Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 1
Eusebius — Church History, Constantine & Oration
SECTION 161
Chapter XXIV.--The Disagreement in Asia.
Chapter XXIV.--The Disagreement in Asia. 1. But the bishops of Asia, led by Polycrates, decided to hold to the old custom handed down to them. [1695] He himself, in a letter which he addressed to Victor and the church of Rome, set forth in the following words the tradition which had come down to him: [1696] 2. "We observe the …
2,392 wordsSECTION 162[1710] i.e. the fourteenth day.
[1710] i.e. the fourteenth day. [1711] The Greek reads: kai toi mallon enantion en to terein tois me terousi. The meaning is, that the observance of the fourteenth day by these strangers in Rome itself, among those who did not observe that day, would be noticeable and more distasteful than the mere report that the day was so ob…
930 wordsSECTION 163Chapter XXV.--How All came to an Agreement respecting the Passover.
Chapter XXV.--How All came to an Agreement respecting the Passover. 1. Those in Palestine whom we have recently mentioned, Narcissus and Theophilus, [1717] and with them Cassius, [1718] bishop of the church of Tyre, and Clarus of the church of Ptolemais, and those who met with them, [1719] having stated many things respecting t…
812 wordsSECTION 164Chapter XXVII.--The Works of Others that flourished at that Time.
Chapter XXVII.--The Works of Others that flourished at that Time. Numerous memorials of the faithful zeal of the ancient ecclesiastical men of that time are still preserved by many. Of these we would note particularly the writings of Heraclitus [1727] On the Apostle, and those of Maximus on the question so much discussed among …
1,893 wordsSECTION 165Chapter XXVIII.--Those who first advanced the Heresy of Artemon; their Manner of Life, and how they dared to corrupt the Sacred Scriptures.
Chapter XXVIII.--Those who first advanced the Heresy of Artemon; their Manner of Life, and how they dared to corrupt the Sacred Scriptures. 1. In a laborious work by one of these writers against the heresy of Artemon, [1735] which Paul of Samosata [1736] attempted to revive again in our day, there is an account appropriate to t…
2,294 wordsSECTION 166[1736] On Paul of Samosata, see below, Bk. VII. chap. 27, note 4.
[1736] On Paul of Samosata, see below, Bk. VII. chap. 27, note 4. [1737] The Artemonites were certainly correct in maintaining that the adoptionism which they held was, at least in its essential principles, an ancient thing, and their opponents were wrong in trying to deny it. It is the Christology which Hermas represents, and …
1,900 wordsSECTION 167Book VI.
Book VI. Chapter I.--The Persecution under Severus. When Severus began to persecute the churches, [1765] glorious testimonies were given everywhere by the athletes of religion. This was especially the case in Alexandria, to which city, as to a most prominent theater, athletes of God were brought from Egypt and all Thebais acco…
711 wordsSECTION 168Chapter II.--The Training of Origen from Childhood. [1767]
Chapter II.--The Training of Origen from Childhood. [1767] 1. Many things might be said in attempting to describe the life of the man while in school; but this subject alone would require a separate treatise. Nevertheless, for the present, abridging most things, we shall state a few facts concerning him as briefly as possible, …
1,821 wordsSECTION 169Chapter III.--While still very Young, he taught diligently the Word of Christ.
Chapter III.--While still very Young, he taught diligently the Word of Christ. 1. But while he was lecturing in the school, as he tells us himself, and there was no one at Alexandria to give instruction in the faith, as all were driven away by the threat of persecution, some of the heathen came to him to hear the word of God. …
2,213 wordsSECTION 170Chapter IV.--The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs.
Chapter IV.--The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs. 1. The first of these was Plutarch, who was mentioned just above. [1794] As he was led to death, the man of whom we are speaking being with him at the end of his life, came near being slain by his fellow-citizens, as if he were the cause of his death. But the providence of …
1,108 wordsSECTION 171Chapter VI.--Clement of Alexandria.
