Paul Pavao

Decoding Nicea: Constantine Changed Christianity and Christianity Changed the World Paul Pavao 2nd edition

(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 capitvating writing."
• "Should be compulsory reading for Bible students in the church history module."
• "I learned so much and enjoyed the ride."