How the Bible Was Changed

Once the New Testament was recognized and shared across the growing movement of Jesus' followers, the message was copied, translated, and passed from generation to generation.

But as the centuries passed — and as power, politics, and religious systems became more involved — the Bible was gradually adapted and what we now call Christianity began to form.

After Constantine gave freedom to Jesus' followers through the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, gatherings grew. Structures formed. Leaders became more centralized. And as the faith spread across the Roman Empire, something new began to happen:

The message of Jesus was no longer underground — it was becoming entangled with the Roman Empire.

In 325 AD, Constantine called together over 300 overseers (bishops) from different regions to meet in the city of Nicaea. Their goal was to address confusion about Jesus’ identity — especially the claim by a man named Arius that Jesus was not truly God, but created.

The council resulted in:

  • The creation of the Nicene Creed, a formal statement of belief:

    • There is one God, the Father Almighty.

    • Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten not made (not created but eternal), of the same divine nature as the Father.

    • Jesus became human, died, rose again, and will return to judge.

    • The Holy Spirit is also to be worshiped and glorified.

  • The first major step toward centralizing authority in matters of faith

The Council of Nicaea 325 AD marked the beginning of empire involvement in spiritual matters.

In 380 AD, 55 years later, Emperor Theodosius I issued the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring that belief in Jesus — according to the Nicene Creed — was now the official religion of the Roman Empire.

What this meant:

  • People were now required by law to be “Christian,” even if they did not understand or believe in the Gospel of Jesus.

    The Gospel message was often mixed with a political identity and Roman loyalty.

  • Traditions, rituals, and authority structures began to replace the simplicity of discipleship and relationship.

Sources & Further Reading

For those seeking to understand how the message of the Bible became entangled with empire, politics, and religious systems, these trusted sources provide historical clarity:

These links explain how the message of Jesus moved from a grassroots gospel to a religion of empire — how creeds were formed, beliefs were enforced, and structures were built that influenced the direction of Christianity for centuries.