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Eusebius
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Forotheruses,seeEusebius(disambiguation).
Eusebiusof

EusebiusofCaesarea

Eusebiusinamodernimagining
Born

Eusebius
260/265

Died

339/340

Occupation

Bishop,historian,theologian

Notablework Ecclesiasticalhistory,Onthe
LifeofPamphilus,Chronicle,On
theMartyrs

Caesarea(/jusibis/Greek:,EusbiosAD260/265339/340),alsoknownasEusebius
Pamphili,wasaRomanhistorian,exegete,andChristianpolemicistofGreekdescent.Hebecame
thebishopofCaesareaMaritimaabout314.TogetherwithPamphilus,hewasascholaroftheBiblical
canonandisregardedasanextremelywelllearnedChristianofhistime.[1]HewroteDemonstrationsof
theGospel,PreparationsfortheGospel,andOnDiscrepanciesbetweentheGospels,studiesofthe
Biblicaltext.As"FatherofChurchHistory"heproducedtheEcclesiasticalHistory,OntheLifeof
Pamphilus,theChronicleandOntheMartyrs.
Contents[hide]
1 Sources
2 Earlylife
3 BishopofCaesarea
4 Death
5 Works
5.1 Onomasticon
5.2 Biblicaltextcriticism
5.3 Chronicle
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5.4 ChurchHistory
5.5 LifeofConstantine
5.6 Minorhistoricalworks
5.7 Apologeticanddogmaticworks
5.8 Exegeticalandmiscellaneousworks
6 Doctrine
7 Assessment
8 Seealso
9 References
10 Externallinks

Sources

[ edit ]

LittleisknownaboutthelifeofEusebius.HissuccessorattheseeofCaesarea,Acacius,wroteaLifeof
Eusebius,aworkthathassincebeenlost.Eusebius'ownsurvivingworksprobablyonlyrepresenta
smallportionofhistotaloutput.Beyondnoticesinhisextantwritings,themajorsourcesarethe5th
centuryecclesiasticalhistoriansSocrates,Sozomen,andTheodoret,andthe4thcenturyChristian
authorJerome.Thereareassortednoticesofhisactivitiesinthewritingsofhis
contemporariesAthanasius,Arius,EusebiusofNicomedia,andAlexanderofAlexandria.Eusebius'
pupil,EusebiusofEmesa,providessomeincidentalinformation.[2]

Earlylife

[ edit ]

