The changing attitude of the state toward the church was in many ways the most significant development during this period. After enduring persecution from the government for most of its history,the church first found itself in a position of being tolerated, the being granted more privileges and finally being officially embraced by the Roman government (395 A.D.). So complete was the relationship between church and state, that the emperor himself became the initiator of the ecumenical councils, in which the bishops come together to define and agree on doctrine. A worse development may not have been possible. When Christianity is tied to governments, the biblical challenge to the world suffers. During this period the hierarchy of the church solidified and became a kingdom of this world. Emphasis shifted from following Jesus to preserving the structure and position of the church. The church drifted father from its original passion and commission to save souls, and the authority was seen coming from the decision of the priesthood and bishops instead of from the Bible. For the first time we see papacy as a widely accepted instution. Infant baptism by pouring and then sprinkling replaced the original immersion of committed adult believers in the first century. Augustine became the most influential theologian of this time as he laid down doctrinal roots for the teachings of the original sin, celibacy and the elevation of the church tradition to be equally with Scripture: I should believe the Gospel unless I were moved to do so by the authority of the Catholic church." He is often referred to as the "father of the (Catholic) church." By 600 A.D. all the essential ingredients were placed for almost 1000 years of virtually unchallenged Catholicism. The "presbyters" (elders) of the New Testament (who were to be the husbands of one wife) priest (who could never marry), the Lord's Supper was now a sacrament that could only be administered by the priests, the worship of Mary was well under way and the Bishop of Rome as Pope was almost universally accepted. History, politics and tradition were greatest influences and Scripture was mostly lost in the shuffle.