Chapter VI.--Clement of Alexandria. Clement [1803] having succeeded Pantænus, [1804] had charge at that time of the catechetical instruction in Alexandria, so that Origen also, while still a boy, [1805] was one of his pupils. In the first book of the work called Stromata, which Clement wrote, he gives a chronological table, [18…
800 wordsSECTION 172Chapter VII.--The Writer, Judas. [1807]
Chapter VII.--The Writer, Judas. [1807] At this time another writer, Judas, discoursing about the seventy weeks in Daniel, brings down the chronology to the tenth year of the reign of Severus. He thought that the coming of Antichrist, which was much talked about, was then near. [1808] So greatly did the agitation caused by the …
2,342 wordsSECTION 173Chapter IX.--The Miracles of Narcissus.
[1815] On Narcissus, see the next three chapters, and also Bk. V. chap. 12, note 1. Chapter IX.--The Miracles of Narcissus. 1. The citizens of that parish mention many other miracles of Narcissus, on the tradition of the brethren who succeeded him; among which they relate the following wonder as performed by him. 2. They say …
809 wordsSECTION 174Chapter XI.--Alexander.
Chapter XI.--Alexander. 1. But as on account of his great age Narcissus was no longer able to perform his official duties, [1822] the Providence of God called to the office with him, by a revelation given him in a night vision, the above-mentioned Alexander, who was then bishop of another parish. 2. Thereupon, as by Divine dir…
2,017 wordsSECTION 175Chapter XII.--Serapion and his Extant Works.
Chapter XII.--Serapion and his Extant Works. 1. It is probable that others have preserved other memorials of Serapion's [1831] literary industry, [1832] but there have reached us only those addressed to a certain Domninus, who, in the time of persecution, fell away from faith in Christ to the Jewish will-worship; [1833] and tho…
1,726 wordsSECTION 176Chapter XIII.--The Writings of Clement. [1840]
Chapter XIII.--The Writings of Clement. [1840] 1. All the eight Stromata of Clement are preserved among us, and have been given by him the following title: "Titus Flavius Clement's Stromata of Gnostic Notes on the True Philosophy." [1841] 2. The books entitled Hypotyposes [1842] are of the same number. In them he mentions Pant…
2,278 wordsSECTION 177[1847] to peri tou p?scha sungramma. This work is no longer extant, nor had Photius seen it, although he reports that he had heard of it. Tw
[1847] to peri tou p?scha sungramma. This work is no longer extant, nor had Photius seen it, although he reports that he had heard of it. Two fragments of it are found in the Chronicon Paschale, and are given by Potter. The work was composed, according to §9, below, at the instigation of friends, who urged him to commit to writi…
2,015 wordsSECTION 178Chapter XIV.--The Scriptures mentioned by Him.
Chapter XIV.--The Scriptures mentioned by Him. 1. To sum up briefly, he has given in the Hypotyposes [1869] abridged accounts of all canonical Scripture, not omitting the disputed books, [1870] --I refer to Jude and the other Catholic epistles, and Barnabas [1871] and the so-called Apocalypse of Peter. [1872] 2. He says that t…
1,166 wordsSECTION 179Chapter XV.--Heraclas. [1883]
Chapter XV.--Heraclas. [1883] 1. But when he saw that he had not time for the deeper study of divine things, and for the investigation and interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures, and also for the instruction of those who came to him,--for coming, one after another, from morning till evening to be taught by him, they scarcely g…
1,942 wordsSECTION 180Chapter XV.--Heraclas. [1883]
[1891] Origen's Hexapla (ta hexapla, to hexaploun, to hexaselidon, the first form being used by Eusebius in this chapter) was a polyglot Old Testament containing the Hebrew text, a transliteration of it in Greek letters (important because the Hebrew text was unpointed), the versions of Aquila, of Symmachus, of the LXX, and of Th…
1,489 wordsSECTION 181Chapter XVII.--The Translator Symmachus. [1894]
Chapter XVII.--The Translator Symmachus. [1894] As to these translators it should be stated that Symmachus was an Ebionite. But the heresy of the Ebionites, as it is called, asserts that Christ was the son of Joseph and Mary, considering him a mere man, and insists strongly on keeping the law in a Jewish manner, as we have seen…
1,056 wordsSECTION 182Chapter XIX.--Circumstances Related of Origen.