InhisEcclesiasticalHistory,EusebiuswritesofDionysiusofAlexandriaashiscontemporary.Ifthisis
true,Eusebius'birthmusthavebeenbeforeDionysius'deathinautumn264mostmodernscholars
datethebirthtosomepointinthefiveyearsbetween260and265.[3]Hewaspresumablyborninthe
towninwhichhelivedformostofhisadultlife,CaesareaMaritima.[4]Hewasbaptizedandinstructedin
thecity,[5]andlivedinPalestinein296,whenDiocletian'sarmypassedthroughtheregion(intheLifeof
Constantine,EusebiusrecallsseeingConstantinetravelingwiththearmy).[6]Eusebiuswas
madepresbyterbyAgapiusofCaesarea.[5]Some,liketheologianandecclesiasticalhistorianJohn
HenryNewman,understandEusebius'statementthathehadheardDorotheusofTyre"expoundthe
ScriptureswiselyintheChurch"toindicatethatEusebiuswasDorotheus'pupilwhilethepriestwas
residentinAntiochothers,likethescholarD.S.WallaceHadrill,deemthephrasetooambiguousto
supportthecontention.[7]
Bythe3rdcentury,Caesareahadapopulationofabout100,000.Ithadbeenapagancity
sincePompeyhadgivencontrolofthecitytothegentilesduringhiscommandoftheeasternprovincesin
the60sBC.Thegentilesretainedcontrolofthecityforthethreecenturiestofollow,despiteJewish
petitionsforjointgovernorship.Gentilegovernmentwasstrengthenedbythecity'srefoundation
underHerodtheGreat(r.374BC),whenithadtakenonthenameofAugustusCaesar.[8]Inadditionto
thegentilesettlers,CaesareahadlargeJewishandSamaritanminorities.Eusebiuswasprobablyborn
intotheChristiancontingentofthecity.Caesarea'sChristiancommunitypresumablyhadahistory
reachingbacktoapostolictimes,[9]butitisacommonclaimthatnobishopsareattestedforthetown
beforeabout190,[10]eventhoughtheApostolicConstitutions7.46statesthatZacchaeuswasthefirst
bishop.
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ThroughtheactivitiesofthetheologianOrigen(185/6254)andtheschoolofhis
followerPamphilus(later3rdcentury309),CaesareabecameacenterofChristianlearning.Origen
waslargelyresponsibleforthecollectionofusageinformation,orwhichchurcheswereusingwhich
gospels,regardingthetextswhichbecametheNewTestament.Theinformationusedtocreatethelate
fourthcenturyEasterLetter,whichdeclaredacceptedChristianwritings,wasprobablybasedon
theEcclesiasticalHistory[HE]ofEusebiusofCaesarea,whereinheusestheinformationpassedonto
himbyOrigentocreatebothhislistatHE3:25andOrigen'slistatHE6:25.Eusebiusgothis
informationaboutwhattextswereacceptedbythethirdcenturychurchesthroughouttheknownworld,
agreatdealofwhichOrigenknewoffirsthandfromhisextensivetravels,fromthelibraryandwritingsof
Origen.[11]
Onhisdeathbed,OrigenhadmadeabequestofhisprivatelibrarytotheChristiancommunityinthe
city.[12]TogetherwiththebooksofhispatronAmbrosius,Origen'slibrary(includingtheoriginal
manuscriptsofhisworks[13][notes1])formedthecoreofthecollectionthatPamphilus
established.[15]Pamphilusalsomanagedaschoolthatwassimilarto(orperhapsareestablishment
of[16])thatofOrigen.[17]PamphiluswascomparedtoDemetriusofPhalerumandPisistratus,forhehad
gatheredBibles"fromallpartsoftheworld".[18]LikehismodelOrigen,Pamphilusmaintainedclose
contactwithhisstudents.Eusebius,inhishistoryofthepersecutions,alludestothefactthatmanyof
theCaesareanmartyrslivedtogether,presumablyunderPamphilus.[19]
SoonafterPamphilussettledinCaesarea(ca.280s),hebeganteachingEusebius,whowasthen
somewherebetweentwentyandtwentyfive.[20]Becauseofhiscloserelationshipwithhisschoolmaster,
EusebiuswassometimescalledEusebiusPamphili:"Eusebius,sonofPamphilus".[notes2]Thenamemay
alsoindicatethatEusebiuswasmadePamphilus'heir.[23]PamphilusgaveEusebiusastrongadmiration
forthethoughtofOrigen.[24]NeitherPamphilusnorEusebiusknewOrigenpersonally[25]Pamphilus
probablypickedupOrigenistideasduringhisstudiesunderPierius(nicknamed"OrigenJunior"[26])in
Alexandria.[27]InCaesarea,Origenistthoughtwascontinuedinthegenerationafterhisdeath
byTheotecnus,bishopofthecityformuchofthelate3rdcenturyandanalumnusofOrigen's
school.[28]
Eusebius'PreparationfortheGospelbearswitnesstotheliterarytastesofOrigen:Eusebiusquotesno
comedy,tragedy,orlyricpoetry,butmakesreferencetoalltheworksofPlatoandtoanextensiverange
oflaterphilosophicworks,largelyfromMiddlePlatonistsfromPhilotothelate2ndcentury.[29]Whatever
itssecularcontents,theprimaryaimofOrigenandPamphilus'schoolwastopromotesacredlearning.
Thelibrary'sbiblicalandtheologicalcontentsweremoreimpressive:Origen'sHexaplaandTetraplaa
copyoftheoriginalAramaicversionoftheGospelofMatthewandmanyofOrigen'sown
writings.[20]MarginalcommentsinextantmanuscriptsnotethatPamphilusandhisfriendsandpupils,
includingEusebius,correctedandrevisedmuchofthebiblicaltextintheirlibrary.[20]Theireffortsmade
thehexaplaricSeptuaginttextincreasinglypopularinSyriaandPalestine.[30]Soonafterjoining
Pamphilus'school,Eusebiusstartedhelpinghismasterexpandthelibrary'scollectionsandbroaden
accesstoitsresources.AtaboutthistimeEusebiuscompiledaCollectionofAncientMartyrdoms,
presumablyforuseasageneralreferencetool.[20]
Inthe290s,Eusebiusbeganworkonhismagnumopus,theEcclesiasticalHistory,anarrativehistoryof
theChurchandChristiancommunityfromtheApostolicAgetoEusebius'owntime.Ataboutthesame
time,heworkedonhisChronicle,auniversalcalendarofeventsfromtheCreationto,again,Eusebius'
owntime.HecompletedthefirsteditionsoftheEcclesiasticalHistoryandChroniclebefore300.[31]
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BishopofCaesarea

[ edit ]

