Subjects in the Labels List Which Begin with the Letters com to con

 This blog is ακωλυτως, unhindered. (Acts 28:31) Any subject is fair game. Below is an alphabetical listing of the LABELS which begin with the letters com to con. All can be searched from the list which follows the last posted article on this page or by typing them into the SEARCH button at the top of the page. Most will call up multiple postings in which they appear.

The search function will work in non-alphabetic languages as well. Use the web page translate function.

com, come let us reason together, comedy, comedy films, comet, comic book, comic strip, commands, commentary, comments, commerce, commercialism, commercials, commitment, Common English phrases, commoner, communal religious society, communication, communion, Communism, community organizer, comparative religion, competition, competitive sports, complaining, complexity, composer, compulsion, computer, computer generated imagery, computers, concentration cups, conception, conclave, concordance, condolences, Confederate States of America, confession, conformation to Christ, conformity, confusion, Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Congregation, Congregationalism, Connecticut, Conrad Beissel, conscience, conscience exemption, consequences, conservative, consonants, conspiracy theory, Constantine, Constantinople, Constitution Party, contradictions, contemplation, Contemporary Christian Music, contempt, contest, context, contraception, contract killer, controversy, convent, conversion, conviction, convictions.

The Praetorian Guard

The “Praetorian Guard” is never specifically mentioned in the New Testament.  They are referenced as “the praetorium” (τῷ πραιτωρίῳ) in Philippians 1:13.  They were the bodyguards of the Roman emperors and served for sixteen year terms, followed by a very generous retirement package.

The group was formally chartered in 27 BC/BCE by the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, and, over the years grew to have great political influence,  receiving greater pay and privileges than common Roman soldiers.  The guard was abolished in 312 AD/CE by the Emperor Constantine the Great.

ὥστε τοὺς δεσμούς μου φανεροὺς ἐν Χριστῷ γενέσθαι ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ πραιτωρίῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πάσιν,

Constantine Was Not the First?

The conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 380 is considered to be one of the watershed moments in Western history.  It may surprise you to learn that Constantine was not the first Christian ruler, or the second, or even the third.  Those places of honor belong to King Tiridates of Armenia, who in 301 declared Christianity to be the country's state religion; the number two position belongs to King Mirian III of Georgia, who, in 319, declared his country to be Christian; followed by Queen Sofya of Ethiopia in 325, converted by her son's Christian tutor, Frumentius.  Sofya's sons Ezana and Se'azana both became Christians.  Ezana ruled as a Christian king.

Christian Heresies: Pneumatomachianism

The Pneumatomachi (aka Macedonians) were a fourth and fifth century sect which flourished primarily in what is now Turkey.  Led by Macedonius, Bishop of Constantinople (d.  about 364), they denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.  They said the Holy Spirit was a creature, merely a ministering angel.  They would say only, "We believe in the Holy Ghost."  Macedonius tortured, forced baptisms, and excommunicated those who would not agree to his doctrine.  Macedonius was deposed by Emperor Constantius (Constantius II, son of Constantine I) for disinterring the body of Constantine.

The teaching of Macedonius was condemned as a Trinitarian heresy by the First Council of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey).

Two Minutes in Hell

"Take it from me, two minutes in Hell is a lifetime." John Constantine in Constantine (2006).

John Constantine is a DC Comics character.

A Quote from Constantine (2006)

In the comic book based movie, Constantine (2006), the angel Gabriel is filled with resentment and is trying to "fix" things. He (?)/she (?)/it (?) (Tilda Swinton as an androgynous angel) thinks that mankind is unworthy of God's grace and is trying to bring about an apocalypse on Earth from which worthy, tested survivors will emerge. John Constantine, cancer victim, demon hunter, etc. goes to Hell and back (literally) to stop Gabriel's plan.

Gabriel explains,

"You're handed this precious gift and, right, each of you granted redemption from the Creator. Murderers, rapists and molesters, all of you, you just have to repent and God takes you into His bosom. In all the worlds, in all the universes, no other creature can make such a boast, save man. It's not fair! Your sweet, sweet God loves you so."