Chapter XIX.--Circumstances Related of Origen. 1. The Greek philosophers of his age are witnesses to his proficiency in these subjects. We find frequent mention of him in their writings. Sometimes they dedicated their own works to him; again, they submitted their labors to him as a teacher for his judgment. 2. Why need we say …
2,231 wordsSECTION 183[1904] Of the life of Ammonius Saccas, the "father of Neo-Platonism" very little is known. He is said by Suidas (s. v. Origenes) and by Ammi
[1904] Of the life of Ammonius Saccas, the "father of Neo-Platonism" very little is known. He is said by Suidas (s. v. Origenes) and by Ammianus Marcellinus to have been a porter in his youth and to have gained his second name from his occupation. That he was of Christian parents and afterward embraced paganism is stated in this…
2,357 wordsSECTION 184[1919] The names of the persons to whom this epistle was addressed we do not know, nor can we ascertain the exact time when it was composed,
[1919] The names of the persons to whom this epistle was addressed we do not know, nor can we ascertain the exact time when it was composed, though it must have been written before Heraclas became bishop of Alexandria, and indeed, we may assume, while Origen was in Alexandria, and still engaged in the study which he defends in t…
1,150 wordsSECTION 185Chapter XX.--The Extant Works of the Writers of that Age.
Chapter XX.--The Extant Works of the Writers of that Age. 1. There flourished many learned men in the Church at that time, whose letters to each other have been preserved and are easily accessible. They have been kept until our time in the library at Ælia, [1933] which was established by Alexander, who at that time presided ove…
2,221 wordsSECTION 186Chapter XXII.--The Works of Hippolytus which have reached us.
Chapter XXII.--The Works of Hippolytus which have reached us. 1. At that time Hippolytus, [1947] besides many other treatises, wrote a work on the passover. [1948] He gives in this a chronological table, and presents a certain paschal canon of sixteen years, bringing the time down to the first year of the Emperor Alexander. 2.…
2,456 wordsSECTION 187Chapter XXIII.--Origen's Zeal and his Elevation to the Presbyterate.
Chapter XXIII.--Origen's Zeal and his Elevation to the Presbyterate. 1. At that time Origen began his commentaries on the Divine Scriptures, being urged thereto by Ambrose, [1956] who employed innumerable incentives, not only exhorting him by word, but also furnishing abundant means. 2. For he dictated to more than seven amanu…
835 wordsSECTION 188Chapter XXIV.--The Commentaries which he prepared at Alexandria.
Chapter XXIV.--The Commentaries which he prepared at Alexandria. 1. It may be well to add that in the sixth book of his exposition of the Gospel of John [1963] he states that he prepared the first five while in Alexandria. Of his work on the entire Gospel only twenty-two volumes have come down to us. 2. In the ninth of those o…
1,431 wordsSECTION 189Chapter XXV.--His Review of the Canonical Scriptures.
Chapter XXV.--His Review of the Canonical Scriptures. 1. When expounding the first Psalm, [1970] he gives a catalogue of the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament [1971] as follows: "It should be stated that the canonical books, as the Hebrews have handed them down, are twenty-two; corresponding with the number of their lette…
1,991 wordsSECTION 190Chapter XXVI.--Heraclas becomes Bishop of Alexandria.
Chapter XXVI.--Heraclas becomes Bishop of Alexandria. It was in the tenth year of the above-mentioned reign that Origen removed from Alexandria to Cæsarea, [1996] leaving the charge of the catechetical school in that city to Heraclas. Not long afterward Demetrius, bishop of the church of Alexandria, died, having held the office…
1,207 wordsSECTION 191Chapter XXIX.--Fabianus, who was wonderfully designated Bishop of Rome by God.