EusebiussucceededAgapiusasBishopofCaesareasoonafter313andwascalledonbyAriuswhohad
beenexcommunicatedbyhisbishopAlexanderofAlexandria.AnepiscopalcouncilinCaesarea
pronouncedAriusblameless.[32]Eusebius,alearnedmanandfamousauthor,enjoyedthefavourof
theEmperorConstantine.Becauseofthishewascalledupontopresentthecreedofhisownchurchto
the318attendeesoftheCouncilofNicaeain325."[33]However,theantiAriancreedfromPalestine
prevailedbecomingthebasisfortheNiceneCreed.[34]
ThetheologicalviewsofArius,thattaughtthesubordinationoftheSontotheFather,continuedtobea
problem.EustathiusofAntiochstronglyopposedthegrowinginfluenceofOrigen'stheologyastheroot
ofArianism.Eusebius,anadmirerofOrigen,wasreproachedbyEustathiusfordeviatingfromthe
Nicenefaith.EusebiusprevailedandEustathiuswasdeposedatasynodinAntioch.
However,AthanasiusofAlexandriabecameamorepowerfulopponentandin334,hewassummoned
beforeasynodinCaesarea(whichherefusedtoattend).Inthefollowingyear,hewasagain
summonedbeforeasynodinTyreatwhichEusebiusofCaesareapresided.Athanasius,foreseeingthe
result,wenttoConstantinopletobringhiscausebeforetheEmperor.Constantinecalledthebishopsto
hiscourt,amongthemEusebius.Athanasiuswascondemnedandexiledattheendof335.Eusebius
remainedintheEmperor'sfavourthroughoutthistimeandmorethanoncewasexoneratedwiththe
explicitapprovaloftheEmperorConstantine.AftertheEmperor'sdeath(c.337),EusebiuswrotetheLife
ofConstantine ,animportanthistoricalworkbecauseofeyewitnessaccountsandtheuseofprimary
sources.Eusebiusdiedc.339.[35]

Death

[ edit ]

Muchlikehisbirth,theexactdateofEusebiusdeathisunknown.However,thereisprimarytext
evidencefromacouncilheldinAntiochthatbytheyear341,hissuccessorAcaciushadalreadyfilled
theseatasBishop.SocratesandSozomenwriteaboutEusebiusdeath,andplaceitjustbefore
Constantinesson(ConstantineIIorConstantinetheYounger)died,whichwasinearly340.Theyalso
saythatitwasafterthesecondbanishmentofAthanasius,whichbeganinmid339.Thismeansthathis
deathoccurredsometimebetweenthesecondhalfof339andearly340.[36]

Works

[ edit ]

OftheextensiveliteraryactivityofEusebius,arelativelylargeportionhasbeenpreserved.Although
posteritysuspectedhimofArianism,Eusebiushadmadehimselfindispensablebyhismethodof
authorshiphiscomprehensiveandcarefulexcerptsfromoriginalsourcessavedhissuccessorsthe
painstakinglaboroforiginalresearch.Hence,muchhasbeenpreserved,quotedbyEusebius,which
otherwisewouldhavebeendestroyed.
TheliteraryproductionsofEusebiusreflectonthewholethecourseofhislife.Atfirst,heoccupied
himselfwithworksonBiblicalcriticismundertheinfluenceofPamphilusandprobablyofDorotheusof
TyreoftheSchoolofAntioch.Afterward,thepersecutionsunderDiocletianandGaleriusdirectedhis
attentiontothemartyrsofhisowntimeandthepast,andthisledhimtothehistoryofthewholeChurch
andfinallytothehistoryoftheworld,which,tohim,wasonlyapreparationforecclesiasticalhistory.
ThenfollowedthetimeoftheAriancontroversies,anddogmaticquestionscameintotheforeground.
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ChristianityatlastfoundrecognitionbytheStateandthis
broughtnewproblemsapologiesofadifferentsorthadtobe
prepared.Lastly,Eusebiuswroteeulogiesinpraiseof
Constantine.Toallthisactivitymustbeaddednumerous
writingsofamiscellaneousnature,addresses,letters,andthe
like,andexegeticalworksthatextendedoverthewholeofhis
lifeandthatincludebothcommentariesandtreatisesonBiblical
archaeology.

Onomasticon

[ edit ]

Eusebius'Onomasticon(moreproperlyOnthePlaceNamesin
theHolyScripture,[37]thenameEusebiusgivestoit)isawork
thatmodernswouldrecognizeasagazetteer,adirectoryof
placenames,butwhichancientshadnocategoryfor.Itsits
uneasilybetweentheancientgenresofgeographyand
lexicography,takingelementsfrombothbutamemberof

