Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 1
Eusebius — Church History, Constantine & Oration
SECTION 41
Book II.
Book II. Introduction. 1. We have discussed in the preceding book those subjects in ecclesiastical history which it was necessary to treat by way of introduction, and have accompanied them with brief proofs. Such were the divinity of the saving Word, and the antiquity of the doctrines which we teach, as well as of that evangel…
2,396 wordsSECTION 42[236] See Acts vi. 1-6.
[236] See Acts vi. 1-6. [237] See Acts vii [238] stephanos, "a crown." [239] James is not called the "Just" in the New Testament, but Hegesippus (quoted by Eusebius, chap. 23) says that he was called thus by all from the time of Christ, on account of his great piety, and it is by this name that he is known throughout history.…
1,245 wordsSECTION 43Chapter II.--How Tiberius was affected when informed by Pilate concerning Christ.
Chapter II.--How Tiberius was affected when informed by Pilate concerning Christ. 1. And when the wonderful resurrection and ascension of our Saviour were already noised abroad, in accordance with an ancient custom which prevailed among the rulers of the provinces, of reporting to the emperor the novel occurrences which took pl…
2,009 wordsSECTION 44Chapter III.--The Doctrine of Christ soon spread throughout All the World.
Chapter III.--The Doctrine of Christ soon spread throughout All the World. 1. Thus, under the influence of heavenly power, and with the divine co-operation, the doctrine of the Saviour, like the rays of the sun, quickly illumined the whole world; [283] and straightway, in accordance with the divine Scriptures, [284] the voice o…
873 wordsSECTION 45Chapter IV.--After the Death of Tiberius, Caius appointed Agrippa King of the Jews, having punished Herod with Perpetual Exile.
Chapter IV.--After the Death of Tiberius, Caius appointed Agrippa King of the Jews, having punished Herod with Perpetual Exile. 1. Tiberius died, after having reigned about twenty-two years, [292] and Caius succeeded him in the empire. [293] He immediately gave the government of the Jews to Agrippa, [294] making him king over t…
743 wordsSECTION 46Chapter V.--Philo's Embassy to Caius in Behalf of the Jews.
Chapter V.--Philo's Embassy to Caius in Behalf of the Jews. 1. Philo has given us an account, in five books, of the misfortunes of the Jews under Caius. [301] He recounts at the same time the madness of Caius: how he called himself a god, and performed as emperor innumerable acts of tyranny; and he describes further the miserie…
1,750 wordsSECTION 47Chapter VI.--The Misfortunes which overwhelmed the Jews after their Presumption against Christ.
Chapter VI.--The Misfortunes which overwhelmed the Jews after their Presumption against Christ. 1. After the death of Tiberius, Caius received the empire, and, besides innumerable other acts of tyranny against many people, he greatly afflicted especially the whole nation of the Jews. [310] These things we may learn briefly from…
1,124 wordsSECTION 48Chapter VII.--Pilate's Suicide.
Chapter VII.--Pilate's Suicide. It is worthy of note that Pilate himself, who was governor in the time of our Saviour, is reported to have fallen into such misfortunes under Caius, whose times we are recording, that he was forced to become his own murderer and executioner; [323] and thus divine vengeance, as it seems, was not l…
1,101 wordsSECTION 49Chapter X.--Agrippa, who was also called Herod, having persecuted the Apostles, immediately experienced the Divine Vengeance.
Chapter X.--Agrippa, who was also called Herod, having persecuted the Apostles, immediately experienced the Divine Vengeance. 1. The consequences of the king's undertaking against the apostles were not long deferred, but the avenging minister of divine justice overtook him immediately after his plots against them, as the Book o…
2,228 wordsSECTION 50Chapter XI.--The Impostor Theudas and his Followers.
