Eusebius account of constantine part ii by john heitzenrater. Eusebius views for the reign of constantine the great 28 june 2014 eusebius s history was not written simply to record the deeds of the church after christs ascension. Book ii covers the lives and ministry of the apostles and the rise of the church up to the destruction of jerusalem. It is like the oration of constantine, a proper part of the life of constantine being appended according to his promise in bk. How can i analyze the following from eusebius life of constantine book 3, chapter v. Eusebius wrote his life and preserved his letters so that his policy would continue. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by. Jun 17, 20 life of constantine vita constantini is a panegyric written in honor of constantine the great by eusebius of caeserea in the 4th century ad. The manner in which josephus mentions the divine books.
He explores the whole range of eusebius writings, especially those composed before constantine became emperor, and shows that many attitudes usually deemed typical of the constantinian. For many centuries this book was the basis for the chronological history of the world. The main problem is eusebius is just too flattering of constantine. Though gushing in its praise for constantine and sparse in its criticism of the darker aspects of his reign, this work is nonetheless the best and.
Remembering constantine at the milvian bridge pdf free. Harry thurston peck, harpers dictionary of classical. The elaborate oration of eusebius, in praise of constantine, will not be without its. Thus the text of book one carefully established the chronological framework from which the tables in book two derived. Full text of the ecclesiastical history of eusebius. His earlier book, proof of the gospel, makes the case for christianitys total fulfillment of old testament prophecies. Eusebius views for the reign of constantine the great. The life of constantine with orations of constantine and eusebius. Eusebius of caesarea was the bishop of caesarea in palestine during the early fourth century. An earlier history by hegesippus that he referred to has not survived. The second series focuses on a variety of important church fathers, ranging from the fourth century to the eighth century.
Its introduction and commentary open up the many important issues the life of constantine raises. The last edition of the entire work of eusebius is that of dindorf, in 4 vols. Excerpt the work known as the life of constantine is the most important source for the reign of constantine the great and particularly for his support of christianity. Series ii volume i constantinethe life of constantine book ivchapter 36. His history of the christian church from the ministry of jesus to 324 ce is a treasury of information, especially on the eastern centers. Other articles where life of constantine is discussed. It was never completed due to the death of eusebius in 339. Stuart george hall the emperor constantine changed the world by making the roman empire christian. Being convinced, however, that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought divine assistance, deeming the possession of arms and a numerous soldiery. The impact of constantine the great equaltotheapostles is everlasting in all the christian world. Full text of the ecclesiastical history of eusebius pamphilus, bishop of cesarea, in palestine see other formats. The emperor constantine changed the world by making the roman empire christian. He was a prominent personality during the period when christianity was recognized by constantine the great, ending the persecutions, and he participated in the first council of nicea.
Eusebius life of constantine ebook written by eusebius. Eusebius has 62 books on goodreads with 10395 ratings. For in that city some of the churches, for the second time since the commencement of the persecutions, were leveled with the ground, and others were closed by the governors of the several districts, in order to prevent any who frequented them from assembling together, or rendering due worship to god. 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. Eusebius life of constantine is the most important single record of constantine, the emperor who turned the roman empire from prosecuting the church to supporting it, with huge and lasting consequences for europe and christianity. Eusebius of caesarea 275 may 30, 339 often called eusebius pamphili, eusebius the friend of pamphilus was a bishop of caesarea in palestine and is often referred to as the father of church history because of his work in recording the history of the early christian church. As a testament to the veracity of constantines piety, eusebius goes to great lengths to show how his love for wisdomthe logos, orations, ii 12 matures over the course of his life, thereby allowing him to make a profession of faith, which resembles very closely the profession of faith of the council of nicaea. His great merit, from a christian point of view, was in legalizing christianity. Eusebius wrote his life and preserved his letters so that his policy would. Barnes gives the fullest available narrative history of the reigns of diocletian and constantine. As a testament to the veracity of constantine s piety, eusebius goes to great lengths to show how his love for wisdomthe logos, orations, ii 12 matures over the course of his life, thereby allowing him to make a profession of faith, which resembles very closely the profession of faith of the council of nicaea. There is a translation of eusebius in clarks theological library.