ArmeniantranslationofChronicon.
13thcenturymanuscript

neither.[38]Eusebius'descriptionofhisownmethod"Ishall
collecttheentriesfromthewholeofthedivinelyinspiredScriptures,andIshallsetthemoutgroupedby
theirinitialletterssothatonemayeasilyperceivewhatliesscatteredthroughoutthetext"[39]implies
thathehadnosimilartypeofbooktoworkfromhisworkwasentirelyoriginal,basedonlyonthetextof
theBible.[40]Ashedescribes,Eusebiusorganizeshisentriesintoseparatecategoriesaccordingtotheir
firstletters.Undereachletter,theentriesareorganizedfirstbythebooktheyarefoundin,andthenby
theirplaceinthatbook.TheentriesforJoshuaunderTau,forexample,readasfollows:[41]
Tina(15:22):ofthetribeofJudah.
Telem(15:24):ofthetribeofJudah.
Tessam(15:29):ofthetribeofJudah.
Tyre(19:35):ofthetribeofNaphthali.
Wherethereisacontemporarytownatthesiteornearby,Eusebiusnotesitinthecorrespondingentry.
"Terebinth",forexample,describesShechemas"nearNeapolis",modernNablus,and"Tophet"is
located"inthesuburbsofJerusalem".[41]TheOnomasticonhastraditionallybeendatedbefore324,on
thebasisofitssparsereferencestoChristianity,andcompleteabsenceofremarksonConstantine's
buildingsintheHolyLand.Theworkalsodescribestraditionalreligiouspracticesattheoak
ofMamreasthoughtheywerestillhappening,whiletheyareknowntohavebeensuppressedsoon
after325,whenachurchwasbuiltonthesite.[42]EusebiusreferencestotheencampmentoftheLegio
XFretensisatAila(insouthernIsrael,nearmodernAqabaandEilat)theXFretensiswasprobably
transferredfromJerusalemtoAilaunderDiocletian.[43]

Biblicaltextcriticism

[ edit ]

PamphilusandEusebiusoccupiedthemselveswiththetextualcriticismoftheSeptuaginttextoftheOld
TestamentandespeciallyoftheNewTestament.AneditionoftheSeptuagintseemstohavebeen
alreadypreparedbyOrigen,which,accordingtoJerome,wasrevisedandcirculatedbyEusebiusand
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Pamphilus.Foraneasiersurveyofthematerialofthefour
Evangelists,EusebiusdividedhiseditionoftheNewTestament
intoparagraphsandprovideditwithasynopticaltablesothatit
mightbeeasiertofindthepericopesthatbelongtogether.
Thesecanontablesor"Eusebiancanons"remainedinuse
throughouttheMiddleAges,andilluminated
manuscriptversionsareimportantforthestudyofearly
medievalart,astheyarethemostelaboratelydecoratedpages
ofmanyGospelbooks.EusebiusdetailedinEpistulaad

Eusebius'scanontableswereoften
includedinEarlyMedievalGospel
books

Carpianumhowtousehiscanons.

Chronicle

[ edit ]

Mainarticle:Chronicon(Eusebius)
TheChronicle((Pantodapehistoria))isdividedintotwoparts.Thefirstpart,
theChronography((Chronographia)),givesanepitomeofuniversalhistoryfromthe
sources,arrangedaccordingtonations.Thesecondpart,theCanons((Chronikoi
kanones)),furnishesasynchronismofthehistoricalmaterialinparallelcolumns,theequivalentofa
paralleltimeline.[44]
TheworkasawholehasbeenlostintheoriginalGreek,butitmaybereconstructedfromlater
chronographistsoftheByzantineschoolwhomadeexcerptsfromthework,especiallyGeorge
Syncellus.ThetablesofthesecondparthavebeencompletelypreservedinaLatintranslationby
Jerome,andbothpartsarestillextantinanArmeniantranslation.ThelossoftheGreekoriginalshas
givenanArmeniantranslationaspecialimportancethus,thefirstpartofEusebius'Chronicle,ofwhich
onlyafewfragmentsexistintheGreek,hasbeenpreservedentirelyinArmenian,thoughwithlacunae.
TheChronicleaspreservedextendstotheyear325.[45]

ChurchHistory

[ edit ]

Mainarticle:ChurchHistory(Eusebius)
InhisChurchHistoryorEcclesiasticalHistory,EusebiuswrotethefirstsurvivinghistoryoftheChristian
Churchasachronologicallyorderedaccount,basedonearliersources,completefromtheperiodofthe
Apostlestohisownepoch.[46]ThetimeschemecorrelatedthehistorywiththereignsoftheRoman
Emperors,andthescopewasbroad.IncludedwerethebishopsandotherteachersoftheChurch,
ChristianrelationswiththeJewsandthosedeemedheretical,andtheChristianmartyrsthrough324
C.E.[47]Althoughitsaccuracyandbiaseshavebeenquestioned,itremainsanimportantsourceonthe
earlychurchduetoEusebius'saccesstomaterialsnowlost.[48]

LifeofConstantine

[ edit ]

Eusebius'LifeofConstantine(VitaConstantini)isaeulogyorpanegyric,andthereforeitsstyleand
selectionoffactsareaffectedbyitspurpose,renderingitinadequateasacontinuationoftheChurch
History.AsthehistorianSocratesScholasticussaid,attheopeningofhishistorywhichwasdesignedas
acontinuationofEusebius,"AlsoinwritingthelifeofConstantine,thissameauthorhasbutslightly
treatedofmattersregardingArius,beingmoreintentontherhetoricalfinishofhiscompositionandthe
praisesoftheemperor,thanonanaccuratestatementoffacts."TheworkwasunfinishedatEusebius'
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death.SomescholarshavequestionedtheEusebianauthorshipofthiswork.

