Book 16, the final book of the Theodosian Code, treats religion. The tenor and contents of this book give us a sense of how the imperial court refashioned its own religious authority in the centuries following the legalization of Christianity. Although bishops might attempt to subordinate the imperial house to episcopal authority, the emperors still maintained their role as guardians of religious equilibrium. So emperors convoked Christian councils and legislated on religion.
Note: The year each law was issued is noted in parentheses at the end of that law’s text.
TITLE 4: THOSE PERSONS WHO CONTEND ABOUT RELIGION1 (DE HIS QUI SUPER RELIGIONE CONTENDUNT)
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Author: The Theodosian Code
Keywords: Church and state, state church, Theodosian Code, Code of Theodosius, Code of Justinian, Justinian code, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Catholic faith, Catholic church, heresy, church of Rome, heretic, heretics, heretical, heretical teaching, contentious, mark of the beast, ban, banishment, treason
Bible reference(s): Rom 2:8, 1Ti 6:5, 2Pe 2:1, Titus 1:10-11, Rev 13:10, Rev 13:14-15, Rev 13:18
Source: Clyde Pharr, “The Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions” (Union, NJ: The Lawbook Exchange, 2001), pp. 449-50.
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