Who Was The Greatest Figure In Christian History After 100 A.D.?.......

[Root of Jesse]

Well i don't know about the greatest, but i think we all would have to admit Const the great changed the church forever. For good or for bad depends on your point of view.

I think good, because without him, the Christian Church would not have survived. But that's God's providence. I understand that, by his actions, he politicized the Church, but it's all God's plan. He knew Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him, so he surely knew that Constantine wanted to control His church, and planned accordingly.

Charles Martel is also a providence of God. We know God always keeps His promises, and he promised that His Church would never fail until He comes again.

 

[mothcorrupteth]

My top ten:

10. Oliver Cromwell
9. Jenny Geddes (the girl who threw her stool in St. Giles)
8. Augustine
7. Samuel Rutherford
6. John Winthrop
5. George Gillespie
4. Martin Luther
3. John Calvin
2. John Knox
1. Athanasius

 

[Anoetos]

You put Knox ahead of Calvin?

As Presbyterian as I am, that's not one I would underwrite. Calvin's influence is global, Knox's was essentially Scottish, the polity he brought from Geneva wasn't his own.

I love the old geezer, but I just can't go along with you there.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I think good, because without him, the Christian Church would not have survived. But that's God's providence. I understand that, by his actions, he politicized the Church, but it's all God's plan. He knew Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him, so he surely knew that Constantine wanted to control His church, and planned accordingly.

Charles Martel is also a providence of God. We know God always keeps His promises, and he promised that His Church would never fail until He comes again.

The Church survived outside of the Roman Empire, granted in much smaller numbers, without Constantine.

I'm not going to vilify Constantine, as I don't think he was a villain, but I don't think he was necessary for the survival of the Church. Christ said the Church would go on, and His Word would stand true regardless of how history progressed.

That all said, Constantine is often given far more credit than he actually deserves, in my opinion. Especially considering his Arian-leaning ways later in life.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Ishraqiyun]

I've changed my mind. The greatest Christian figure post 100 AD is the Lutheran theosopher Jacob Boehme. He was a prophet and a renewer of the christian faith.

 

[mothcorrupteth]

You put Knox ahead of Calvin?

As Presbyterian as I am, that's not one I would underwrite. Calvin's influence is global, Knox's was essentially Scottish, the polity he brought from Geneva wasn't his own.

I love the old geezer, but I just can't go along with you there.

Yes, I think Knox made certain reforms that were lacking to Calvin's reformation, and I think that Knox had a rougher road. Calvin may have been more influential and may have been the best systematizer of the 16th century, but Knox did more to refine the details of public worship and did more to knock back the divine right of kings theory. Unfortunately, in their political views nowadays, Presbyterians seem incapable of balancing Calvin with Knox and the Huguenots.

 

[Root of Jesse]

The Church survived outside of the Roman Empire, granted in much smaller numbers, without Constantine.

I'm not going to vilify Constantine, as I don't think he was a villain, but I don't think he was necessary for the survival of the Church. Christ said the Church would go on, and His Word would stand true regardless of how history progressed.

That all said, Constantine is often given far more credit than he actually deserves, in my opinion. Especially considering his Arian-leaning ways later in life.

-CryptoLutheran

I agree that it would have survived, but would it have thrived and grown to what it is today???
The very fact that Christians had the time to consider what Christ was (hence Arianism) and what he was not, suggests that legalization helped the Church to grow and refine.

 

[Christian12]

Well beyond 100 ad but still long ago was a man called George Muller of Bristol , he lived in England early 1800 s, an amazing testimony that can be read or viewed on the Internet . Well worth the read a great encouragement for todays christians , His doctrine was also solid , by todays standards , Todays standards are not at all solid in my view . 1 st century Christianity set the bar for all of us , the apostles wrote for us the New Testament. That we all strive to follow . George Muller did very well in his time .

 

[JHM]

Irena Sendler

 

[UnamSanctam]

313 Donatus of Casae Nigra

I know this is an OLD post, and thus replying to it might be considered necromancing...it isn't meant like that at all!
But...

Donatus? Seriously? The man who basically said: "Unless you're without any personal sin, your administration of the sacraments are invalid"?

 

[IisJustMe]

I find it disturbing that there are very few references to men of solid Christian faith -- or women -- named after the 17th century, and few between the 11th and 17th. I find this kind of bias and denominational superiority disgusting.