing stat right there. I mean, it's supercharged on steroids. Exactly. I mean, it should be said... The fact that Christians actually got from nought to six million in the first 300 years actually makes them the fastest growing religious movement the ancient world had ever actually seen. Islam is going to change the scale considerably.

That's an amazing stat right there. I mean, it's supercharged on steroids. Exactly. I mean, it should be said... The fact that Christians actually got from nought to six million in the first 300 years actually makes them the fastest growing religious movement the ancient world had ever actually seen. Islam is going to change the scale considerably.

But the very fact Christianity even grew before Constantine is actually remarkable. And Christianity expanded notably in the third century crisis. Christians promote charity, promote community. Famously, they're repeatedly, it's complained by their opponents that they'll help people who aren't Christians. Christians will help the sick and plague is a recurring problem. They'll look after you.

But the very fact Christianity even grew before Constantine is actually remarkable. And Christianity expanded notably in the third century crisis. Christians promote charity, promote community. Famously, they're repeatedly, it's complained by their opponents that they'll help people who aren't Christians. Christians will help the sick and plague is a recurring problem. They'll look after you.

But the very fact Christianity even grew before Constantine is actually remarkable. And Christianity expanded notably in the third century crisis. Christians promote charity, promote community. Famously, they're repeatedly, it's complained by their opponents that they'll help people who aren't Christians. Christians will help the sick and plague is a recurring problem. They'll look after you.

So Christians as a movement, the Christian movement grows when there's times of conflict. But what you then get from Constantine onwards is money, legal privileges pouring into the church. Whether that's good for the Christian religion is something that, for example, the Reformation is going to take serious issue with. I don't think we'll discuss it here.

So Christians as a movement, the Christian movement grows when there's times of conflict. But what you then get from Constantine onwards is money, legal privileges pouring into the church. Whether that's good for the Christian religion is something that, for example, the Reformation is going to take serious issue with. I don't think we'll discuss it here.

So Christians as a movement, the Christian movement grows when there's times of conflict. But what you then get from Constantine onwards is money, legal privileges pouring into the church. Whether that's good for the Christian religion is something that, for example, the Reformation is going to take serious issue with. I don't think we'll discuss it here.

But what you do see with Constantine, there had never been huge churches. Constantine built the original Vatican, so the original Church of St. Peter's out on the Vatican Hill. He built the original St. John's Lateran. He builds the original Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Constantinople, of course, has multiple churches from the beginning. So just physically,

But what you do see with Constantine, there had never been huge churches. Constantine built the original Vatican, so the original Church of St. Peter's out on the Vatican Hill. He built the original St. John's Lateran. He builds the original Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Constantinople, of course, has multiple churches from the beginning. So just physically,

But what you do see with Constantine, there had never been huge churches. Constantine built the original Vatican, so the original Church of St. Peter's out on the Vatican Hill. He built the original St. John's Lateran. He builds the original Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Constantinople, of course, has multiple churches from the beginning. So just physically,

the prominence of Christianity's greatly increased. But money is pouring into the church. Constine wrote a famous letter to one bishop, just saying, here is a large sum of money. If it's not enough, I've told my treasurer to give you what you ask for. So money is going to the church. Bishops now matter. so a bishop can contact the emperor directly.

the prominence of Christianity's greatly increased. But money is pouring into the church. Constine wrote a famous letter to one bishop, just saying, here is a large sum of money. If it's not enough, I've told my treasurer to give you what you ask for. So money is going to the church. Bishops now matter. so a bishop can contact the emperor directly.

the prominence of Christianity's greatly increased. But money is pouring into the church. Constine wrote a famous letter to one bishop, just saying, here is a large sum of money. If it's not enough, I've told my treasurer to give you what you ask for. So money is going to the church. Bishops now matter. so a bishop can contact the emperor directly.

Bishops can therefore influence imperial policy, famously true of Ambrose of Milan, the great bishop in the late 4th century, who has a love-hate relationship with Theodosius I, two very strong-willed men, both of whom are devout believers, but with different priorities. So bishops matter. Is this strengthening or weakening the overall empire? It's doing both. You read my next question. Yes.

Bishops can therefore influence imperial policy, famously true of Ambrose of Milan, the great bishop in the late 4th century, who has a love-hate relationship with Theodosius I, two very strong-willed men, both of whom are devout believers, but with different priorities. So bishops matter. Is this strengthening or weakening the overall empire? It's doing both. You read my next question. Yes.

Bishops can therefore influence imperial policy, famously true of Ambrose of Milan, the great bishop in the late 4th century, who has a love-hate relationship with Theodosius I, two very strong-willed men, both of whom are devout believers, but with different priorities. So bishops matter. Is this strengthening or weakening the overall empire? It's doing both. You read my next question. Yes.

There's no question this support for charity in a world that doesn't have much welfare support matters. So Christian community matters. Bishops are very important to Roman government, not least because the Roman Empire is split into these small provinces and there's a governor in charge of each. But a governor is not usually in office for more than one, perhaps two years.

There's no question this support for charity in a world that doesn't have much welfare support matters. So Christian community matters. Bishops are very important to Roman government, not least because the Roman Empire is split into these small provinces and there's a governor in charge of each. But a governor is not usually in office for more than one, perhaps two years.