The history of the church or the church history of eusebius is a comprehensive ecclesiastical history of the christian church from the time of christ to constantine. Eusebius is best known today for his ecclesiastical history. This edition of the history of the church contains all ten chronologically arranged books by eusebius, which together outline the major events in the early history. Eusebiuss groundbreaking history of the church, remains the single most important source for the history of the first three centuries of christianity and stands among the classics of western literature.
But eusebiuss chief fame rests on the history of the christian church in ten books published in 324325, the most important ecclesiastical history of ancient times, a great treasury of knowledge about the early church. This edition of the history of the church was translated by arthur cushman mcgiffert and published in 1890. The time scheme correlated the history with the reigns of the roman emperors, and the scope was broad. The catholic church refers to him as the father of church history because he is known as one of the most important historians of the christian church. The history of the church from christ to constantine summary. The main characters of this non fiction, classics story are irenaeus, heraclas. Ecclesiastical history is the chief primary source for the history of the church up to 324, reported that ignatiuss arrest and his condemnation to the wild beasts in the roman arena occurred during the reign of the roman emperor trajan 98117. His era was marked by the great persecution under diocletian and his co. Ecclesiastical history work by eusebius britannica.
I t has been said that all other church historians begin where eusebius of caesarea leaves off. Eusebius is best remembered for his celebrated ecclesiastical history, which provides a history of christianity from the apostolic age down to the early fourth century. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Eusebius ecclesiastical history is one of the classics of early christianity and of equal stature with the works of flavius josephus. Eusebiuss history was not written simply to record the deeds of the church after christs ascension. In his church history or ecclesiastical history, eusebius wrote the first surviving history of the christian church as a chronologicallyordered account, based on earlier sources, complete from the period of the apostles to his own epoch. Our principal resource for earliest chrisitianity, the church history presents a panorama of apostles, church fathers, emperors, bishops, heroes, heretics, confessors, and. Eusebius chronicles the events of the first three centuries of the christian church in such a way as to record a vast number of vital facts about early christianity that can be learned from no other ancient source. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by eusebius pamphilius. And while he was an influential bishop, he was not a saintin fact, he was. History of the christian church, eusebius of caesarea, part 1. He was himself imprisoned in egypt, but became bishop of caesarea about 314. It is primarily this work that earned eusebius the title of father of church history.
Christians and theology scholars will find much of interest in this volume translated by the rev. Peters square, the holy father commented on eusebius of caesarea, the first historian of the church and best known for his ecclesiastical history, an invaluable source of information about the church in the early centuries. Eusebius has an interesting passage concerning the fate of pontius pilate after pilates return to rome in a. At the council of nicaea in 325 he sat by the emperor, led a party of moderates, and made the first draft of the famous creed. His iconic story of the churchs origins, endurance of persecution, and ultimate triumphwith its cast of martyrs, heretics, bishops, and emperorshas. Our principal resource for earliest chrisitianity, the church history presents a panorama of. We write unto you, brethren, an account of what happened to those that suffered martyrdom and to the blessed polycarp, who put an end to the persecution, having, as it. He is famous for writing the history of the church, on the life of pamphilus, the chronicle and on the martyrs.
The work was originally written in greek, although latin, armenian, and syriac versions were also preserved. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. The history of the church by eusebius of caesarea paperback. Eusebius is remembered for his highly regarded work entitled history of the christian church.
Eusebius s rank as the paramount chronicler and historian of his time is unchallenged, for to him we owe not only most of our knowledge of the history of the church in the first three centuries but also the transmission of many otherwise lost texts of pagan and jewish authors. Eusebius, the history of the church, 2,23 the writings of eusebius are classics which rank in significance with the works of flavius josephus. Bishop eusebius, a learned scholar who lived most of his life in caesarea in palestine, broke new ground in writing the history and provided a. Eusebius s history was not written simply to record the deeds of the church after christs ascension. The problem of eusebius christian history christianity. Oct 09, 2017 eusebius presents the history of the church from the apostles to his own time. Eusebius s account is the only surviving historical record of the church during its crucial first 300 years. Home fathers of the church church history eusebius church history. Eusebius of caesarea 340 ad church history general index book i book ii book iii book iv book v.
The history of the church the church history of eusebius. The first edition of the novel was published in 324, and was written by paul l. Historia ecclesiastica or historia ecclesiae of eusebius, the bishop of caesarea was a 4thcentury pioneer work giving a chronological account of the development of early christianity from the 1st century to the 4th century. This edition is translated by arthur cushman mcgiffert. Christians and theology scholars will find much of interest in this volume translated.
