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Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine

Eusebius of Caesarea · translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert and Ernest Cushing Richardson · 1890

The foundational history of the church's first three centuries, with the Life of Constantine — the primary narrative source for the age of the Council of Nicaea.

Edition: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1 · www.ccel.org

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From the opening: Chapter II

Chapter II

The Writings of Eusebius.

§1. Eusebius as a Writer

Eusebius was one of the most voluminous writers of antiquity, and his labors covered almost every field of theological learning. In the words of Lightfoot he was "historian, apologist, topographer, exegete, critic, preacher, dogmatic writer, in turn." It is as an historian that he is best known, but the importance of his historical writings should not cause us to overlook, as modern scholars have been prone to do, his invaluable productions in other departments. Lightfoot passes a very just judgment upon the importance of his works in the following words: "If the permanent utility of an author's labors may be taken as a test of literary excellence, Eusebius will hold a very high place indeed. The Ecclesiastical History is absolutely unique and indispensable. The Chronicle is the vast storehouse of information relating to the ancient monarchies of the world. The Preparation and Demonstration are the most important contributions to theology in their own province. Even the minor works, such as the Martyrs of Palestine, the Life of Constantine, the Questions addressed to Stephanus and to Marinus, and others, would leave an irreparable blank, if they were obliterated. And the same permanent value attaches also to his more technical treatises. The Canons and Sections have never yet been superseded for their particular purpose. The Topography of Palestine is the most important contribution to our knowledge in its own department. In short, no ancient ecclesiastical writer has laid posterity under heavier obligations."

If we look in Eusebius' works for evidences of brilliant genius we shall be disappointed. He did not possess a great creative mind like Origen's or Augustine's. His claim to greatness rests upon his vast erudition and his sterling sense. His powers of acquisition were remarkable and his diligence in study unwearied. He had at his command undoubtedly more acquired material than any man of his age, and he possessed that true literary and historical instinct which enabled him to select from his vast stores of knowledge those things which it was most worth his while to tell to the world. His writings therefore remain valuable while the works of many others, perhaps no less richly equipped than himself for the mission of adding to the sum of human knowledge, are entirely forgotten. He thus had the ability to…

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Contents (172 sections)

