EUSEBIUS
(260 -339)
Known as Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine
The exact dates of his birth and death are not known. It is estimated that he was born around 260-264 CE. And his death around 339CE (Wikpedia has his birth at 275 much later than the other sources I read and his death as specific as May 30, 339)
There were several other Eusebius’s who were also prominent at the same time: Eusebius of Nicomedia, Eusebius of Emesa, Eusebius of Samosata. So he adopted as his sir name Pamphilus in honor of his teacher, mentor and friend so as to be distinguished from the others.
He attended the school and library founded by Pamphilus in Caesarea
where the bible was studied and the scholarly tradition of Origen was preserved. He became good friends with his master and teacher who was imprisoned and suffered martyrdom in 310. During this time Eusebius was absent from Caesarea. It is know that he visited his master Pamphilus in prison in Tyre. They worked on the Apology of Origen at this time. It is not know if Eusebius was imprisoned. There were some who claimed Eusebius escaped imprisonment and martyrdom by offering sacrifices to pagan deities. There is no evidence for this accusation.
It is believed he became Bishop of Caesarea around 313- 315 after the martyrdom of Pamophilus. He remained Bishop for about 25 years until his death around 339.
He was a well know prominent figure and fit politically. At the council of Nicaea he sat to the right of the emperor and gave the opening address to the emperor. It is believed he received this place of honor because he was considered the most learned man and the most famous living writer in the church at that time. He brought his own creed from Ceasarea to the Council of Nicaea in 325 and this became the basis for the Nicene Creed. He did not fully embrace the use of the word Homoosion (of the same substance) and begotten not made and of the substance of the father. He signed the creed so as not to appear contentious. After the council he wrote a letter to his church in Caesarea explaining the changes to their basic creed. This letter created some controvercy in itself about his true beliefs. He did, however, remain faithful to the Nicene Creed.
He was enmeshed in the Arian controversy. Although he never embraced Arianism, his name is frequently associated with it as some believed he did embrace the heresy. He did provide refuge for Arius and was influential in Arius being allowed back into the church which fueled the flames of this controversy.
He also had his detractors in two other prominent bishops, Eustathius of Antioch and Athanatius of Alexandria, both very strong opponents of Arianism. Both were eventually deposed, Eusebius playing a major role in this with Eustathius and a lesser role with Athanatius. Athanatius was later reinstated. So obviously a lot of controversy surrounded the church in those times. Not much different than today!
He is considered to be the father of church history, writing at least 51 documents that we know of, most of them still preserved. This list is in your handout. There are too many to go through individually. One of his most famous works is Church History or Ecclesiastical History for this mainly, as well as his other writings, he is acknowledged for the irreplaceable value of his work and the legacy he left. He was a diligent researcher and his Church History is a compilation of this research. The Saint Pachomous Library states that this work is carefully organized, well written and thoroughly researched. It also goes on to say it exhibits certain lack of intellectual and theological depth; this quality of mediocrity unfortunately characterizes in many ways the book’s author.
Accomplishments:
His 51 writings
He covered a wide range of material
Through him we have preserved information from that age
He had no predecessor, so also he had no successor. All commenced their work where he ended. None ventured to go over the same ground again, but left him sole possessor of the field. This gave tremendous credibility to his work
Limitations:
Some claim he was no a great historian.
His treatment of heresies is inadequate
He knew very little about the western church
He was ignorant of Latin.
His historical works are really apologetics
According to Lightfoot, “while his passion for learning has rarely been equaled, perhaps never surpassed. It must be confessed that the execution of his work falls far short of the conception.”
Controversies:
He was the first thoroughly dishonest historian of antiquity. (Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt) Some modern scholars have called him a liar based on his statement “I have repeated whatever may rebound to the glory, and suppressed all that could tend to disgrace our religion.” This could give us a very biased history. Others disagree and say he did include areas of controversy for the church. Either way he has left us valuable information from the early years of the church.
The second area I would like to comment on is his inclusion in his Church History of the Letter of King Abgar to Jesus and Jesus’ response. For those who have not already read this King Abgar of Edessa sent a letter to Jesus expressing his faith and asking for healing. Jesus sent a letter back to say he was about to ascend to his father and when I ascend I will send you one of my disciples. This inclusion in Eusebius’s history was researched and it genuineness comes form that fact that he found this in the public registers and records of the City of Edessa where Abgar reigned. Eusebius affirms that he found these letters written in Syriac and he translated them into Greek. This story was and still is widely believed in the Eastern Church. The catholic encyclopedia states of this “A curious legendary growth has sprung up from this imaginary occurrence.” True or imaginary it was a belief of the time and Eusebius deemed it worthy to be included in his church history. Some speculate that this delegation sent by King Abgar to Jesus may have been among the pagans in John’s Gospel (Jn 12:20) “and there were certain pagans who had come to Jerusalem to worship him”.
Another belief that came out of Abgar’s letters is that his messenger brought back with the letter a cloth with the face of Jesus on it. The legend is that Jesus wiped his face on this cloth and gave it to Ananias to bring back to King Abgar. A second legend about this is that the King sent his artist with his letter to Jesus and this artists painted the picture and yet a third version is the artist was inspired by Jesus in a vision. Nevertheless it is believed by many to be the actual face of Jesus and is a revered icon known as the Mandylion know by all in the Eastern orthodox church. The authentic icon or a copy, this is debated, is in the pope’s private chapel in the Vatican. I have included a picture of this in your handout.
Abgar was King of Edessa in what is modern day southern Turkey, about 400 miles north of Jerusalem. He reigned from 4BC-7CE and again 13-50CE. The illness that Abgar suffered from is considered to be leprosy. Thaddaeus, the disciple sent to Edessa, is believed to be Jude Thaddaeus one of the twelve apostles
I enjoyed reading about King Abgar’s letters and I look forward to an interesting class discussion on these letters.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Catholic Encyclopedia, www.newadvent.org/cathen/01042c.htm The Legend of Abgar
The Catholic Encyclopedia, www.newadvent.org/cathen/05617b.htm, Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius, The Ecclesiatical History, vol I, Cambridge, Ma., Harvard University Press, 1992
Eusebius of Caesarea, www.wkipedia.org/wiki/Eusebius_of_Caesarea
Holdt, Daniel and Lalou, www.americampictures.com/geneology/descent/Thaddeus.killer.htm, , Sanatruk, King of Armenia, Who Killed Jesus’ disciple Thaddeus
Holdt, Daniel and Lalou, www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/descent/Abgar.V.Uchama.htm, Abgar V Uchama, King of Osrhoene, who corresponded with Jesus
Howard, George; The Teaching of Addai, www.metamind.net/intellectus7.htlm,
King Abgar’s Letter to Jesus, http://cavemanart.com/osroene/abgar.htm
Lightfoot,J.B.; www.tertullian.org/rpearse/eusebius/lightfoot.htm, Eusebius of Caesarea
The Columbia Encyclopedia, sixth edition 2001-05, www.bartleby.com/65/eu/EusebiusC.html, Eusebius of Caesarea
The Saint Pachomius Library, www.voskrese.info/spl/abgar.html, The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa
The Saint Pachomius Library, www.voskrese.info/spl/xeusebycaes.html, Eusebius Pamphilius, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine
Testimonies of the Ancients Against Eusebius, www.bible.ca/history/fathers/NPNF2-01-03.htm
Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Images_of_Jesus, Images of Jesus