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Eusebius of Caesarea, The Church History. — Preface
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§2. Eusebius’ Birth and Training. His Life in Cæsarea until the Outbreak of the Persecution.
§3. The Persecution of Diocletian.
§4. Eusebius’ Accession to the Bishopric of Cæsarea.
§5. The Outbreak of the Arian Controversy. The Attitude of Eusebius .
§7. Continuance of the Arian Controversy. Eusebius’ Relations to the Two Parties.
§3. Eusebius as a Historian. The Merits and Defects of his History .
Testimonies of the Ancients in Favor of Eusebius.
Testimonies of the Ancients Against Eusebius.
The Church History of Eusebius.
Chapter II.— Summary View of the Pre-existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter IV.— The Religion Proclaimed by Him to All Nations Was Neither New Nor Strange.
Chapter V.— The Time of his Appearance among Men.
Chapter VII.— The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in regard to the Genealogy of Christ.
Chapter VIII.— The Cruelty of Herod toward the Infants, and the Manner of his Death.
Chapter IX.— The Times of Pilate.
Chapter X.— The High Priests of the Jews under whom Christ taught.
Chapter XI.— Testimonies in Regard to John the Baptist and Christ.
Chapter XII.— The Disciples of our Saviour.
Chapter XIII.— Narrative concerning the Prince of the Edessenes.
Chapter I.— The Course pursued by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ.
Chapter II.— How Tiberius was affected when informed by Pilate concerning Christ.
Chapter III.— The Doctrine of Christ soon spread throughout All the World.
Chapter V.— Philo’s Embassy to Caius in Behalf of the Jews.
Chapter VI.— The Misfortunes which overwhelmed the Jews after their Presumption against Christ.
Chapter VII.— Pilate’s Suicide.
Chapter VIII.— The Famine which took Place in the Reign of Claudius.
Chapter IX.— The Martyrdom of James the Apostle.
Chapter XI.— The Impostor Theudas and his Followers.
Chapter XII.— Helen, the Queen of the Osrhœnians.
Chapter XIV.— The Preaching of the Apostle Peter in Rome.
Chapter XV.— The Gospel according to Mark.
Chapter XVI.— Mark first proclaimed Christianity to the Inhabitants of Egypt.
Chapter XVII.— Philo’s Account of the Ascetics of Egypt.
Chapter XVIII.— The Works of Philo that have come down to us.
Chapter XIX.— The Calamity which befell the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of the Passover.
Chapter XX.— The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the Reign of Nero.
Chapter XXI.— The Egyptian, who is mentioned also in the Acts of the Apostles.
Chapter XXIII.— The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord.
Chapter XXIV.— Annianus the First Bishop of the Church of Alexandria after Mark.
Chapter II.— The First Ruler of the Church of Rome.
Chapter III.— The Epistles of the Apostles.
Chapter IV.— The First Successors of the Apostles.
Chapter V.— The Last Siege of the Jews after Christ.
Chapter VI.— The Famine which oppressed them.
Chapter VII.— The Predictions of Christ.
Chapter VIII.— The Signs which preceded the War.
Chapter IX.— Josephus and the Works which he has left.
Chapter X.— The Manner in which Josephus mentions the Divine Books.
Chapter XI.— Symeon rules the Church of Jerusalem after James.
Chapter XII.— Vespasian commands the Descendants of David to be sought.
Chapter XIII.— Anencletus, the Second Bishop of Rome.
Chapter XIV.— Abilius, the Second Bishop of Alexandria.
Chapter XV.— Clement, the Third Bishop of Rome.
Chapter XVI.— The Epistle of Clement.
Chapter XVII.— The Persecution under Domitian.
Chapter XVIII.— The Apostle John and the Apocalypse.
Chapter XIX.— Domitian commands the Descendants of David to be slain.
Chapter XX.— The Relatives of our Saviour.
Chapter XXI.— Cerdon becomes the Third Ruler of the Church of Alexandria.
Chapter XXII.— Ignatius, the Second Bishop of Antioch.
Chapter XXIII.— Narrative Concerning John the Apostle.
Chapter XXIV.— The Order of the Gospels.