Chapter XI.--The Impostor Theudas and his Followers. 1. Luke, in the Acts, introduces Gamaliel as saying, at the consultation which was held concerning the apostles, that at the time referred to, [347] "rose up Theudas boasting himself to be somebody; who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered." [348] Let us …
1,073 wordsSECTION 51Chapter XIII.--Simon Magus. [360]
Chapter XIII.--Simon Magus. [360] 1. But faith in our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ having now been diffused among all men, [361] the enemy of man's salvation contrived a plan for seizing the imperial city for himself. He conducted thither the above-mentioned Simon, [362] aided him in his deceitful arts, led many of the inhabit…
2,324 wordsSECTION 52Chapter XIV.--The Preaching of the Apostle Peter in Rome.
Chapter XIV.--The Preaching of the Apostle Peter in Rome. 1. The evil power, [378] who hates all that is good and plots against the salvation of men, constituted Simon at that time the father and author of such wickedness, [379] as if to make him a mighty antagonist of the great, inspired apostles of our Saviour. 2. For that d…
1,390 wordsSECTION 53Chapter XV.--The Gospel according to Mark.
Chapter XV.--The Gospel according to Mark. 1. And thus when the divine word had made its home among them, [387] the power of Simon was quenched and immediately destroyed, together with the man himself. [388] And so greatly did the splendor of piety illumine the minds of Peter's hearers that they were not satisfied with hearing …
1,271 wordsSECTION 54Chapter XVI.--Mark first proclaimed Christianity to the Inhabitants of Egypt.
Chapter XVI.--Mark first proclaimed Christianity to the Inhabitants of Egypt. 1. And they say that this Mark was the first that was sent to Egypt, and that he proclaimed the Gospel which he had written, and first established churches in Alexandria. [394] 2. And the multitude of believers, both men and women, that were collecte…
2,246 wordsSECTION 55[397] peri biou theoretikou e hiketon; De Vita Contemplativa. This work is still extant, and is given by Mangey, II. 471-486. Eusebius is th
[397] peri biou theoretikou e hiketon; De Vita Contemplativa. This work is still extant, and is given by Mangey, II. 471-486. Eusebius is the first writer to mention it, and he identifies the Therapeutæ described in it with the Christian monks, and assumes in consequence that monasticism in the form in which he knew it existed i…
1,328 wordsSECTION 56Chapter XVIII.--The Works of Philo [420] that have come down to us.
Chapter XVIII.--The Works of Philo [420] that have come down to us. 1. Copious in language, comprehensive in thought, sublime and elevated in his views of divine Scripture, Philo has produced manifold and various expositions of the sacred books. On the one hand, he expounds in order the events recorded in Genesis in the books t…
2,307 wordsSECTION 57[435] peri gig?nton, e peri tou me trepesthai to theion. Upon Gen. vi. 1-4 and 4-12. The two parts of this work, both of which are still ext
[435] peri gig?nton, e peri tou me trepesthai to theion. Upon Gen. vi. 1-4 and 4-12. The two parts of this work, both of which are still extant, form really but one book; for instance, Johannes Monachus (ineditus) quotes from the latter part under the title peri gig?nton (according to Mangey, I. 262, note, and 272, note). But th…
1,827 wordsSECTION 58Chapter XIX.--The Calamity which befell the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of the Passover.
Chapter XIX.--The Calamity which befell the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of the Passover. 1. While Claudius was still emperor, it happened that so great a tumult and disturbance took place in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, that thirty thousand of those Jews alone who were forcibly crowded together at the gate of the te…
948 wordsSECTION 59Chapter XX.--The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the Reign of Nero.
Chapter XX.--The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the Reign of Nero. 1. Josephus again, in the twentieth book of his Antiquities, relates the quarrel which arose among the priests during the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of Judea. 2. His words are as follows [460] : "There arose a quarrel between the hig…
1,518 wordsSECTION 60Chapter XXII.--Paul having been sent bound from Judea to Rome, made his Defense, and was acquitted of every Charge.
Chapter XXII.--Paul having been sent bound from Judea to Rome, made his Defense, and was acquitted of every Charge. 1. Festus [469] was sent by Nero to be Felix's successor. Under him Paul, having made his defense, was sent bound to Rome. [470] Aristarchus was with him, whom he also somewhere in his epistles quite naturally cal…
2,143 wordsSECTION 61Chapter XXIII.--The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord.
