However, historians generally identify the later Emperor Constantine, baptized on his deathbed, as the first Christian emperor, and generally describe Philip's adherence to Christianity as dubious, because non-Christian writers do not mention the fact, and because throughout his reign, Philip to all appearances (coinage, etc.) continued to follow the state religion.Cruse, C.F., translator. Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Hendrickson Publishers, 1998 (fourth printing, 2004), pp. 220–221. Critics ascribe Eusebius' claim as probably due to the tolerance Philip showed towards Christians.
However, historians generally identify the later Emperor Constantine, baptized on his deathbed, as the first Christian emperor, and generally describe Philip's adherence to Christianity as dubious, because non-Christian writers do not mention the fact, and because throughout his reign, Philip to all app,earances (coinage, etc.) continued to follow the state religion.Cruse, C.F., translator. Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Hendrickson Publishers 1998 (fourth printing, 2004), pp. 220–221. Critics ascribe Eusebius' claim as probably due to the tolerance Philip showed towards Christians.