Chapter XXV.— The Divine Scriptures that are accepted and those that are not.
Chapter XXVI.— Menander the Sorcerer.
Chapter XXVII.— The Heresy of the Ebionites.
Chapter XXVIII.— Cerinthus the Heresiarch.
Chapter XXIX.— Nicolaus and the Sect named after him.
Chapter XXX.— The Apostles that were Married.
Chapter XXXI.— The Death of John and Philip.
Chapter XXXII.— Symeon, Bishop of Jerusalem, suffers Martyrdom.
Chapter XXXIII.— Trajan forbids the Christians to be sought after.
Chapter XXXIV.— Evarestus, the Fourth Bishop of the Church of Rome.
Chapter XXXV.— Justus, the Third Bishop of Jerusalem.
Chapter XXXVI.— Ignatius and His Epistles.
Chapter XXXVII.— The Evangelists that were still Eminent at that Time.
Chapter XXXVIII.— The Epistle of Clement and the Writings falsely ascribed to him.
Chapter XXXIX.— The Writings of Papias.
Chapter II.— The Calamities of the Jews during Trajan’s Reign.
Chapter III.— The Apologists that wrote in Defense of the Faith during the Reign of Adrian.
Chapter IV.— The Bishops of Rome and of Alexandria under the Same Emperor .
Chapter V.— The Bishops of Jerusalem from the Age of our Saviour to the Period under Consideration
Chapter VI.— The Last Siege of the Jews under Adrian .
Chapter VII.— The Persons that became at that Time Leaders of Knowledge falsely so-called .
Chapter VIII.— Ecclesiastical Writers .
Chapter IX.— The Epistle of Adrian, decreeing that we should not be punished without a Trial .
Chapter X.— The Bishops of Rome and of Alexandria during the Reign of Antoninus .
Chapter XI.— The Heresiarchs of that Age .
Chapter XII.— The Apology of Justin addressed to Antoninus.
ChapterXIII.— The Epistle of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia in Regard to our Doctrine .
Chapter XIV.— The Circumstances related of Polycarp, a Friend of the Apostles .
Chapter XV.— Under Verus, Polycarp with Others suffered Martyrdom at Smyrna
Chapter XVI.— Justin the Philosopher preaches the Word of Christ in Rome and suffers Martyrdom.
Chapter XVII.— The Martyrs whom Justin mentions in his Own Work.
Chapter XVIII.— The Works of Justin which have come down to us.
Chapter XIX.— The Rulers of the Churches of Rome and Alexandria during the Reign of Verus.
Chapter XX.— The Rulers of the Church of Antioch.
Chapter XXI.— The Ecclesiastical Writers that flourished in Those Days.
Chapter XXII.— Hegesippus and the Events which he mentions.
Chapter XXIII.— Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, and the Epistles which he wrote.
Chapter XXIV.— Theophilus Bishop of Antioch.
Chapter XXV.— Philip and Modestus.
Chapter XXVI.— Melito and the Circumstances which he records.
Chapter XXVII.— Apolinarius, Bishop of the Church of Hierapolis.
Chapter XXVIII.— Musanus and His Writings.
Chapter XXIX.— The Heresy of Tatian.
Chapter XXX.— Bardesanes the Syrian and his Extant Works.
Chapter II.— The Martyrs, beloved of God, kindly ministered unto those who fell in the Persecution.
Chapter III.— The Vision which appeared in a Dream to the Witness Attalus.
Chapter IV.— Irenæus commended by the Witnesses in a Letter.
Chapter VI.— Catalogue of the Bishops of Rome.
Chapter VII.— Even down to those Times Miracles were performed by the Faithful.
Chapter VIII.— The Statements of Irenæus in regard to the Divine Scriptures.
Chapter IX.— The Bishops under Commodus.
Chapter X.— Pantænus the Philosopher.
Chapter XI.— Clement of Alexandria.
Chapter XII.— The Bishops in Jerusalem.
Chapter XIII.— Rhodo and his Account of the Dissension of Marcion.
Chapter XIV.— The False Prophets of the Phrygians.
Chapter XV.— The Schism of Blastus at Rome.