Minorhistoricalworks

[ edit ]

Beforehecompiledhischurchhistory,Eusebiuseditedacollectionofmartyrdomsoftheearlierperiod
andabiographyofPamphilus.Themartyrologyhasnotsurvivedasawhole,butithasbeenpreserved
almostcompletelyinparts.Itcontained:
anepistleofthecongregationofSmyrnaconcerningthemartyrdomofPolycarp
themartyrdomofPionius
themartyrdomsofCarpus,Papylus,andAgathonike
themartyrdomsinthecongregationsofVienneandLyon
themartyrdomofApollonius.
OfthelifeofPamphilus,onlyafragmentsurvives.AworkonthemartyrsofPalestineinthetimeof
Diocletianwascomposedafter311numerousfragmentsarescatteredinlegendarieswhichhaveyetto
becollected.ThelifeofConstantinewascompiledafterthedeathoftheemperorandtheelectionofhis
sonsasAugusti(337).Itismorearhetoricaleulogyontheemperorthanahistorybutisofgreatvalue
onaccountofnumerousdocumentsincorporatedinit.

Apologeticanddogmaticworks

[ edit ]

Totheclassofapologeticanddogmaticworksbelong:
theApologyforOrigen,thefirstfivebooksofwhich,accordingtothedefinitestatementofPhotius,
werewrittenbyPamphilusinprison,withtheassistanceofEusebius.Eusebiusaddedthesixthbook
afterthedeathofPamphilus.WepossessonlyaLatintranslationofthefirstbook,madebyRufinus
atreatiseagainstHierocles(aRomangovernor),inwhichEusebiuscombatedtheformer's
glorificationofApolloniusofTyanainaworkentitledATruthlovingDiscourse(Greek:Philalethes
logos)inspiteofmanuscriptattributiontoEusebius,however,ithasbeenargued(byThomas
Hagg[49]andmorerecently,AaronJohnson[50])thatthistreatise"AgainstHierocles"waswrittenby
someoneotherthanEusebiusofCaesarea.
Praeparatioevangelica(PreparationfortheGospel),commonlyknownbyitsLatintitle,which
attemptstoprovetheexcellenceofChristianityovereverypaganreligionandphilosophy.
ThePraeparatioconsistsoffifteenbookswhichhavebeencompletelypreserved.Eusebius
considereditanintroductiontoChristianityforpagans.Butitsvalueformanylaterreadersismore
becauseEusebiusstuddedthisworkwithsomanylivelyfragmentsfromhistoriansandphilosophers
whicharenowhereelsepreserved.Herealoneispreservedasummaryofthewritingsof
thePhoenicianpriestSanchuniathonofwhichtheaccuracyhasbeenshownbythemythological
accountsfoundontheUgaritictables,herealoneistheaccountfromDiodorusSiculus'ssixthbook
ofEuhemerus'wondrousvoyagetotheislandofPanchaeawhereEuhemeruspurportstohave
foundhistruehistoryofthegods,andherealmostaloneispreservedwritingsoftheneo
PlatonistphilosopherAtticusalongwithsomuchelse.
Demonstratioevangelica(ProofoftheGospel)iscloselyconnectedtothePraeparatioand
comprisedoriginallytwentybooksofwhichtenhavebeencompletelypreservedaswellasa
fragmentofthefifteenth.HereEusebiustreatsofthepersonofJesusChrist.Theworkwasprobably
finishedbefore311
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anotherworkwhichoriginatedinthetimeofthepersecution,entitledPropheticExtracts(Eclogae
propheticae).ItdiscussesinfourbookstheMessianictextsofScripture.Theworkismerelythe
survivingportion(books69)oftheGeneralelementaryintroductiontotheChristianfaith,nowlost.
ThefragmentsgivenastheCommentaryonLukeinthePGhavebeenclaimedtoderivefromthe
missingtenthbookoftheGeneralElementaryIntroductionseeD.S.WallaceHadrill)however,
AaronJohnsonhasarguedthattheycannotbeassociatedwiththiswork.[51]
thetreatiseOnDivineManifestationorOntheTheophania(Peritheophaneias),ofunknowndate.It
treatsoftheincarnationoftheDivineLogos,anditscontentsareinmanycasesidenticalwith
theDemonstratioevangelica.OnlyfragmentsarepreservedinGreek,butacompleteSyriac
translationoftheTheophaniasurvivesinanearly5thcenturymanuscript.SamuelLee,theeditor
(1842)andtranslator(1843)oftheSyriacTheophaniathoughtthattheworkmusthavebeenwritten
"afterthegeneralpeacerestoredtotheChurchbyConstantine,andbeforeeitherthe'Praeparatio,'
orthe'DemonstratioEvengelica,'waswritten...itappearsprobable...therefore,thatthiswas
oneofthefirstproductionsofEusebius,ifnotthefirstafterthepersecutionsceased."[52]Hugo
Gressmann,notingin1904thattheDemonstratioseemstobementionedatIV.37andV.1,andthat
II.14seemstomentiontheextantpracticeoftempleprostitutionatHieropolisinPhoenica,
concludedthattheTheophaniawasprobablywrittenshortlyafter324.Othershavesuggestedadate
aslateas337.[53]
ApolemicaltreatiseagainstMarcellusofAncyra,theAgainstMarcellus,datingfromabout337
asupplementtothelastnamedwork,alsoagainstMarcellus,entitledEcclesiasticalTheology,in
whichhedefendedtheNicenedoctrineoftheLogosagainstthepartyofAthanasius.
Anumberofwritings,belonginginthiscategory,havebeenentirelylost.

