Decoding Nicea: Constantine Changed Christianity and Christianity Changed the World

(2nd edition of _In the Beginning Was the Logos_. See earlier reviews there.)The Council of Nicea was not clerics in a dark and ornate hall. It was brawls in churchyards; it was emperors and governors fighting to save the empire; it was political intrigue as the governments of church and state blended into a volatile stew.It was the way a fringe group of peace-loving communal worshipers of a crucified Palestinian prophet conquered the Roman empire.HISTORY COMES TO LIFE IN YOUR HANDS * Leaf through ancient documents. * Read the council’s instruction to the churches. * Examine Constantine’s review of the council. * Was Constantine a Christian? Scrutinize his deeds and decrees. * Challenge emperors with Athanasius. * And meet Sisinnius, the forgotten heretic who ended six decades of debate and violence with one word of advice.WHAT ABOUT THE CLAIMS IN THE DA VINCI CODE * Was the Trinity invented at Nicea? * Did the council rewrite the Bible? * Did Constantine change the Sabbath day?PRAISE FOR DECODING NICEA * “I never knew church history could be so much fun!” * “Paul Pavao has the rare ability to take what many consider dull and transform it.” * “A marriage of exhaustive research with captivating writing.” * “Should be compulsory reading for Bible students in the church history module.”* “I learned so much and enjoyed the ride.”