Chapter XVI.— The Circumstances related of Montanus and his False Prophets.
Chapter XVII.— Miltiades and His Works.
Chapter XIX.— Serapion on the Heresy of the Phrygians.
Chapter XX.— The Writings of Irenæus against the Schismatics at Rome.
Chapter XXI.— How Appolonius suffered Martyrdom at Rome.
Chapter XXII.— The Bishops that were well known at this Time.
Chapter XXIII.— The Question then agitated concerning the Passover.
Chapter XXIV.— The Disagreement in Asia.
Chapter XXV.— How All came to an Agreement respecting the Passover.
Chapter XXVI.— The Elegant Works of Irenæus which have come down to us.
Chapter XXVII.— The Works of Others that flourished at that Time.
Chapter II.— The Training of Origen from Childhood.
Chapter III.— While still very Young, he taught diligently the Word of Christ.
Chapter IV.— The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs.
Chapter VI.— Clement of Alexandria.
Chapter VII.— The Writer, Judas.
Chapter VIII.— Origen’s Daring Deed.
Chapter IX.— The Miracles of Narcissus.
Chapter X.— The Bishops of Jerusalem.
Chapter XII.— Serapion and his Extant Works.
Chapter XIII.— The Writings of Clement.
Chapter XIV.— The Scriptures mentioned by Him.
Chapter XVI.— Origen’s Earnest Study of the Divine Scriptures.
Chapter XVII.— The Translator Symmachus.
Chapter XIX.— Circumstances Related of Origen.
Chapter XX.— The Extant Works of the Writers of that Age.
Chapter XXI.— The Bishops that were well known at that Time.
Chapter XXII.— The Works of Hippolytus which have reached us.
Chapter XXIII.— Origen’s Zeal and his Elevation to the Presbyterate.
Chapter XXIV.— The Commentaries which he prepared at Alexandria.
Chapter XXV.— His Review of the Canonical Scriptures.
Chapter XXVI.— Heraclas becomes Bishop of Alexandria.
Chapter XXVII.— How the Bishops regarded Origen.
Chapter XXVIII.— The Persecution under Maximinus.
Chapter XXIX.— Fabianus, who was wonderfully designated Bishop of Rome by God.
Chapter XXX.— The Pupils of Origen.
Chapter XXXII.— The Commentaries which Origen composed in Cæsarea in Palestine.
Chapter XXXIII.— The Error of Beryllus.
Chapter XXXV.— Dionysius succeeds Heraclas in the Episcopate.
Chapter XXXVI.— Other Works of Origen.
Chapter XXXVII.— The Dissension of the Arabians.
Chapter XXXVIII.— The Heresy of the Elkesites.
Chapter XXXIX.— The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen.
Chapter XL.— The Events which happened to Dionysius.
Chapter XLI.— The Martyrs in Alexandria.
Chapter XLII.— Others of whom Dionysius gives an Account.
Chapter XLIII.— Novatus, his Manner of Life and his Heresy.
Chapter XLIV.— Dionysius’ Account of Serapion.
Chapter XLV.— An Epistle of Dionysius to Novatus.
Chapter XLVI.— Other Epistles of Dionysius.
Chapter I.— The Wickedness of Decius and Gallus.
Chapter II.— The Bishops of Rome in those Times.
Chapter IV.— The Epistles which Dionysius wrote on this Subject.
Chapter V.— The Peace following the Persecution.
Chapter VI.— The Heresy of Sabellius.
Chapter VIII.— The Heterodoxy of Novatus.
Chapter IX.— The Ungodly Baptism of the Heretics.
Chapter X.— Valerian and the Persecution under him.
Chapter XI.— The Events which happened at this Time to Dionysius and those in Egypt.
Chapter XII.— The Martyrs in Cæsarea in Palestine.
Chapter XIII.— The Peace under Gallienus.
Chapter XIV.— The Bishops that flourished at that Time.
Chapter XV.— The Martyrdom of Marinus at Cæsarea.
Chapter XVI.— Story in Regard to Astyrius.
Chapter XVII.— The Signs at Paneas of the Great Might of our Saviour.
Chapter XVIII.— The Statue which the Woman with an Issue of Blood erected.