Exegeticalandmiscellaneousworks

[ edit ]

AlloftheexegeticalworksofEusebiushavesuffereddamageintransmission.Themajorityofthemare
knowntousonlyfromlongportionsquotedinByzantinecatenacommentaries.Howevertheseportions
areveryextensive.Extantare:
AnenormousCommentaryonthePsalms.
AcommentaryonIsaiah,discoveredmoreorlesscompleteinamanuscriptinFlorenceearlyinthe
20thcenturyandpublished50yearslater.
SmallfragmentsofcommentariesonRomansand1Corinthians.
EusebiusalsowroteaworkQuaestionesadStephanumetMarinum,"OntheDifferencesofthe
Gospels"(includingsolutions).Thiswaswrittenforthepurposeofharmonizingthecontradictionsinthe
reportsofthedifferentEvangelists.Thisworkwasrecently(2011)translatedintotheEnglishlanguage
byDavidJ.MillerandAdamC.McCollum(editedbyRogerPearse)andwaspublishedunderthename
"EusebiusofCaesarea:GospelProblemsandSolutions."[54]Theoriginalworkwasalsotranslatedinto
Syriac,andlengthyquotationsexistinacatenainthatlanguage,andalso
inCopticandArabiccatenas.[55]
EusebiusalsowrotetreatisesonBiblicalarchaeology:
AworkontheGreekequivalentsofHebrewGentilicnouns
AdescriptionofoldJudeawithanaccountofthelossofthetentribes
AplanofJerusalemandtheTempleofSolomon.
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Thesethreetreatiseshavebeenlost.
TheaddressesandsermonsofEusebiusaremostlylost,butsomehavebeenpreserved,e.g.,a
sermonontheconsecrationofthechurchinTyreandanaddressonthethirtiethanniversaryofthe
reignofConstantine(336).
MostofEusebius'lettersarelost.HisletterstoCarpianusandFlacillusexistcomplete.Fragmentsofa
lettertotheempressConstantiaalsoexists.

Doctrine

[ edit ]

