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Eusebius, Ecclesiastical
History
Cambridge Seminar for NT PhD students
Prof. G.N. Stanton
2002-2003
[Still under construction!] [Suggest links: pmh15@cam.ac.uk]
This web page has been created alongside a series of seminars for PhD students in NT studies held in the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge. [The previous seminar discussed Justification and Variegated Nomism] The purpose of the seminar is to read Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History with one eye on its relevance for New Testament studies. Others who may be interested in attending the seminars should contact Professor Stanton in the first instance.
I.
Introduction & Rationale:
a.
NT and early Christianity set within context of history of
early Christianity (foreground, not just background); overview of early
patristics (and innumerable theological issues), Wirkungsgeschichte, NT
canon-reception history.
b.
Anticipated positive benefits: more Greek reading, reading
texts and figuring out what they mean, use of sources etc.
c.
Ten books: ten sessions; expect a global read beforehand
and discussion of selected text in session; plenty of issues raised (perhaps
get one paper per session on something related to text in Eusebius – either
something more on one of his sources, or on one of the topics suggested below).
II.
Eusebius (c. 260-341)
a. Early biography uncertain
b. Studied under Pamphilus (240-310) at theological school in Caesarea in Palestine
i. Special respect for Origen (Eusebius completed Pamphilus’ Apology for Origen) [only fragments survive, see portion translated by Rufinus]
ii. Eusebius wrote Life of Pamphilus (which doesn’t survive [for fragments see Jerome, Adv. Rufin. 1.9; Eusebius, HE, VII.32.25; De Mart. Pal. 11.3; Jerome, De Vir. Illustr. 75; Photius, Cod. 118]), and adopted his name.
iii. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pamphilus of Caesarea
iv. Pamphilus, presbyter of Caesarea
c. Bishop of Caesarea, AD 315
i. Caesarea Maritima: a retrospective after two millennia (eds: A. Raban & K.G. Holum; Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1996; papers from a conf held in Caesarea Maritima, Israel, Ja 3-11, 1995).
ii. Combined Caesarea Expeditions
iii. Virtual Caesarea Maritima
d. Supported Arius, condemned by Council of Antioch (AD 324-5)
C. Luibheid, Eusebius of Caesarea and the Arian Crisis. Dublin:
Irish Academic Press, 1978.
e. Reinstated during Council of Nicea (accepted Nicene Creed)
G.C. Stead, "Eusebius and the Council of Nicaea," Journal of Theological Studies, n.s., 24 (1973) 85-100
f. AD 335: Attended dedication of Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
P. Walker, Holy City,
Holy Place? Christian Attitudes to Jerusalem and the Holy Land in the Fourth
Century (OECS; Oxford: OUP, 1990)
g. Wrote Life of Constantine (ET on-line)
A. Cameron & S.G. Hall, Eusebius: Life of Constantine.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
OUP: Eusebius' Life of
Constantine: Eusebius
Timothy D. Barnes, Constantine and
Eusebius (new edn. Harvard University Press, 1984)
h. Numerous other writings, not all of which survive (main critical edition: GCS, ed. I.A. Heikel et al.; 9 vols, 1902-1975)
[Eusebius of Caesarea: A list of editions and translations, with links]
i. For brief surveys see ODCC p. 574; J.B. Lightfoot in Dictionary of Christian Biography 2(1880), 308-348.
k. Eusebius of Caesarea: encyclopedia article from Wikipedia (from Schaff-Herzog Encyc of Religion)
l. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Eusebius of Caesarea
m. Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898) (on Eusebius, at Perseus)
n.
D.S.
Wallace-Hadrill, Eusebius of Caesarea (London: A.R. Mowbray & Co.
Ltd., 1960)
o.
H.W.
Attridge & G. Hata (eds), Eusebius, Christianity, and Judaism (SPB
42; Leiden: Brill, 1992).
III.
The Church History
a.
Ten books, perhaps an earlier edition ended before AD 303
with book seven (the last three cover events in Eusebius’ own lifetime)
A. Louth, ‘The date of Eusebius' Historia ecclesiastica’ JTS ns 41 (1990) 111-123.
R.W. Burgess, ‘The Dates
and Editions of Eusebius' Chronici canones and Historia ecclesiastica’
JTS ns 48 (1997) 471-504.
b.