  1. About this edition
  2. Post-Nicene Fathers
  3. Professor of Church History in the Union Theological Seminary, New York
  4. Preface
  5. Preface
  6. Preface (continued)
  7. Preface (continued)
  8. Chapter II
  9. Chapter II (continued)
  10. L
  11. Chapter III
  12. Chapter III (continued)
  13. Chapter III (continued)
  14. Chapters I–II
  15. Chapter III — The Name Jesus and also the Name Christ were known from the Beginning, and…
  16. Chapters IV–V
  17. Chapter VII — The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in regard to the Genealogy of Christ
  18. Chapters VIII–IX
  19. Chapters X–XII
  20. Chapter XIII — Narrative concerning the Prince of the Edessenes
  21. Introduction
  22. Chapters III–VI
  23. Chapters VII–XI
  24. Chapters XII–XV
  25. Chapters XVI–XVII
  26. Chapters XVIII–XXI
  27. Chapters XXII–XXIII
  28. Chapters XXIV–XXVI
  29. Chapters I–V
  30. Chapter VI — The Famine which oppressed them
  31. Chapters VII–VIII
  32. Chapters IX–XV
  33. Chapters XVI–XXIII
  34. Chapters XXIV–XXV
  35. Chapters XXVI–XXIX
  36. Chapters XXX–XXXIII
  37. Chapters XXXIV–XXXVII
  38. Chapters XXXVIII–XXXIX
  39. Chapters I–VI
  40. Chapters VII–VIII
  41. Chapters IX–XIII
  42. Chapters XIV–XV
  43. Chapters XVI–XVII
  44. Chapters XVIII–XXII
  45. Chapters XXIII–XXVI
  46. Chapters XXVII–XXX
  47. Introduction
  48. Chapters II–V
  49. Chapters VI–VIII
  50. Chapters IX–XIII
  51. Chapters XIV–XVI
  52. Chapters XVII–XVIII
  53. Chapters XIX–XXII
  54. Chapters XXIII–XXIV
  55. Chapters XXV–XXVIII
  56. Chapters I–III
  57. Chapters IV–VIII
  58. Chapters IX–XII
  59. Chapters XIII–XVI
  60. Chapters XVII–XIX
  61. Chapters XX–XXV
  62. Chapters XXVI–XXXIII
  63. Chapters XXXIV–XL
  64. Chapter XLI — The Martyrs in Alexandria
  65. Chapters XLII–XLIII
  66. Chapters XLIV–XLVI
  67. Introduction
  68. Chapters VIII–XI
  69. Chapters XII–XVIII
  70. Chapters XIX–XXII
  71. Chapters XXIII–XXV
  72. Chapters XXVI–XXX
  73. Chapters XXXI–XXXII
  74. Introduction
  75. Chapters IV–VII
  76. Chapters VIII–X
  77. Chapters XI–XIII
  78. Chapter XIV — The Character of the Enemies of Religion
  79. Chapters XV–XVII
  80. Chapters I–III
  81. Chapters IV–V
  82. Chapters VI–VII
  83. Chapters VIII–IX
  84. Chapters X–XI
  85. Chapters XII–XIII
  86. Chapters I–IV
  87. Chapters V–VII
  88. Chapters VIII–IX
  89. Chapter X — The Overthrow of the Tyrants and the Words which they uttered before their…
  90. Chapter XI — The Final Destruction of the Enemies of Religion
  91. Chapters I–IV
  92. Chapter I — The Peace granted us by God (continued)
  93. Chapters VI–VIII
  94. Chapter IX — The Victory of Constantine, and the Blessings which under him accrued to the…
  95. Chapter IX — The Victory of Constantine, and the Blessings which under him accrued to the… (continued)
  96. Chapter IX — The Victory of Constantine, and the Blessings which under him accrued to the… (continued)
  97. Preface
  98. Chapter II
  99. Chapter II (continued)
  100. Chapter III
  101. Chapter IV
  102. Chapter V
  103. Chapter V (continued)
  104. Chapter V (continued)
  105. Prologue and epilogue to the last new play, Constan the Great [by N. Lee]. s. e. (1683)…
  106. Chapters I–VII
  107. Chapters VIII–XII
  108. Chapters XIII–XVII
  109. Chapters XVIII–XXVI
  110. Chapters XXVII–XXXIII
  111. Chapters XXXIV–XL
  112. Chapters XLI–XLVII
  113. Chapters XLVIII–LIV
  114. Chapters LV–LIX
  115. Chapters I–V
  116. Chapters VI–XIII
  117. Chapters XIV–XX
  118. Chapters XXI–XXVIII
  119. Chapters XXIX–XXXVI
  120. Chapters XXXVII–XLV
  121. Chapters XLVII–LVI
  122. Chapters LVII–LXV
  123. Chapters LXVI–LXXI
  124. Chapters LXXII–LXXIII
  125. Chapters I–IV
  126. Chapters V–X
  127. Chapters XI–XVIII
  128. Chapters XIX–XXV
  129. Chapters XXVI–XXXI
  130. Chapters XXXII–XLIII
  131. Chapters XLIV–LI
  132. Chapters LII–LV
  133. Chapters LVI–LIX
  134. Chapters LX–LXI
  135. Chapters LXII–LXVI
  136. Chapters I–VIII
  137. Chapters IX–XVIII
  138. Chapters XIX–XXVI
  139. Chapters XXVII–XXXIII
  140. Chapters XXXIV–XLI
  141. Chapters XLII–XLVI
  142. Chapters XLVII–LIV
  143. Chapters LV–LXII
  144. Chapters LXIII–LXIX
  145. Chapters LXX–I
  146. Chapters II–V
  147. Chapters VII–IX
  148. Chapter XI — On the Coming of our Lord in the Flesh; its Nature and Cause
  149. Chapters XIV–XVI
  150. Chapters XVII–XVIII
  151. Chapters XXIII–XXV
  152. Prologue to the Oration
  153. Chapters II–III
  154. Chapters IV–V
  155. Chapter VI
  156. Chapter VII
  157. Chapters VIII–IX
  158. Chapters X–XI
  159. Chapter XII
  160. Chapter XIII
  161. Chapters XIV–XV
  162. Chapter XVI
  163. Chapter XVII
  164. Chapter XVIII
  165. Index of Subjects
  166. Canon, of N. T. Scriptures. See N. T. Canon. Of Old Testament. See O. T. Canon
  167. Canon, of N. T. Scriptures. See N. T. Canon. Of Old Testament. See O. T. Canon (continued)
  168. Events, Acts, Circumstances
  169. Character and Religious Acts
  170. Laws, Letters, and Writings
  171. Letter of C. to the churches, 524
  172. Oration of C. to the Saints, 548; translation of, 561

How to cite it

Chicago
Eusebius of Caesarea. Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert and Ernest Cushing Richardson. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1, 1890. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201
MLA
Eusebius of Caesarea. Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert and Ernest Cushing Richardson, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1, 1890. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201
APA
Eusebius of Caesarea (1890). Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine (Arthur Cushman McGiffert and Ernest Cushing Richardson, Trans.). Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf201

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