Between sinner and superhero. Military service and Christian life from Nicaea till present day

The discussion on whether it is permissible for Christians to partake in military service is often a heated debate. One of the Canons of the Council of Nicaea speaks of (re-)entering military service and is usually interpreted as advocating pacifism. However, this contribution shows that Christians served in the military from earliest Christianity, while influential Christian thinkers and sometimes individual soldiers argued against it. The practice of Christians in the military started long before Nicaea, and Canon 12 should be interpreted in terms of specific actions against those believers who wanted to re-enter military service under Licinius, Constantine’s enemy. While one should expect that the Canons would have a lasting impact, it did not – as we show the arguments and developments through the ages, up until today: from the Just War theories developed by St. Ambrose and St. Augustine through the sacred soldier advocated by Bernardus of Clairvaux, to the spiritual warfare by Erasmus and the non-violent stance by Pope Francis today