Constantines letter to eusebius, in praise of his discourse concerning easter. 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. The only english version previously available is based on a seventeenthcentury greek edition, but two new critical editions produced this century make a new. Eusebius account of constantines conversion by john. Then eusebius ties in great biblical figures of the old testament and compares them to constantine making him look equal to the great patriarchs. 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. He was himself imprisoned in egypt, but became bishop of caesarea about 314. Description 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. Now i am well aware that they who are sincere in the pursuit of the heavenly hope, and have fixed this hope in heaven itself as the peculiar and predominant. Overall, eusebius work is more of a work of praise celebrating the fantastical nature of constantines life versus just the historical facts.
The only english version previously available is based on a seventeenthcentury greek. Eusebius wrote his life and preserved his letters so that his policy would continue. Eusebius moves on from the introduction to constantines military exploits for the remainder of book 1 and half of book 2. For many centuries this book was the basis for the chronological history of the world. This volume specifically contains the works of eusebiusa fourth century bishop and church historian.
Life of constantine by eusebius, 1999 online research. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine book iv writings of eusebius the life of constantine book iv. The first of which, the campaign against maxentius, contains perhaps the most famous scene in the life of constantine, the vision of constantine. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by eusebius pamphilius. Life of constantine the great is a panegyric written in greek in. 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. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by philip schaff read online. The life of constantine the life of constantine by. The elaborate oration of eusebius, in praise of constantine, will not be.
Amanda lawonn after reading this selection from the life of constantine by eusebius, it is easy to see why one might interpret this as either an account of history or more of a theological statement or both. The main problem is eusebius is just too flattering of constantine. Eusebius also wrote a book on the chronology of the world entitled chronicon. In recent years, the vc has been newly translated into italian l. Home fathers of the church life of constantine eusebius book iii. 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. Life of constantine was a very interesting book to me, and it contained many of the elements that i liked about eusebiuss history of the churchlong quotations of source material. Eusebius of caesareas life of constantine vita constantini remains one of the most important sources for the career and policies of the first christian emperor. 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 constantines 3 sons. Oration in praise of constantine see other formats. At the same time i am most certainly persuaded that i myself owe my life, my every breath, in short, my very inmost and secret thoughts, entirely to the favor of the supreme god. 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.
Eusebius himself played a role in the most significant event of christianity in the fourth century. Constantines life has been interpreted in a number of ways. Life of constantine vita constantini is a panegyric written in honor of constantine the great by eusebius of caeserea in the 4th century ad. Personal, i can see both sides in the information presented. Soon afterward he followed his imperial friend at the 26 advanced age of nearly, if not quite, eighty years. 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.
The first series of the nicene and postnicene library of the christian fathers, containing, in fourteen volumes, the pr. The life of constantine with orations of constantine and eusebius. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of. Constantines letter to eusebius on the preparation of copies of the holy scriptures. Cameron and hall have given us an accessible translation and introduction to this controversial and fascinating work by the 4thcentury bishop, biblical exegete, and ecclesiastical historian eusebius of caesarea. If you are a scholar who is interested in a detailed treatment of this work and who has.
Constantine with the oration of constantine to the assembly of saints and the oration of eusebius in praise of constantine. The life of the blessed emperor constantine eusebius pamphilus in four books. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the history of the church from christ to constantine. Eusebius life of constantine ebook written by eusebius. Secret persecution by licinius, who causes some bishops to be put to death at. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by eusebius pamphilius available from rakuten kobo. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine book ii writings of eusebius the life of constantine book ii. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. This study of the roman empire in the age of constantine offers a thoroughly new assessment of the part christianity played in the roman world of the third and fourth centuries. The history of the church from christ to constantine by. The first third of the book chronicles constantines rise to power, the second describes the eusebiuss life and thought, and the third discusses the christianization of the empire and eusebiuss relationship to constantine. The emperor constantine changed the world by making the roman empire christian. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read eusebius life of constantine.
