EUSEBIUS’ HISTORY (Essay Sample)

Eusebius’ History Students Name Professor’s Name Eusebius of Caesarea from his writings indicate that he was very concerned with apostles, the importance of Christianity to the religion and the Roman Empire. He writes an account of how the holy apostles succeeded and the history of the earlier Church. He mentions those people who had proclaimed the divine word of God both orally or in writing. Eusebius also preserved portions of earlier works by constantly quoting his sources. In Eusebius' History, he starts his historical writing from when the divine system of Lord Jesus started. He contributed significantly to Ecclesiastical History, which is considered the landmark of Christian Historiography. What was the historical subject of Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, and what were the purposes of his history? How did Eusebius use primary archival sources and eyewitness accounts? What was Eusebius’ philosophy of history and concept of causation? According to Eusebius, what was the historical role of the Christian Church in the History of Rome and the world, and what was the historical role of Emperor Constantine and the Roman Empire in Christian History? This essay will show that the subject of Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History was mainly about the earlier Church and how Christianity was born in the Roman Church. The purpose of his history was to document the succession of earlier apostles of Savior Jesus Christ and the events that occurred in the earlier Church that lived before and during his time, along with the events they were associated with. This essay also proves that Eusebius uses sources from ancient writers before him by quoting and paraphrasing them. This essay will argue that Eusebius intended to create a historical narrative of events of the earlier Church and the evolution of Christianity in the Roman Empire. In this essay, Eusebius states that the Christian Church was granted freedom such that they were not to be punished without trial. Christianity worldwide believed in the salvation brought by Jesus Christ, whom they prayed for peace. God inspired emperor Constantine, and, together with his son, he won an easy victory against Emperor Licinius I. Constantine's era brought freedom to those Christians who Licinius oppressed, thus saving the human race. This essay proves that the Roman Empire protected Christians through their protector Emperor Constantine. According to Eusebius’ History, his primary subject was about the line of succession of apostles, the events that occurred in the early Church, and Christianity. He writes about apostle Hyginus, who succeeded bishop Telesphorus, who was martyred by becoming a bishop of Rome. In the era of Hyginus, Cerdon, who became a bishop, started practicing confession and began teaching it in secret. Eusebius writes that he was later accused of corruption and evicted from the Christian Community. Eusebius also quotes a text from Justin, a philosopher who talked about a Marcion stating: “And there is a certain Marcion of Pontus, who is even now still teaching his followers to think that there is some other God greater than the creator. And by the aid of the demons, he has persuaded many of every race of men to utter blasphemy, and to deny that the maker of this universe is the father of Christ, and to confess that some other, greater 4 than he, was the creator. And all who followed them are, as we have said, called Christians, just as the name of philosophy is given to philosophers, although they may have no doctrines in common.” In his writing, Eusebius documents how Christianity believed in the existence of the Divine Spirit, which exhorted them to peace. Eusebius explains how he believed in Christianity following the following quote of the divine word: "Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm has saved him. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He revealed in the presence of the nations." (Psalm 98:1-2) Eusebius' reason for writing was mainly to record the important events that happened to the early Church and document those who presided over the prominent parishes of the Church and those who proclaimed the word of God in words or their writing. He gives names and dates of earlier false discoverers that ran into errors in their writing. Eusebius, in his writing, records the scenarios where the divine word has faced attack from Gentiles, the suffering of Christian martyrs, and the gracious days their Savior brought everyone. Eusebius' work has historical importance as it contributes to the Ecclesiastical History of Christianity through quoting written material from earlier writers as well as from the divine bible. In his work, he quotes chapters and verses to support his understanding. Eusebius' history contributed to a strong Christian religion as he records accurate information on how Christianity survived, from the human justice given to Christians to how Constantine, the Christians' protector started the great Roman Empire. Eusebius records human justice practiced under his law and the protection of the oppressed. According to Eusebius, Constantine changed the political understanding when he was able to overthrow Linicius and his council, bringing in a new political era based on Christianity. Rome lacked a good political system as their religion influenced their rule. Through Christianity, which encouraged belief in one God which was not the emperor, the political laws became more just and upholding. According to Eusebius’ History, the Christian Church had found a great purpose mainly because Emperor Constantine ruled Rome at the time. During his reign, Constantine gave Christians full freedom to practice Christianity. Constantine also issued a new law that demanded a Christian be trialed in court for his actions rather than be persecuted. Any person was to face punishment according to criminal law if he committed criminal actions. The Christian Church encouraged human justice to be exercised among all people especially showing sympathy to those not who were not worthy. According to Eusebius’ History, Rome considered their emperors as gods. Christianity brought along the belief of one God who was not the emperor led to abolishing the existing Roman religion since the Roman religion was characterized by worshipping emperors as their gods. Licinius and his council was a great example of...