Chapter XXIX.--Fabianus, who was wonderfully designated Bishop of Rome by God. 1. Gordianus succeeded Maximinus as Roman emperor; [2009] and Pontianus, [2010] who had been bishop of the church at Rome for six years, was succeeded by Anteros. [2011] After he had held the office for a month, Fabianus [2012] succeeded him. 2. The…
943 wordsSECTION 192Chapter XXX.--The Pupils of Origen.
Chapter XXX.--The Pupils of Origen. While Origen was carrying on his customary duties in Cæsarea, many pupils came to him not only from the vicinity, but also from other countries. Among these Theodorus, the same that was distinguished among the bishops of our day under the name of Gregory, [2020] and his brother Athenodorus, […
1,322 wordsSECTION 193Chapter XXXI.--Africanus.
Chapter XXXI.--Africanus. 1. At this time also Africanus, [2022] the writer of the books entitled Cesti, was well known. There is extant an epistle of his to Origen, expressing doubts [2023] of the story of Susannah in Daniel, as being spurious and fictitious. Origen answered this very fully. 2. Other works of the same African…
1,295 wordsSECTION 194Chapter XXXII.--The Commentaries which Origen composed in Cæsarea in Palestine.
Chapter XXXII.--The Commentaries which Origen composed in Cæsarea in Palestine. 1. About this time Origen prepared his Commentaries on Isaiah [2026] and on Ezekiel. [2027] Of the former there have come down to us thirty books, as far as the third part of Isaiah, to the vision of the beasts in the desert; [2028] on Ezekiel twent…
801 wordsSECTION 195Chapter XXXIII.--The Error of Beryllus.
Chapter XXXIII.--The Error of Beryllus. 1. Beryllus, [2033] whom we mentioned recently as bishop of Bostra in Arabia, turned aside from the ecclesiastical standard [2034] and attempted to introduce ideas foreign to the faith. He dared to assert that our Saviour and Lord did not pre-exist in a distinct form of being of his own […
1,521 wordsSECTION 196Chapter XXXV.--Dionysius succeeds Heraclas in the Episcopate.
Chapter XXXV.--Dionysius succeeds Heraclas in the Episcopate. In the third year of this emperor, Heraclas [2043] died, having held his office for sixteen years, and Dionysius [2044] received the episcopate of the churches of Alexandria. [2043] On Heraclas, see chap. 3, note 2. The third year of Philip's reign extended from the…
1,765 wordsSECTION 197Chapter XXXVII.--The Dissension of the Arabians. [2054]
Chapter XXXVII.--The Dissension of the Arabians. [2054] About the same time others arose in Arabia, putting forward a doctrine foreign to the truth. They said that during the present time the human soul dies and perishes with the body, but that at the time of the resurrection they will be renewed together. And at that time also…
1,292 wordsSECTION 198Chapter XXXIX.--The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen.
Chapter XXXIX.--The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen. 1. After a reign of seven years Philip was succeeded by Decius. [2060] On account of his hatred of Philip, he commenced a persecution of the churches, in which Fabianus [2061] suffered martyrdom at Rome, and Cornelius succeeded him in the episcopate. [2…
1,445 wordsSECTION 199Chapter XL.--The Events which happened to Dionysius. [2069]
Chapter XL.--The Events which happened to Dionysius. [2069] 1. I shall quote from the epistle of Dionysius to Germanus [2070] an account of what befell the former. Speaking of himself, he writes as follows: "I speak before God, and he knows that I do not lie. I did not flee on my own impulse nor without divine direction. 2. Bu…
2,236 wordsSECTION 200Chapter XLI.--The Martyrs in Alexandria.
[2077] Greek exendrapodismenous, meaning literally "reduced to slavery." The context, however, does not seem to justify such a rendering, for the reference is apparently only to the fact that they were captured. Their capture, had they not been released, would have resulted probably in death rather than in slavery. [2078] These…
2,287 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.