The history of the church from christ to constantine summary. Being convinced, however, that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought divine assistance, deeming the possession of arms and a numerous soldiery of secondary importance, but believing the cooperating power of deity invincible and not. How can i analyze the following from eusebius life of. Book i discusses christology and christ as the eternal logos. Life of constantine vita constantini is a panegyric written in honor of constantine the great by eusebius of caeserea in the 4th century ad. The work provides scholars with one of the most comprehensive sources for the religious policies of constantines reign. He is mostly know for his 20 volume work entitled ecclesiastical history, being a history of christianity from the messiah to the year 324 a. A farther notice of the controversies raised in egypt by arius. A comparison of constantines piety with the wickedness of the persecutors. In book iii, eusebius examines the successors to the apostles, the writings of josephus, notable bishops, heresies, and the reception of the canon. The first of which, the campaign against maxentius, contains perhaps the most famous scene in the life of constantine, the vision of constantine. History of the christian church translated by arthur cushman mcgiffert 18611933, read by david leeson. Piety, the latin pietas, was a traditional roman virtue in the aeneid, it is. Constantines letter to eusebius and other bishops, respecting the building of churches, with instructions to repair the old, and erect new ones on a larger scale, with the aid of the provincial governors.
Secret persecution by licinius, who causes some bishops to be put to death at amasia of pontus. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by eusebius pamphilius. Constantine s letter to eusebius on the preparation of copies of the holy scriptures. A book about memories of constantine is also an album of memories for me. The life of the blessed emperor constantine eusebius pamphilus. Eusebius account of constantines conversion by john. I dont find any reason to doubt eusebius when he states that constantine did indeed function as a bishop outside the church, as history, and the synodal decrees. How tiberius was affected when informed by pilate concerning christ. To modern historians, syncretic chronological tables are taken for granted. Books iii and v, then, create with the others an overall rhythmical pattern that adds variety of pace to the epic poems. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read eusebius life of constantine.
Burckhardt called him the first thoroughly dishonest and unfair historian of ancient times. How constantine was stirred in behalf of the christians thus in danger of persecution. The emperor constantine is celebrated as a saint in the orthodox church, although not the western church. Throughout his life eusebius also wrote apologetic works, commentaries on the bible, and works explaining the parallels and discrepancies in the gospels. Eusebius moves on from the introduction to constantines military exploits for the remainder of book 1 and half of book 2. He analyzes constantines rise to power and his government, demonstrating how constantines sincere adherence to christianity advanced his political aims. Eusebius of caesarea christianity knowledge base fandom. Of his picture surmounted by a cross and having beneath it a dragon. Farther remarks on constantine s piety, and his open testimony to the sign of the cross.
The life of constantine accompanies the first of these. The entire work is divided into two series, each with fourteen volumes. The life of the blessed emperor constantine, in four books, from 306 to 337 a. Quasten writes, the socalled life of constantine in four books has perhaps provoked more criticism of eusebius than any other work of his. Redirect eusebius of caesarea 275 may 30, 339 often called eusebius pamphili, eusebius the friend of pamphilus was a bishop of caesarea in palestine and is often referred to as the father of church history because of his work in recording the history of the early christian church. As such, it resembles book v, which deals with the stage of the voyage that follows didos death and precedes another high point of the aeneid, aeneass encounter with the sibyl at cumae and his descent into the underworld.
Demolition of churches, and butchery of the bishops. That he reigned above thirty years, and lived above sixty. Although eusebius has been strongly criticized over the centuries for his support of constantine, the historians stand makes reasonable sense. This volume specifically contains the works of eusebius a fourth century bishop and church historian. With respect to the duration of his reign, god honored him with three complete periods of ten years, and something more, extending the whole term of his mortal life to twice this number of years. Life of constantine by eusebius, 1999 online research.
Ecclesiastical history eusebius pamphilius church history. Constantine waited until the end of his life to receive baptism, book 4. Eusebius history of the christian church internet archive. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine introduction. Eusebius also wrote a book on the chronology of the world entitled chronicon. Victor constantinus, maximus augustus, to eusebius. Life of constantine by eusebius goodreads share book. Life of constantine was a very interesting book to me, and it contained many of the elements that i liked about eusebius s history of the churchlong quotations of source material. The life of the blessed emperor constantine eusebius pamphilus, aeterna press on.
