Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Eusebius: Historia Ecclesiastica

Complete text

Book I

Contents

1.1: Plan of the Work

1.2: Summary View of the Pre-existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ

1.3: The Name Jesus and also the Name Christ were known from the Beginning, and were honored by the Inspired Prophets

Back to library

Α
Τίς ἡ τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ὑπόθεσις.

ܫܪܒܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܕܡܢܐ ܗܘ ܫܪܒܐ ܕܫܘܪܝܗ ܍܍܍܍

Chapter 1.The Plan of the Work.

Τὰς τῶν ἱερῶν ἀποστόλων διαδοχὰς σὺν καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν καὶ εἰς ἡμᾶς διηνυσμένοις χρόνοις, ὅσα τε καὶ πηλίκα πραγματευθῆναι κατὰ τὴν ἐκκλησιαστικὴν ἱστορίαν λέγεται, καὶ ὅσοι ταύτης διαπρεπῶς ἐν ταῖς μάλιστα ἐπισημοτάταις παροικίαις ἡγήσαντό τε καὶ προέστησαν, ὅσοι τε κατὰ γενεὰν ἑκάστην ἀγράφως ἢ καὶ διὰ συγγραμμάτων τὸν θεῖον ἐπρέσβευσαν λόγον,

(7) Successiones sanctorum apostolorum et tempora quae a salvatore nostro ad nos usque decursa sunt, quaeque et qualia in his erga ecclesiae statum gesta sint, qui etiam insignes viri in locis maxime celeberrimis ecclesiis praefuerunt vel qui singulis quibusque temporibus seu scribendo seu docendo verbum dei nobiliter adstruxere,

ܡܝܒܠܢܘܬܐ ܕܫ̈ܠܝܚܐ ܕܡܢ ܝܘܡ̈ܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ ܘܥܕܡܐ ܠܘܬܢ̣ ܨܒܝܬ ܕܐܪܫܘܡ ܒܟܬܒܐ̇. ܘܕܟܡܐ ܘܕܐܝܟ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܨܒ̈ܘܢ̇ ܡܬܡܠܠܢ ܕܐܣܬܥܪ ܒܬܫܥ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܥܪ̈ܬܐ̇. ܘܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܫܒܝܚܐܝܬ ܒܟܢܘ̈ܫܬܐ ܝܕܝܥ̈ܬܐ ܗܘܘ ܪ̈ܫܢܐ ܘܡܕܒܪ̈ܢܐ̇. ܘܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܗ̇ܢܘܢ ܕܒܕܪ ܕܪ ܐܟܪܙܘ ܡ̣ܠܬܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܘ ܕܠܐ ܟܬܝ̈ܒܬܐ ܐܘ ܒܟܬܝ̈ܒܬܐ̇.

1. It is my purpose to write an account of the successions of the holy apostles, as well as of the times which have elapsed from the days of our Saviour to our own; and to relate the many important events which are said to have occurred in the history of the Church; and to mention those who have governed and presided over the Church in the most prominent parishes, and those who in each generation have proclaimed the divine word either orally or in writing.

τίνες τε καὶ ὅσοι καὶ ὁπηνίκα νεωτεροποιίας ἱμέρῳ πλάνης εἰς ἔσχατον ἐλάσαντες, ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως εἰσηγητὰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀνακεκηρύχασιν, ἀφειδῶς οἷα λύκοι βαρεῖς τὴν Χριστοῦ ποίμνην ἐπεντρίβοντες,

quique etiam vel quanti vel quando nova contra religionem dogmata proferentes ad profundum erroris studio contentionis elapsi falsae scientiae auctores se praeceptoresque professi sunt, passim velut lupi graves gregem Christi lacerantes,

ܘܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܟܡܐ ܘܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܝܥܘ ܚܕܬܐܝܬ ܡ̈ܠܦܢܐ ܕܛܥܝܘܬܐ ܕܝܕܥܬܐ ܕܓܠܬܐ̇. ܘܕܠܐ ܚܘܣܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܐ̈ܒܐ ܚ̇ܒ̈ܠܐ ܣܥܘ ܥܠ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ.

2. It is my purpose also to give the names and number and times of those who through love of innovation have run into the greatest errors, and, proclaiming themselves discoverers of knowledge falsely so-called have like fierce wolves unmercifully devastated the flock of Christ.

πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ τὰ παραυτίκα τῆς κατὰ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἐπιβουλῆς τὸ πᾶν Ἰουδαίων ἔθνος περιελθόντα, ὅσα τε αὖ καὶ ὁποῖα καθ' οἵους τε χρόνους πρὸς τῶν ἐθνῶν ὁ θεῖος πεπολέμηται λόγος, καὶ πηλίκοι κατὰ καιροὺς τὸν δι' αἵματος καὶ βασάνων ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ διεξῆλθον ἀγῶνα, τά τ' ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ καθ' ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς μαρτύρια καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἵλεω καὶ εὐμενῆ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἀντίληψιν γραφῇ παραδοῦναι προῃρημένος, οὐδ' ἄλλοθεν ἢ ἀπὸ πρώτης ἄρξομαι τῆς κατὰ τὸν σωτῆρα καὶ κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν τὸν Χριστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ οἰκονομίας.

nec non et ea mala quae Iudaeorum gentem pro insidiis quas adversum salvatorem moliti sunt, vastaverunt, quibus etiam modis et quotiens quibusve temporibus doctrina Christi et sermo divinus a gentilibus impugnatus est, quantique his tempestatibus usque ad suppliciorum patientiam et profusionem sanguinis pro verbi dei veritate certarunt, sed et martyria nostris suscepta temporibus atque in his domini et salvatoris nostri erga singulos quosque unicum elementissimumque subsidium scribere mihi volenti non aliunde sumendum videtur exordium quam ab ipsa domini et salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi praesentia corporali.

ܘܥܡ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܓܕܫ ܡܚܕܐ ܠܥܡܐ ܕܝܗܘ̈ܕܝܐ ܥܠ ܕܣܥܘ ܘܐܡܪܚܘ ܥܠ ܦܪܘܩܢ. ܘܕܐܝܟܢܐ ܘܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܐܬܪܕܦܬ̇ ܡܢ ܥܡ̈ܡܐ ܣܒܪܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ̇. ܘܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܐܢܫܝܢ (5) ܒܟܠ ܙܒ̈ܢܝܢ ܣܒܠܘ ܐܓܘܢܐ ܡܛܠ ܫܡܗ ܕܡܪܢ̇. ܒܫ̈ܢܕܐ ܘܫܘ̈ܢܩܐ ܘܐܫܕ ܕܡܐ. ܘܥܡ ܗܠܝ̣ܢ ܐܦ ܥܠ ܣܗ̈ܕܐ ܕܗܘ̣ܘ ܒܝܘܡܬܢ̇. ܘܥܘܕܪ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܪܚܡܢܘܬܗ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ ܕܗܘ̣ܘ ܒܟܠ ܙܒ̈ܢܝܢ ܍܍ ܟܕ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܐܟܬܘܒ ܨܒ̇ܢܐ̣. ܘ̇ܠܐ ܕܐܥܒܕ ܫܘܪܝܐ ܠܡܠܬܐ̇. ܡܢ ܡܦܪܢܣܢܘܬܗ ܩܕܡܝܬܐ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ ܡܪܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܍

3. It is my intention, moreover, to recount the misfortunes which immediately came upon the whole Jewish nation in consequence of their plots against our Saviour, and to record the ways and the times in which the divine word has been attacked by the Gentiles, and to describe the character of those who at various periods have contended for it in the face of blood and of tortures, as well as the confessions which have been made in our own days, and finally the gracious and kindly succor which our Saviour has afforded them all. Since I propose to write of all these things I shall commence my work with the beginning of the dispensation of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.

ἀλλά μοι συγγνώμην εὐγνωμόνων ἐντεῦθεν ὁ λόγος αἰτεῖ, μείζονα ἢ καθ' ἡμετέραν δύναμιν ὁμολογῶν εἶναι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν ἐντελῆ καὶ ἀπαράλειπτον ὑποσχεῖν, ἐπεὶ καὶ πρῶτοι νῦν τῆς ὑποθέσεως ἐπιβάντες οἷά τινα ἐρήμην καὶ ἀτριβῆ ἰέναι ὁδὸν ἐγχειροῦμεν, θεὸν μὲν ὁδηγὸν καὶ τὴν τοῦ κυρίου συνεργὸν σχήσειν εὐχόμενοι δύναμιν, ἀνθρώπων γε μὴν οὐδαμῶς εὑρεῖν οἷοί τε ὄντες ἴχνη γυμνὰ τὴν αὐτὴν ἡμῖν προωδευκότων, μὴ ὅτι σμικρὰς αὐτὸ μόνον προφάσεις, δι' ὧν ἄλλος ἄλλως ὧν διηνύκασι χρόνων μερικὰς ἡμῖν καταλελοίπασι διηγήσεις, πόρρωθεν ὥσπερ εἰ πυρσοὺς τὰς ἑαυτῶν προανατείνοντες φωνὰς καὶ ἄνωθέν ποθεν ὡς ἐξ ἀπόπτου καὶ ἀπὸ σκοπῆς βοῶντες καὶ διακελευόμενοι, ᾗ χρὴ βαδίζειν καὶ τὴν τοῦ λόγου πορείαν ἀπλανῶς καὶ ἀκινδύνως εὐθύνειν.