Eusebiusisfairlyuniqueinhispreterist,orfulfilledeschetalogicalview.Saying"TheHolyScriptures
foretellthattherewillbeunmistakablesignsoftheComingofChrist.Nowtherewereamongthe
Hebrewsthreeoutstandingofficesofdignity,whichmadethenationfamous,firstlythekingship,
secondlythatofprophet,andlastlythehighpriesthood.Thepropheciessaidthattheabolitionand
completedestructionofallthesethreetogetherwouldbethesignofthepresenceoftheChrist.And
thattheproofsthatthetimeshadcome,wouldlieintheceasingoftheMosaicworship,thedesolation
ofJerusalemanditsTemple,andthesubjectionofthewholeJewishracetoitsenemies...Theholy
oraclesforetoldthatallthesechanges,whichhadnotbeenmadeinthedaysoftheprophetsofold,
wouldtakeplaceatthecomingoftheChrist,whichIwillpresentlyshewtohavebeenfulfilledasnever
beforeinaccordancewiththepredictions."(DemonstratioEvangelicaVIII)
Fromadogmaticpointofview,EusebiusstandsentirelyupontheshouldersofOrigen.LikeOrigen,he
startedfromthefundamentalthoughtoftheabsolutesovereignty(monarchia)ofGod.Godisthecause
ofallbeings.Butheisnotmerelyacauseinhimeverythinggoodisincluded,fromhimalllife
originates,andheisthesourceofallvirtue.GodsentChristintotheworldthatitmaypartakeofthe
blessingsincludedintheessenceofGod.ChristisGodandisarayoftheeternallightbutthefigureof
therayissolimitedbyEusebiusthatheexpresslydistinguishestheSonasdistinctfromFatherasaray
isalsodistinctfromitssourcethesun.[citationneeded]
EusebiuswasintentuponemphasizingthedifferenceofthepersonsoftheTrinityandmaintainingthe
subordinationoftheSon(Logos,orWord)toGod.TheLogos,theSon(Jesus)isanhypostasisofGod
theFatherwhosegeneration,forEusebius,tookplacebeforetime.TheLogosactsastheorganor
instrumentofGod,thecreatoroflife,theprincipleofeveryrevelationofGod,whoinhisabsoluteness
andtranscendenceisenthronedaboveandisolatedfromalltheworld.Eusebius,withmostofthe
Christiantradition,assumedGodwasimmutable.Therefore,toEusebius'smind,theLogosmust
possessdivinitybyparticipation(andnotoriginallyliketheFather),sothathecanchange,unlikeGod
theFather.ThusheassumedahumanbodywithoutalteringtheimmutabledivineFather.(Eusebius
nevercallsJesusothes,butthes)becauseinallcontraryattemptshesuspectedeitherpolytheism
(threedistinctgods)orSabellianism(threemodesofonedivineperson).
Likewise,EusebiusdescribedtherelationoftheHolySpiritwithintheTrinitytothatoftheSontothe
Father.NopointofthisdoctrineisoriginalwithEusebius,allistraceabletohisteacher
Origen.[citationneeded]Thelackoforiginalityinhisthinkingshowsitselfinthefactthatheneverpresented
histhoughtsinasystem.AfternearlybeingexcommunicatedduetochargesofheresybyAlexanderof
Alexandria,EusebiussubmittedandagreedtotheNiceneCreedattheFirstCouncilofNiceain
325.[citationneeded]
Eusebiusheldthatmenweresinnersbytheirownfreechoiceandnotbythenecessityoftheirnatures.
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Eusebiussaid,"TheCreatorofallthingshasimpressedanaturallawuponthesoulofeveryman,asan
assistantandallyinhisconduct,pointingouttohimtherightwaybythislawbut,bythefreelibertywith
whichheisendowed,makingthechoiceofwhatisbestworthyofpraiseandacceptance,becausehe
hasactedrightly,notbyforce,butfromhisownfreewill,whenhehaditinhispowertoactotherwise,
As,again,makinghimwhochooseswhatisworst,deservingofblameandpunishment,ashavingby
hisownmotionneglectedthenaturallaw,andbecomingtheoriginandfountainofwickedness,and
misusinghimself,notfromanyextraneousnecessity,butfromfreewillandjudgment.Thefaultisinhim
whochooses,notinGod.ForGodhasnotmadenatureorthesubstanceofthesoulbadforhewhois
goodcanmakenothingbutwhatisgood.Everythingisgoodwhichisaccordingtonature.Every
rationalsoulhasnaturallyagoodfreewill,formedforthechoiceofwhatisgood.Butwhenamanacts
wrongly,natureisnottobeblamedforwhatiswrong,takesplacenotaccordingtonature,butcontrary
tonature,itbeingtheworkofchoice,andnotofnature".[56]
BythetimeoftheByzantineIconoclasmseveralcenturieslater,Eusebiushadunfairlygainedthe
reputationofhavingbeenanArian,andwasroundlycondemnedassuchbyPatriarchNikephorosIof
Constantinople.AletterEusebiusissupposedtohavewrittentoConstantine'sdaughterConstantia,
refusingtofulfillherrequestforimagesofChrist,wasquotedinthedecrees(nowlost)ofthe
IconoclastCouncilofHieriain754,andlaterquotedinpartintherebuttaloftheHieriadecreesin
theSecondCouncilofNicaeaof787,nowtheonlysourcefromwhichsomeofthetextisknown.The
authenticity,orauthorshipoftheletterremainuncertain.[57]

Assessment

[ edit ]