Featuring the church fathers, catholic encyclopedia, summa theologica and more. Eusebius life of constantine vita constantini is a eulogy, and therefore its style and selection of facts are affected by its purpose, rendering it inadequate as a continuation of the church history. It was written in koine greek, and survives also in latin, syriac and armenian manuscripts. His ecclesiastical history, written during the early fourth century, covers one of the most important periods in christian history. He was the first to write a comprehensive history of the early church. Eusebius greatest contribution is historia ecclesiastica church history, an extensive history of the christian church from the time of the apostles until about a. He was the firstto undertake the task of tracing the rise of christianity during its crucial firstthree centuries from christ to constantine. His iconic story of the churchs origins, endurance of persecution, and ultimate triumphwith its cast of martyrs, heretics, bishops, and emperorshas profoundly shaped the. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 416 pages and is available in hardcover format. Eusebius was not only a recorder of history, but one of the key players at a significant turning point for the church. The church of god which dwells in philomelium, and to all the parishes of the holy catholic church in every place. Many people know eusebius of caesarea as the father of church history. If herodotus is the father of history, then eusebius of caesarea c.
Ecclesiastical history eusebius pamphilius church history. Our principal resource for earliest chrisitianity, the church history presents a panorama of apostles, church fathers, emperors. Full text of the ecclesiastical history of eusebius. Eusebiuss account is the only surviving historical record of the church during its crucial first 300 years. Eusebius of caesarea christian history christianity today. Eusebius of caesarea, also known as eusebius of pamphilibut not to be confused with his contemporary, eusebius of nicomediawas a fourth century christian scholar, known as the father of church history. Aug 17, 2018 eusebius of caesarea, also known as eusebius of pamphilibut not to be confused with his contemporary, eusebius of nicomediawas a fourth century christian scholar, known as the father of church history. Full text of the ecclesiastical history of eusebius pamphilus, bishop of cesarea, in palestine see other formats. According to one recent translation, pilate committed suicide, as the records show 2. May 06, 2017 eusebius of caesarea, often called the father of church history, eusebius recorded crucial information about the lives of jesus disciples, the development of the new testament, roman politics.
That eusebius afterwards delivered his description of the church of the saviour, and a tricennial oration before constantine himself. History of the church includes a table of contents. Bishop eusebius, a learned scholar who lived most of his life in caesarea in palestine, broke new ground in writing the history and provided a model for all later ecclesiastical historians. It is not merely a thesaurus, it is a history in the truest sense, and it possesses an intrinsic value of its own, independent of its quotations from other works. Eusebius 263 339, is known as the father of church history, and authored the first book on church history that still exists. Eusebius presents the history of the church from the apostles to his own time, with. What josephus did for the old testament and intertestamentary period, eusebius did for the new testament era and for the early years of the postbiblical church history. Despite the nickname, eusebius was not a church father. History of the christian church, eusebius of caesarea. The history of the church was written by eusebius of caesarea 263 339. Full text of the ecclesiastical history of eusebius pamphilus.
Historia ecclesiastica or historia ecclesiae of eusebius, the bishop of caesarea was a 4thcentury. Grant, a modern historian of the early church period, provocatively. Eusebius of caesarea, often called the father of church history, eusebius recorded crucial information about the lives of jesus disciples, the development of the new testament, roman politics. The history of the church from christ to constantine by. As a result of this accomplishment, eusebius became known as the father of church history. The church history of eusebius, the bishop of caesarea was a 4thcentury pioneer work giving a chronological account of the development of early christianity. The problem of eusebius christian history christianity today. But the value of eusebius church history does not lie solely in the fact that it contains so many original sources which would be otherwise unknown to us. His purpose in writing the history was to connect the church of which he was part to the beginnings of christianity. Eusebius of caesarea is to be distinguished from his contemporary eusebius of nicomedia. On wednesday, june 2007, at the general audience in st. Eusebius presents the history of the church from the apostles to his own time, with special regard to the following points. He used the resources at his disposal to focus attention on the church he saw as the true descendant of firstcentury christianity.
I feel inadequate to do church history justice as the first to venture on such an undertaking, a traveler on a lonely and untrodden path. The writings of eusebius are classics which rank in significance with the works of flavius josephus. It is my purpose to write an account of the successions of the holy apostles, as well as of the times which have elapsed from the days of our savior to our own. The whole christian world has reason to be thankful that there lived at the opening of the fourth century a man who, with his life spanning one of the greatest epochs that has occurred in the history of the church, with an intimate experimental knowledge of the old and of the new condition of things, was.
He saw the empire and the imperial church as sharing a close bond with each other. History of the christian church translated by arthur cushman mcgiffert 18611933, read by david leeson. Eusebius presents the history of the church from the apostles to his own time. Often called the father of church history, eusebius was the first to trace the rise of christianity during its crucial first three centuries from christ to constantine. Eusebiuss rank as the paramount chronicler and historian of his time is unchallenged, for to him we owe not only most of our knowledge of the history of the church in the first three centuries but also the transmission of many otherwise lost texts of pagan and jewish authors. It is my purpose to write an account of the lines of succession of the holy apostles, as well as of the times that have elapsed from the days of our saviour to our own. Please help support the mission of new advent and get the full contents of this website as an. The ecclesiastical history by bishop eusebius of caesarea palestina ca. Eusebius, who was an eyewitness to some of the events. The book covers the history of christianitys first three centuries, from. Eusebius of caesarea was a historian of christianity and christian polemicist. As the historian socrates scholasticus said at the opening of his history, which was designed as a continuation of eusebius.
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