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EUSEBIUS

(Gk. Eusébios)

Bishop of Caesarea and “Father of Church History” (ca. 260–ca. 339 c.e.). Eusebius was born in Palestine and spent the majority of his life there. As a young man he became a student of Pamphilius, a well-known Christian teacher; he adopted the name Eusebius of Pamphilius after his mentor’s martyrdom in 310. Eusebius himself was imprisoned in Egypt during the final years of persecution. Shortly after the Great Persecution ended (313) he was elected bishop of Caesarea, where he served until his death.

Eusebius’ most enduring contribution is his Historia ecclesiastica (Church History), a history of the Church to ca. 323. Here Eusebius demonstrated a concern for original sources virtually unprecedented in ancient histories; his extensive research and quotation preserve a wealth of early Church documentation otherwise lost to the Church. In addition to the HE, Eusebius wrote more than 40 works in such diverse areas as apologetics, theology, exegesis, gospel criticism, biblical geography, biography, chronology, and martyrology.

Eusebius’ contribution to the Church was more than literary. He was also a major figure in the theological controversies and ecclesiastical politics of his day. As Constantine’s primary theological advisor, Eusebius helped shape the Constantinian concept of a Christian empire. He was instrumental in achieving consensus at the Council of Nicea and was active in church councils until his death.

Bibliography. T. D. Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius (Cambridge, Mass., 1981); R. M Grant, Eusebius as Church Historian (Oxford, 1980); D. S. Wallace-Hadrill, Eusebius of Caesarea (London, 1960).

Charles Guth

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EUSEBIUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)