Chapter XXIII.--The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord. 1. But after Paul, in consequence of his appeal to Cæsar, had been sent to Rome by Festus, the Jews, being frustrated in their hope of entrapping him by the snares which they had laid for him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, [484] to …
2,342 wordsSECTION 62[499] Rufinus translates non crediderunt neque surrexisse eum, &c., and he is followed by Fabricius (Cod. Apoc. N. T. II. p. 603). This rend
[499] Rufinus translates non crediderunt neque surrexisse eum, &c., and he is followed by Fabricius (Cod. Apoc. N. T. II. p. 603). This rendering suits the context excellently, and seems to be the only rendering which gives any meaning to the following sentence. And yet, as our Greek stands, it is impossible to translate thus, a…
2,227 wordsSECTION 63[526] Agrippa, as remarked above, chap. 19, note 4 exercised government over the temple, and enjoyed the power of appointing and removing th
[526] Agrippa, as remarked above, chap. 19, note 4 exercised government over the temple, and enjoyed the power of appointing and removing the high priests. [527] Of Jesus, the son of Damnæus, nothing further is known. He was succeeded, while Albinus was still procurator, by Jesus, the son of Gamaliel (Ant. XX. 9. 4). [528] Thi…
818 wordsSECTION 64Chapter XXIV.--Annianus the First Bishop of the Church of Alexandria after Mark.
Chapter XXIV.--Annianus the First Bishop of the Church of Alexandria after Mark. 1. When Nero was in the eighth year of his reign, [533] Annianus [534] succeeded Mark the evangelist in the administration of the parish of Alexandria. [535] [533] 62 a.d. With this agrees Jerome's version of the Chron., while the Armenian version…
2,401 wordsSECTION 65[544] ekklesiastikos anher.
[544] ekklesiastikos anher. [545] gegonos. Crusè translates "born"; but Eusebius cannot have meant that, for in Bk. VI. chap. 20 he tells us that Caius' disputation with Proclus was held during the episcopate of Zephyrinus. He used gegonos, therefore, as to indicate that at that time he came into public notice, as we use the wo…
1,116 wordsSECTION 66Chapter XXVI.--The Jews, afflicted with Innumerable Evils, commenced the Last War Against the Romans.
Chapter XXVI.--The Jews, afflicted with Innumerable Evils, commenced the Last War Against the Romans. 1. Josephus again, after relating many things in connection with the calamity which came upon the whole Jewish nation, records, [557] in addition to many other circumstances, that a great many [558] of the most honorable among …
2,090 wordsSECTION 67Chapter II.--The First Ruler of the Church of Rome.
Chapter II.--The First Ruler of the Church of Rome. 1. After the martyrdom of Paul and of Peter, Linus [576] was the first to obtain the episcopate of the church at Rome. Paul mentions him, when writing to Timothy from Rome, in the salutation at the end of the epistle. [577] [576] The actual order of the first three so-called …
2,323 wordsSECTION 68[586] The Apocalypse of Peter enjoyed considerable favor in the early Church and was accepted by some Fathers as a genuine work of the apost
[586] The Apocalypse of Peter enjoyed considerable favor in the early Church and was accepted by some Fathers as a genuine work of the apostle. It is mentioned in the Muratorian Fragment in connection with the Apocalypse of John, as a part of the Roman Canon, and is accepted by the author of the fragment himself; although he say…
3,106 wordsSECTION 69Chapter IV.--The First Successors of the Apostles.
Chapter IV.--The First Successors of the Apostles. 1. That Paul preached to the Gentiles and laid the foundations of the churches "from Jerusalem round about even unto Illyricum," is evident both from his own words, [601] and from the account which Luke has given in the Acts. [602] 2. And in how many provinces Peter preached C…
2,200 wordsSECTION 70[615] Rom. ii. 16, xvi. 25; 2 Tim. ii. 8. Eusebius uses the expression phasi, "they say," which seems to imply that the interpretation was a
[615] Rom. ii. 16, xvi. 25; 2 Tim. ii. 8. Eusebius uses the expression phasi, "they say," which seems to imply that the interpretation was a common one in his day. Schaff (Ch. Hist. I. p. 649) says that Origen also thus interpreted the passages in Romans and Timothy referred to, but he gives no references, and I have not been ab…
1,532 wordsSECTION 71Chapter V.--The Last Siege of the Jews after Christ.