Chapter XIX.— The Episcopal Chair of James.
Chapter XX.— The Festal Epistles of Dionysius, in which he also gives a Paschal Canon.
Chapter XXI.— The Occurrences at Alexandria.
Chapter XXII.— The Pestilence which came upon them.
Chapter XXIII.— The Reign of Gallienus.
Chapter XXIV.— Nepos and his Schism.
Chapter XXV.— The Apocalypse of John.
Chapter XXVI.— The Epistles of Dionysius.
Chapter XXVII.— Paul of Samosata, and the Heresy introduced by him at Antioch.
Chapter XXVIII.— The Illustrious Bishops of that Time.
Chapter XXX.— The Epistle of the Bishops against Paul.
Chapter XXXI.— The Perversive Heresy of the Manicheans which began at this Time.
Chapter I.— The Events which preceded the Persecution in our Times.
Chapter II.— The Destruction of the Churches.
Chapter III.— The Nature of the Conflicts endured in the Persecution.
Chapter V.— Those in Nicomedia.
Chapter VI.— Those in the Palace.
Chapter VII.— The Egyptians in Phœnicia.
Chapter VIII.— Those in Egypt .
Chapter IX.— Those in Thebais.
Chapter X.— The Writings of Phileas the Martyr describing the Occurrences at Alexandria.
Chapter XI.— Those in Phrygia.
Chapter XII.— Many Others, both Men and Women, who suffered in Various Ways.
Chapter XIV.— The Character of the Enemies of Religion.
Chapter XV.— The Events which happened to the Heathen.
Chapter XVI.— The Change of Affairs for the Better.
Chapter XVII.— The Revocation of the Rulers.
Chapter II.— The Subsequent Reverse.
Chapter III.— The Newly Erected Statue at Antioch.
Chapter IV.— The Memorials against us.
Chapter VI.— Those who suffered Martyrdom at this Time.
Chapter VII.— The Decree against us which was engraved on Pillars.
Chapter IX.— The Victory of the God-Beloved Emperors.
Chapter X.— The Overthrow of the Tyrants and the Words which they uttered before their Death.
Chapter XI.— The Final Destruction of the Enemies of Religion.
Chapter II.— The Restoration of the Churches.
Chapter III.— The Dedications in Every Place.
Chapter IV.— Panegyric on the Splendor of Affairs.
Chapter V.— Copies of Imperial Laws.
Chapter VI. — Copy of an Imperial Epistle in which Money is granted to the Churches.
Chapter VII.— The Exemption of the Clergy.
Chapter VIII.— The Subsequent Wickedness of Licinius, and his Death.
Supplementary Notes and Tables.
On Bk. III. chap. 3, § 5 (note 17, continued).
On Bk. III. chap. 3, § 6 (note 22, continued).
On Bk. III. chap. 24, § 17 (note 18 continued).
On Bk. III. chap. 25, § 4 (note 18 continued).
On Bk. III. chap. 32, § 6 (note 14 a ).
On Bk. III. chap. 39, § 1 (note 1, continued).
On Bk. V. Introd. § I (note 3, continued). The Successors of Antoninus Pius .
On Bk. V. chap. 1, § 27 (note 26, continued).
On Bk. VI. chap. 2 (note 1, continued). Origen’s Life and Writings .
On Bk. VI. chap. 8, § 5 (note 4). Origen and Demetrius .
On Bk. VI. chap. 23, § 4 (note 6). Origen’s Visit to Achaia .
On Bk. VII. chap. 26, § 1 (note 4, continued).
On Bk. VIII. chap. 2, § 4 (note 3, continued). The Causes of the Diocletian Persecution .
On Bk. X. chap. 8, § 4 (note I, a).
The Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, mentioned by Eusebius.
Table showing the Roman Method of counting the Days of the Month.
Chapter XX.— The Relatives of our Saviour.