Survives in Greek as well as in Latin, Syriac and Armenian
versions
c.
For history of study see A.C. Headlam, ‘The Editions and
Manuscripts of Eusbius: Part I’ Journal of Theological Studies 4(1903)
93-102.
d.
Critical edition by E. Schwartz & T. Mommsen, Eusebius' Werke 2 (3 vols; GCS 9.1, 1903;
9.2, 1908; 9.3, 1909).
e.
ETs by K. lake & J.E.L. Oulton (Loeb, 1926-32); H.J.
Lawlor & J.E.O. Oulton (London, 1927-28); R.J. Deferrari (Fathers of the
Church 19 & 29; 1953-5); G.A. Williamson (Penguin, 1965; rev. A.Louth,
1989).
f.
T.D. Barnes, ‘The editions of Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History’
Greek,-Roman,-and-Byzantine-Studies. 21 (Sum 1980), p. 191-201.
g.
Eusebius
of Caesarea's Church History - Table of Contents
h.
NPNF ET: Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History (ET & Notes)
i.
Eusebius
of Caesarea: Church History (ET on-line)
j.
Robert M. Grant, Eusebius
as Church Historian (Oxford: Clarendon, 1980).
k.
H.J. Lawlor, Eusebiana:
Essays on the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius (Oxford: Clarendon, 1912).
l.
Bernard Pouderon & Yves-Marie Duval (eds), L¹Historiographie de
l¹Église des premiers siècles (Théologie Historique 114; Paris, 2001).
proceedings of a colloquium, and there are some good articles on
Eusebius
IV.
Book One
Sources: Josephus, Julius Africanus, King Abgar.
Topics: history, Christology, historical setting of Jesus’ ministry, chronology of Jesus’ birth, genealogies of Matt & Luke, OT messianic prophecies.
Greek Reading: I.1-8: the introduction.
Flavius
Josephus - josephus.yorku.org - Scholarly Resources for the Study of Flavius
Josephus
Flavius Josephus
(@earlychristianwritings.com)
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Julius
Africanus or some more links at Sextus Julius Africanus
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The
Legend of Abgar or more material at St.
Pachomius Library
NB. On approach to OT see Commentary on
Isaiah and OUP: Eusebius of
Caesarea's Commentary on Isaiah: Hollerich
J.E. Bruns, "The 'Agreement of Moses and Jesus' in the Demonstratio
Evangelica of Eusebius," Vigiliae Christianae, 31 (1977): 117-125.
C. Sant, Old Testament Interpretation in Eusebius of Caesarea
(Malta: Royal University of Malta, 1967).
V.
Book Two:
Sources: Tertullian, Philo, Josephus, Clement of Alexandria, Hegesippus
Topics: early mission, reading Acts, apostles, Theudas, Simon the Samaritan magician, Peter in Rome, Philo on the Contemplative Life, troubles in Jerusalem, Paul on trial, James the just, Nero.
Greek Reading:
Book III: Papias, Clement of Rome, Ignatius
Book IV: Aristides, Gnosticism, Justin Martyr, Acts of Martyrs, Tatian
Book V: Letter of Churches of Lyon & Vienne, Irenaeus, Montanism
Book VI: Origen, Dionysius
Book VII
Book VIII
Sommerville,-Robert-E,
‘Ordering principle for Book VIII of Eusebius' Ecclesiastical history : a
suggestion’ Vigiliae-Christianae. 20 (Je 1966), p. 91-97..
Irena Backus, ‘Calvin's judgment of Eusebius of Caesarea : an analysis’ Sixteenth Century Journal 22 (1991) 419-437.
A.E. Johnson, ‘Rhetorical criticism in Eusebius' Gospel questions’ Studia Patristica 18, vol 1. Kalamazoo, Mich : Cistercian Publications, 1985. p. 33-39.
H.A. Drake, ‘Eusebius on the true cross’ JEH 36 (Ja 1985), p. 1-22..
V. Some Other Links:
Tyndale House - Doorway to Bible Scholarship
Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge
Created and maintained by P.M.Head (27.6.2002) [Web Page]