Nicene Era
Ecclesiastical History & Life of Constantine
Eusebius of Caesarea · c. 313 – 339
Historical Context
Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, court theologian to Constantine, and the pioneer of Christian historiography.
Summary
The Ecclesiastical History (in ten books) traces the Church from the apostles to Constantine, preserving countless documents, letters, and lost writings that would otherwise be unknown. The Life of Constantine reads the emperor's rise as providence unfolding, while other works defend a moderate Origenist Trinitarianism.
Major Themes
- Church history
- Providence and empire
- Preservation of earlier sources
- Constantinian theology
Important Quotations
“It is my purpose to write an account of the successions of the holy apostles…”— Ecclesiastical History 1.1
Related Timeline Events
Primary Sources
Further Reading
- Aaron Johnson, Eusebius (Understanding Classics)