Eusebius was very close to the Emperor Constantine and had his ear at all
times. He also tended to flatter Constantine and was servile to his demands.
For this he was criticized in his time and by later Church historians as being
the prototype of weak-kneed court bishops who fail to stand up to civil
rulers infected by Caesero-papism.
Eusebius’ greatest work is his Ecclesiastical History, written between 300
and 325 AD. It is an apologetical history aimed at proving the truth of
Christianity. The original Greek version in several manuscripts is still
extant, together with a Latin (unfaithful) translation by Rufinus of Aquileia
updated to 395 AD. Eusebius’ other works comprise books on history,
apologetics, Scripture, dogma, discourses and letters. They include,
namely, a Life of Pamphilus, Martyr; On the Martyrs of Palestine; Acts of
Ancient Martyrs; The Chronicle; Life of Constantine. Though regarded as a
great scholar, very few of his works entitle him to be regarded as a
theologian of significance. Eusebius remained actively writing until the end
of his life, which took place no later than 340 AD.
Extracts
The Chronicle (C. 303 AD):
Ad An. Dom. 42
“The second year of the two hundredth and fifth Olympiad the apostle Peter, after
he has established the Church in Antioch, is sent to Rome, where he remains a
bishop of that city, preaching the gospel for twenty five years…”
Ad An. Dom. 43
“Third year of the two hundredth and fifth olympiad: the Evangelist Mark,
interpreter of Peter, announces Christ in Egypt and Alexandria.”
Ad An. Dom. 68
“Nero is the first, in addition to all other crimes, to make a persecution against the
Christians, in which Peter and Paul died gloriously in Rome.”
Ecclesiastical History (Inter 303-325 AD):
2, 14, 6
“In the same reign of Claudius, the all-good and gracious providence which
watches over all things guided Peter, the great and mighty among the Apostles,
who, because of his virtue, was the spokesman for all the others, to Rome.”
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