Eusebius

From the Cross to Constantine
Stories from the ‘Church History’ by Eusebius

Who is Eusebius?
1. Eusebius is regarded as the father of church history.
2. He is our principle and primary source for the 1st centuries of the church
3. He is the reason we possess many key statements by early theologians
4. He was probably born around the year 260 near/in Caesarea
5. He was heavily influenced by Pamphilus (and the works of Origen)
6. He was imprisoned/persecuted off and on for much of his life
7. He was elected Bishop of Caesarea and served there from 313-339
8. He was one of Constantine’s leading theological advisors
9. He wrote history, apologetic & polemical works, commentary, etc

Church History Highlights (note: some doubt some of Eusebius’s information)

“It is my purpose to record the successions from the holy apostles and the periods extending from our Savior’s time to our own. Jesus was in the beginning with the Father and was God. He appeared in human nature at the time when humanity was ready to receive knowledge of the Father, no longer needing to depend on shadows of the truth. The teachings of Christ, proclaimed to all nations, are none other than the most ancient of all religions discovered by Abraham, but now brought to light.”

1. Jesus’ coming in the time of Herod was fulfillment of Genesis 49:10
2. Jesus’ genealogies are both of Joseph, but biological vs. legal
3. Jesus’ ministry lasted between 3 and 4 years
4. Jesus’ corresponded, via letter, to King Abgar of Edessa
5. Through the Apostles & others, the Gospel burst across the lands
6. Simon Magus was the father of all heresies
7. AD 66-70 was the fulfillment of the Olivet Discourse
8. Some of the Apostles were married
9. Provides us with info on the deaths of some of the Apostles
10. Provides us with info on the early writers
11. Thought Papias was of ‘limited intelligence’, but used his info
12. Provides brief biography on early Christian Martyrs
13. Provides info on early heresies that threatened the church
14. Explains the controversy over whether the lapsed could be re-admitted
15. Describes a miracle in which Christian prayers brought rain
16. Explains the controversy over the date of Easter celebration
17. Gives a lengthy biography of the great theologian ‘Origen’
18. Gives us the interesting account of Basilides & Potamiaena
19. Says he saw a statue of Jesus in Caesarea Philippi from Mark 5:24-34
20. Says he saw the throne of James, the brother of Jesus
21. Makes a case for why ‘Revelation’ was written by a different John
22. Provides some short-stories of Martyrs in various regions of the Empire
23. Describes the great persecution that occurred throughout his early life
24. Describes the Roman Civil Wars that led to Constantine’s authority
25. Gives us info on the churches triumphant victory in Constantine’s day