1. “Of the family of the Lord there were still living the grandchildren of Jude, who is said to have been the Lord’s brother according to the flesh. 158 This Jude was the brother of James, “the brother of the Lord,” who is mentioned in Jude 1, and is to be distinguished from Jude (Thaddeus-Lebbæus), one of the Twelve, whose name appears in the catalogues of Luke (Luke vi. 14 and Acts i. 13) as the son of James (not his brother, as the A.V. translates: the Greek words are ᾽Ιούδας ᾽Ιακώβου). For a discussion of the relationship of these men to Christ, see above, Bk. I. chap. 12, note 14. Of the son of Jude and father of the young men mentioned in this chapter we know nothing.
2. Information was given that they belonged to the family of David, and they were brought to the Emperor Domitian by the Evocatus. 159 According to Andrew’s Lexicon, “An Evocatus was a soldier who, having served out his time, was called upon to do military duty as a volunteer.” This suspiciousness is perfectly in keeping with the character of Domitian. The same thing is told also of Vespasian, in chap. 12; but in his case the political situation was far more serious, and revolutions under the lead of one of the royal family might most naturally be expected just after the terrible destruction. The same act is also mentioned in connection with Trajan, in chap. 32, and there is no reason to doubt its truthfulness, for the Jews were well known as a most rebellious and troublesome people. For Domitian feared the coming of Christ as Herod also had feared it. And he asked them if they were descendants of David, and they confessed that they were. Then he asked them how much property they had, or how much money they owned. And both of them answered that they had only nine thousand denarii, 160 A denarius was a Roman silver coin, in value about sixteen, or, according to others, about nineteen, cents. half of which belonged to each of them;
4. and this property did not consist of silver, but of a piece of land which contained only thirty-nine acres, and from which they raised their taxes 161 “Taxes or tributes were paid commonly in the products of the land” (Val.). and supported themselves by their own labor.” 162 Most editors (including Valesius, Heinichen, Crusè, &c.) regard the quotation from Hegesippus as extending through §8; but it really ends here, and from this point on Eusebius reproduces the sense in his own words (and so Bright gives it in his edition). This is perfectly clear, for in the first place, the infinitive ἐπιδεικνῦναι occurs in the next sentence, a form possible only in indirect discourse: and secondly, as Lightfoot has pointed out, the statement of §8 is repeated in chap. 32, §6, and there in the exact language of Hegesippus, which differs enough from the language of §8 to show that the latter is a free reproduction.
5. Then they showed their hands, exhibiting the hardness of their bodies and the callousness produced upon their hands by continuous toil as evidence of their own labor.
6. And when they were asked concerning Christ and his kingdom, of what sort it was and where and when it was to appear, they answered that it was not a temporal nor an earthly kingdom, but a heavenly and angelic one, which would appear at the end of the world, when he should come in glory to judge the quick and the dead, and to give unto every one according to his works.
7. Upon hearing this, Domitian did not pass judgment against them, but, despising them as of no account, he let them go, and by a decree put a stop to the persecution of the Church.
8. But when they were released they ruled the churches because they were witnesses 163 μ€ρτυρας. On the use of this word, see chap. 32, note 15. and were also relatives of the Lord. 164 Compare Renan’s Les Evangiles, p. 466. And peace being established, they lived until the time of Trajan. These things are related by Hegesippus.
9. Tertullian also has mentioned Domitian in the following words: 165 Tertullian, Apol. chap. 5. “Domitian also, who possessed a share of Nero’s cruelty, attempted once to do the same thing that the latter did. But because he had, I suppose, some intelligence, 166 τι συνέσεως. Lat. sed qua et homo. he very soon ceased, and even recalled those whom he had banished.”
10. But after Domitian had reigned fifteen years, 167 Domitian reigned from Dec. 13, 81 a.d., to Sept. 18, 96. and Nerva had succeeded to the empire, the Roman Senate, according to the writers that record the history of those days, 168 See Dion Cassius, LXVIII. 1 sq., and Suetonius’ Domitian, chap. 23. voted that Domitian’s honors should be cancelled, and that those who had been unjustly banished should return to their homes and have their property restored to them.
11. It was at this time that the apostle John returned from his banishment in the island and took up his abode at Ephesus, according to an ancient Christian tradition. 169 Literally, “the word of the ancients among us” (ὁ τῶν παρ᾽ ἡμῖν ἀρχαίων λόγος). On the tradition itself, see chap. 1, note 6.