EdwardGibbonopenlydistrustedthewritingsofEusebiusconcerningthenumberofmartyrs,by
notingapassageintheshortertextoftheMartyrsofPalestineattachedtotheEcclesiastical
History(Book8,Chapter2)inwhichEusebiusintroduceshisdescriptionofthemartyrsoftheGreat
PersecutionunderDiocletianwith:"Whereforewehavedecidedtorelatenothingconcerningthem
exceptthethingsinwhichwecanvindicatetheDivinejudgment.[...]Weshallintroduceintothis
historyingeneralonlythoseeventswhichmaybeusefulfirsttoourselvesandafterwardsto
posterity."[58]Inthelongertextofthesamework,chapter12,Eusebiusstates:"Ithinkitbesttopass
byalltheothereventswhichoccurredinthemeantime:suchas[...]thelustofpoweronthepartof
many,thedisorderlyandunlawfulordinations,andtheschismsamongtheconfessorsthemselves
alsothenoveltieswhichwerezealouslydevisedagainsttheremnantsoftheChurchbythenewand
factiousmembers,whoaddedinnovationafterinnovationandforcedtheminunsparinglyamongthe
calamitiesofthepersecution,heapingmisfortuneuponmisfortune.Ijudgeitmoresuitabletoshun
andavoidtheaccountofthesethings,asIsaidatthebeginning."
Whenhisownhonestywaschallengedbyhiscontemporaries,[59]Gibbonappealedtoachapter
headinginEusebius'Praeparatioevangelica(BookXII,Chapter31)[60]inwhichEusebiusdiscussed
"Thatitwillbenecessarysometimestousefalsehoodasaremedyforthebenefitofthosewho
requiresuchamodeoftreatment."[61]
AlthoughGibbonreferstoEusebiusasthe'gravest'oftheecclesiasticalhistorians,[62]healso
suggeststhatEusebiuswasmoreconcernedwiththepassingpoliticalconcernsofhistimethanhis
dutyasareliablehistorian.[63]
JacobBurckhardt(19thcenturyculturalhistorian)dismissedEusebiusas"thefirstthoroughly
dishonesthistorianofantiquity".
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OthercriticsofEusebius'workcitethepanegyricaltoneoftheVita,plustheomissionofinternal
ChristianconflictsintheCanones,asreasonstointerprethiswritingwithcaution.[64]
AlternateviewshavesuggestedthatGibbon'sdismissalofEusebiusisinappropriate:
WithreferencetoGibbon'scomments,JosephBarberLightfoot(late19thcenturytheologianand
formerBishopofDurham)pointedout[65]thatEusebius'statementsindicatehishonestyinstating
whathewasnotgoingtodiscuss,andalsohislimitationsasahistorianinnotincludingsuch
material.Healsodiscussesthequestionofaccuracy."ThemannerinwhichEusebiusdealswithhis
verynumerousquotationselsewhere,wherewecantesthishonesty,isasufficientvindication
againstthisunjustcharge."LightfootalsonotesthatEusebiuscannotalwaysbereliedon:"Afar
moreseriousdrawbacktohisvalueasahistorianisthelooseanduncriticalspiritinwhichhe
sometimesdealswithhismaterials.Thisshowsitselfindiverseways.Heisnotalwaystobetrusted
inhisdiscriminationofgenuineandspuriousdocuments."
AverilCameron(professoratKing'sCollegeandOxford)andStuartHall(historianandtheologian),
intheirrecenttranslationoftheLifeofConstantine,pointoutthatwriterssuchasBurckhardtfoundit
necessarytoattackEusebiusinordertounderminetheideologicallegitimacyoftheHabsburg
empire,whichbaseditselfontheideaofChristianempirederivedfromConstantine,andthatthe
mostcontroversialletterintheLifehassincebeenfoundamongthepapyriofEgypt.[66]
InChurchHistory(Vol.59,1990),MichaelJ.Hollerich(assistantprofessorattheJesuitSantaClara
University,California)repliestoBurckhardt'scriticismofEusebius,that"Eusebiushasbeenan
invitingtargetforstudentsoftheConstantinianera.Atonetimeoranothertheyhavecharacterized
himasapoliticalpropagandist,agoodcourtier,theshrewdandworldlyadviseroftheEmperor
Constantine,thegreatpublicistofthefirstChristianemperor,thefirstinalongsuccessionof
ecclesiasticalpoliticians,theheraldofByzantinism,apoliticaltheologian,apoliticalmetaphysician,
andacaesaropapist.Itisobviousthatthesearenot,inthemain,neutraldescriptions.Much
traditionalscholarship,sometimeswithbarelysuppresseddisdain,hasregardedEusebiusasone
whoriskedhisorthodoxyandperhapshischaracterbecauseofhiszealfortheConstantinian
establishment."Hollerichconcludesthat"...thestandardassessmenthasexaggeratedthe
importanceofpoliticalthemesandpoliticalmotivesinEusebius'slifeandwritingsandhasfailedto
dojusticetohimasachurchmanandascholar".
WhilemanyhavesharedBurckhardt'sassessment,particularlywithreferencetotheLifeof
Constantine,others,whilenotpretendingtoextolhismerits,haveacknowledgedtheirreplaceablevalue
ofhisworkswhichmayprincipallyresideinthecopiousquotationsthattheycontainfromothersources,
oftenlost.

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