Chapter V.--The Last Siege of the Jews after Christ. 1. After Nero had held the power thirteen years, [622] and Galba and Otho had ruled a year and six months, [623] Vespasian, who had become distinguished in the campaigns against the Jews, was proclaimed sovereign in Judea and received the title of Emperor from the armies ther…
1,110 wordsSECTION 72Chapter VI.--The Famine which oppressed them.
Chapter VI.--The Famine which oppressed them. 1. Taking the fifth book of the History of Josephus again in our hands, let us go through the tragedy of events which then occurred. [635] 2. "For the wealthy," he says, "it was equally dangerous to remain. For under pretense that they were going to desert men were put to death for…
2,205 wordsSECTION 73Chapter VII.--The Predictions of Christ.
[642] "In accordance with the idea that the souls of the murdered tormented, as furies, those who were most guilty of their death" (Stroth). [643] ede. All the mss. of Eusebius read humon. Some of the mss. of Josephus read ede, and Rufinus translates nam et ego prior comedi. Valesius, without ms. authority (but apparently with …
1,259 wordsSECTION 74Chapter VIII.--The Signs which preceded the War.
Chapter VIII.--The Signs which preceded the War. 1. Taking, then, the work of this author, read what he records in the sixth book of his History. His words are as follows: [656] "Thus were the miserable people won over at this time by the impostors and false prophets; [657] but they did not heed nor give credit to the visions a…
1,197 wordsSECTION 75Chapter IX.--Josephus and the Works which he has left.
Chapter IX.--Josephus and the Works which he has left. 1. After all this it is fitting that we should know something in regard to the origin and family of Josephus, who has contributed so much to the history in hand. He himself gives us information on this point in the following words: [667] "Josephus, the son of Mattathias, a …
1,539 wordsSECTION 76Chapter X.--The Manner in which Josephus mentions the Divine Books.
Chapter X.--The Manner in which Josephus mentions the Divine Books. 1. [675] "We have not, therefore, a multitude of books disagreeing and conflicting with one another; but we have only twenty-two, which contain the record of all time and are justly held to be divine. 2. Of these, five are by Moses, and contain the laws and th…
2,269 wordsSECTION 77Chapter XI.--Symeon rules the Church of Jerusalem after James.
[680] eis Makkabaious logos he peri autokr?toros logismou: De Maccabæis, seu de rationis imperio liber. This book is often called the Fourth Book of Maccabees, and was formerly ascribed to Josephus. As a consequence it is printed with his works in many editions. But it is now universally acknowledged to be spurious, although who…
1,338 wordsSECTION 78Chapter XII.--Vespasian commands the Descendants of David to be sought.
Chapter XII.--Vespasian commands the Descendants of David to be sought. He also relates that Vespasian after the conquest of Jerusalem gave orders that all that belonged to the lineage of David should be sought out, in order that none of the royal race might be left among the Jews; and in consequence of this a most terrible per…
750 wordsSECTION 79Chapter XVI.--The Epistle of Clement.
Chapter XVI.--The Epistle of Clement. There is extant an epistle of this Clement [706] which is acknowledged to be genuine and is of considerable length and of remarkable merit. [707] He wrote it in the name of the church of Rome to the church of Corinth, when a sedition had arisen in the latter church. [708] We know that this …
761 wordsSECTION 80Chapter XVIII.--The Apostle John and the Apocalypse.
Chapter XVIII.--The Apostle John and the Apocalypse. 1. It is said that in this persecution the apostle and evangelist John, who was still alive, was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos in consequence of his testimony to the divine word. [713] 2. Irenæus, in the fifth book of his work Against Heresies, where he discusse…
1,013 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.