Eusebius of Caesarea

• In Caesarea, the young Eusebius studied with Pamphilus, a noted Christian teacher with a remarkable theological library and an admiration for Origen.
• Eusebius devoted himself to scholarship and to Pamphilus, even taking the name of his teacher, Eusebius Pamphili (“the son of Pamphilus”).
• During the Diocletian persecution, Pamphilus was imprisoned and eventually martyred. After his teacher’s death in 310, Eusebius traveled through Palestine and Egypt.
• The result of his experiences was a remarkable work,The Martyrs of Palestine(later incorporated into the History), an eyewitness account of the torture and heroism of Christian martyrs of the persecution of 303-311.
• He himself was imprisoned in Egypt. Shortly afterwards (ca. 313), he became bishop of Caesarea and continued his historical and apologetic writings.
• The favors granted to Christianity under Constantine confirmed Eusebius’s vision of the historical triumph of the Church, and his reflections on Constantine’s rule celebrated the new union of spiritual and temporal power. A similar theology was expressed in the unfinished Life of Constantine. These optimistic reflections laid the foundation for later political theory in the Byzantine empire.
• He wrote several letters in favor of Arius and in a synod at Caesarea, he declared Arius’ profession of faith to be Orthodox. Soon afterwards, a synod of Antioch in 325 excommunicated him when he rejected a formula directed against the Arian teaching.
• At the Council of Nicaea in 325, he advocated a recognition of the true divinity of Christ in simply biblical terms and refused the Homoousian doctrine of St. Athanasius as leading to Sabellianism. He finally signed the Creed drawn up by the Council as merely external

conforming to the express wish of the emperor, but without any internal assent.

• He may, in fact, have influenced the emperor’s measures against the Orthodox bishops, because he appears to have been his chief theological advisor.
• He does not belong to the outstanding theologians of Christian antiquity.
• If he has won eternal fame, it is by his great historical work - the Ecclesiastical History.
• The first major historian of the Church. He was also a biblical exegete and apologist for Christianity against paganism, an activist in the Arian controversy, and an early interpreter of the duties of a Christian emperor.
• Although not an eloquent writer or original thinker, he preserved precious documents and valuable reflections on Christian life and thought in a transitional period.
• His writings reflect Eusebius’ lifelong interest in proving the truth of Christianity by showing the fulfillment of prophecy and Scripture in historical events.
• His many works reveal his attention to the literal or historical interpretation of Scripture rather than to allegorical exegesis or theological reflection in spite of his admiration for Origen.

1. Historical Works

• The Chronicle: A chronology of biblical and historical events in two parts. It was one of his earliest compositions, and was written ca. 303.
• The Martyrs of Palestine.
• The Ecclesiastical History is his most famous work. It covers the period from the foundation of the Church to the defeat of Lucinius (324) and the sole rulership of Constantine. 2. Panegyrics on Constantine
• Vita Constantini: The Life of Constantine, in four books.
• Ad coetum sanctorum: A translation of the Oration of the Emperor Constantine Which He Addressed to the Assembly of the Saints.
• Laudes Constantini: (a) Chapters 1-10 represent the panegyric which Eusebius delivered on the occasion of Constantine’s thirtieth anniversary as emperor (335). (b) Chapters 11-18 are the treatise which he presented to the Emperor at the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (335). 3. Apologetic Works
• General Elementary Introduction to the Gospels.
• Praeparatio Evangelica: In reply to the devastating polemic against Christian interpretation of Scripture by the philosopher Porphyry, Eusebius wrote two massive apologetic works that drew on his knowledge of Scripture and Greek literature .
• Demonstratio Evangelica: A sequel to Praeparatio, it answers the accusations by the Jews.
• Theophania: In which he defended the Incarnation.
• Against Porphyry: In 25 books; no longer extant.
• Against Hierocles: A short apology defending the miracles of Jesus .

• Refutation and Defense. 4. Biblical and Exegetical Works
• The Evangelical Canons.
• Onomasticon: A study of biblical place-names and geography.
• Gospel Questions and Solutions: This work represents and important contribution to biblical criticism.
• Commentary on the Psalms.
• Commentary on Isaias.
• The polygamy and Large Families of the Patriarchs.
• On Easter. 5. Dogmatic Works
• Together with Pamphilus he wrote A Defense of Origen.
• In Contra Marcellum and De ecclesiastica theologia, Eusebius presented the teaching of three pre-existent and distinguished hypostases; the Son was begotten by the Father but was clearly secondary. Eusebius defended subordinationism, and so his theological reputation was tarnished for later generations. 6. Orations and Sermons 7. Epistles 4