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. Its author, eusebius, bishop of caesarea in palestine, often, though mistakenly, regarded on the strength of it as constantines official propagandist. See all books authored by eusebius, including an ecclesiastical history to the twentieth year of the reign of constantine, tr. This modern translation of eusebiuss life of constantine by averil cameron is the most thorough and uptodate available, containing a substantial introduction as well as a great mass of truly useful commentary which makes up nearly 12 of the books bulk. Life of the blessed emperor constantine internet history. While, therefore, he regarded the entire world as one immense body, and perceived that the head of it all, the royal city of the roman empire, was bowed down by the weight of a tyrannous oppression. He was later made the bishop of nicomedia, where the imperial court resided. The letter of constantine i to shapur ii is a diplomatic. 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. The work provides scholars with one of the most comprehensive sources for.
He analyzes constantines rise to power and his government, demonstrating how constantines sincere adherence. A comparison of constantines piety with the wickedness of the persecutors. Eusebius, already an old man, produced a lasting testimonial of his own unbounded affection and admiration for the first christian emperor, in his life of constantine. Other articles where life of constantine is discussed. His ecclesiastical history was a chronicle of christianity from jesus to constantines success in taking over the roman empire. The manner in which josephus mentions the divine books. Oration in praise of constantine by eusebius, bishop of emesa, ca. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine by eusebius pamphilius is a classic which rank in significance with the works of flavius josephus. Parker, and the historians of ancient rome, and more on. 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. This english translation is the first based on modern critical editions. Barnes gives the fullest available narrative history of the reigns of diocletian and constantine. Like very many other things which eusebius tells of constantine, that which was entirely.
Life of constantine epub eusebius of caesarea achat. How the markettown of gaza was made a city for its profession of christianity, and received the name of constantia. 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. The life of the blessed emperor constantine eusebius pamphilus. It was never completed due to the death of eusebius in 339. Strangely, in view of this texts significance and the large body of englishlanguage scholarship on constantine, there has been no new english translation of the work since 1890. He lived finally in constantinople from 338 up to his death. Gutzman, bishop eusebius of caesarea and his life of constantine. Hollerich, the comparison of moses and constantine in eusebius of caesareas life of constantine, studia patristica 10 1989.
Throughout his life eusebius also wrote apologetic works, commentaries on the bible, and works explaining the parallels and discrepancies in the gospels. Secret persecution by licinius, who causes some bishops to be put to death at amasia of pontus. The history of the church from christ to constantine ebook written by eusebius. Book 2 of eusebius, praeparatio evangelica eusebius of caesarea. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine book ii.
Victor constantinus, maximus augustus, to eusebius. Eusebius of nicomedia died 341 was an arian priest, the man who baptised constantine the great. In the final chapter barnes discusses the historical value of the life and provides a summary of the books contents. Eusebius lived during the period when one of the most dramatic events in the churchs existence occurred. He was a bishop of berytus modernday beirut in phoenicia. The life of constantine has received a great deal of attention, much of it derisive, for its genre categorizationdefying, cringeinducing laudation of the famous emperor. Epitome of the mythological tales among the greeks concerning their gods and heroes. Life of constantine by eusebius goodreads share book. Writings of eusebius the life of constantine book iv. Church history, life of constantine, oration in praise of constantine. Home fathers of the church life of constantine eusebius book ii. This oration is the one appended by eusebius to this life of constantine, and given in. And when at length at the close of a long life, she was called to inherit a happier lot, having arrived at the eightieth year of her age, and being very near the time of her departure, she prepared and executed her last will in favor of. Its introduction and commentary open up the many important issues the life of constantine raises.
834 632 606 1267 1025 1098 809 686 914 881 201 788 1167 186 1025 863 509 1486 202 1271 1170 1123 378 531 1527 1467 385 1216 1143 446 1056 956 191 169 1194 593 936 1406 878 604 764 1399