This was a radical, revolutionary development in eusebius day. The life of the blessed emperor constantine the bagster translation, revised by ernest cushing richardson, ph. Eusebius life of constantine vita constantini is a eulogy or panegyric, and therefore its style and selection of facts are affected by its purpose, rendering it inadequate as a continuation of the church history. Oct 01, 2006 in the final chapter barnes discusses the historical value of the life and provides a summary of the book s contents.
Although eusebius only met constantine 4 times and received 6 letters, which reflect respect but not intimacy, he had access to documents after 324, yet glosses over the bloody succession to power by constantine s 3 sons. Eusebius, bishop of caesarea from about 315 ce, was the most important writer in the age of constantine. 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. He analyzes constantine s rise to power and his government, demonstrating how constantine s sincere adherence to christianity advanced his political aims. The course pursued by the apostles after the ascension of christ. The great bishop of caeseria wrote this book to describe the life and the realizations of the first christian roman emperor who changed the world history and who glorified the new religion in the huge roman empire. Eusebiuss most popular book is the history of the church. Eusebius remained in the emperors favour throughout this time and more than once was exonerated with the explicit approval of the emperor constantine. Ecclesiastical history, volume ii eusebius harvard. The life of constantine is a panegyrical biography of constantine the great, written by his friend and admirer, eusebius pamphilus, bishop of caesarea a few years after the emperors death in ad 337.
The work provides scholars with one of the most comprehensive sources for the religious policies of constantine s reign. According to eusebius, constantine saw a vision of a cross rather than the letters of christ. This english translation is the first based on modern critical editions. This book shows how, once his partisan interpretations and rhetoric are properly understood, both eusebius text and the documents it contains give vital historical insights. Probably the second most famous, or perhaps infamous, of eusebius works was his life of constantine, an adoring biography of the political leader. A comparison of constantine s piety with the wickedness of the persecutors. Constantine, whom eusebius describes later in a life of constantine and also in an oration on an important occasion later in his career, is a magnificent. After the fight, constantine put an end to the persecution of the christians and became a christian himself. A further quotation from virgil respecting christ, with its interpretation. Books by eusebius author of the history of the church.
Eusebius remained in the emperors favour, and, after constantines death in 337, he wrote his life of constantine, a panegyric that. The letter of constantine i to shapur ii is a diplomatic. Eusebius took part in the expulsion of athanasius of alexandria 335, marcellus of ancyra c. Hegesippus in the five books of memoirs 1227 1227 the five books of hegesippus. Life of constantine the great is a panegyric written in greek in. Earlier versions of parts of chapters were presented as the moritz lecture at kalamazoo college, a plenary lecture at the annual conference of the north american patristics society, and a lecture at calvin college. In this manner that spirit who is the hater of good, actuated by envy at the blessing enjoyed by the church, continued to raise against her the stormy troubles of intestine discord, in the midst of a period of peace and joy. How the markettown of gaza was made a city for its profession of christianity, and received the name of constantia. Eusebius presents the history of the church from the apostles to his own time, with special regard to the following points. Constantine s letter to eusebius and other bishops, respecting the building of churches, with instructions to repair the old, and erect new ones on a larger scale, with the aid of the provincial governors.
Stuart george hall annotation eusebius life of constantine is the most important single record of constantine, the emperor who turned the roman empire from prosecuting the church to supporting it. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine book ii. The special points relating to these works are treated in the notes. However, it was eusebius who introduced them initially and accurately in the chronicle. Oration in praise of constantine by eusebius, bishop of emesa, ca. Constantine s letter to eusebius, in praise of his discourse concerning easter. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. He was himself imprisoned in egypt, but became bishop of caesarea about 314. Life of constantine paperback eusebius oxford university press. Barnes notes that eusebius and constantine meeting in person was a rare occurrence, as eusebius did not reside near the capital, nor did he have special access to constantine, as he claims in life of constantine. Also that virgil makes mention of the same, and of the birth of.