sed mihi quaeso veniam dari: confiteor namque, quod in hoc opere viribus nostris maiora temptamus; ut et fideliter et integre quae sunt gesta narremus et rudem ac nulli (9) fere nostrorum digressam viam huiuscemodi itineris primi audeamus incedere. et licet deum ducem futurum dominique salvatoris nostri certus sim nobis adfutura suffragia, hominum tamen nulla, quibus possimus inniti, conspicimus praecessisse vestigia, nisi quod sparsim singulorum quorumque temporis sui rerum gestarum ad nos usque indicia ac monumenta transmissa sunt, e quibus quaedam nobis luminum faces velut in obscuro positis eminus accenduntur et tamquam e sublimi specula, qua nos gressum tendere oporteat ac viam verbi absque errore dirigere, eorum vocibus admonemur.

ܫ̇ܐܠ ܐܢܐ ܕܝ̣ܢ ܕܢܕܥܘܢ ܡܢ ܢܦܫܝ ܦܪܘܫܐ. ܡܘܕܐ ܐܢܐ ܓܝܪ̣ ܕܠܒܪ ܡܢ ܚܝܠܝ ܐܝܬܝܗ̇ ܗܕܐ̇. ܗܘ ܓܝܪ ܩܕܡܝܬ ܐܩܦܢܢ ܒܗܢܐ ܫܪܒܐ. ܐܝܟ ܐܢܫ ܕܪ̈ܕܐ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܠܐ ܕܪܝܫܐ. ܘܡܨܠܝܢ ܐܢܚܢܢ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܢܗܘܢ ܠܢ ܗܕܝܐ̣. ܘܚܝܠܐ ܕܡܪܢ ܢܗܘܐ ܒܥܘܕܪܢܢ. ܥܩܒ̈ܬܐ ܓܝܪ ܓ̈ܠܝܬܐ ܕܐܢܫܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܕܪܕܘ ܩܕܡܝܢ ܒܗܕܐ ܐܘܪܚܐ ܠܐ ܐܫܟܚܢ̇. ܐܠܐ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܥ̈ܠܠ̣ܬܐ ܙܥܘܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܬܫ̈ܥܝܬܐ ܕܐܢܫ ܐܢܫ ܒܙ̈ܒܢܐ ܕܗܘ̣ܘ ܒܗܘܢ ܒܡܢ̈ܘܢ ܡܢ̈ܘܢ ܕܫܒܩܘ ܠܢ̇. ܘܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ܛ̇ܘܪܐ ܣܓܝܐܐ ܒܙܗܪ̈ܝܪܐ ܕܩܠܝܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ܢܝܫܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ ܩ̇ܥܝܢ̇. ܘܦܩܕܝܢ ܕܒܐ̇ܝܕܐ ܐܘܪܚܐ ܢܐܙܠ. ܘܡܪܕܝܬܐ ܕܡܠܬܐ ܬܪܨܝܢ ܠ̣ܢ ܕܠܐ ܛܥܝܘܬܐ.

4. But at the outset I must crave for my work the indulgence of the wise, for I confess that it is beyond my power to produce a perfect and complete history, and since I am the first to enter upon the subject, I am attempting to traverse as it were a lonely and untrodden path. I pray that I may have God as my guide and the power of the Lord as my aid, since I am unable to find even the bare footsteps of those who have traveled the way before me, except in brief fragments, in which some in one way, others in another, have transmitted to us particular accounts of the times in which they lived. From afar they raise their voices like torches, and they cry out, as from some lofty and conspicuous watchtower, admonishing us where to walk and how to direct the course of our work steadily and safely.

ὅσα, τοίνυν εἰς τὴν προκειμένην ὑπόθεσιν λυσιτελεῖν ἡγούμεθα τῶν αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις σποράδην μνημονευθέντων, ἀναλεξάμενοι καὶ ὡς ἂν ἐκ λογικῶν λειμώνων τὰς ἐπιτηδείους αὐτῶν τῶν πάλαι συγγραφέων ἀπανθισάμενοι φωνάς, δι' ὑφηγήσεως ἱστορικῆς πειρασόμεθα σωματοποιῆσαι, ἀγαπῶντες, εἰ καὶ μὴ ἁπάντων, τῶν δ' οὖν μάλιστα διαφανεστάτων τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἀποστόλων τὰς διαδοχὰς κατὰ τὰς διαπρεπούσας ἔτι καὶ νῦν μνημονευομένας ἐκκλησίας ἀνασωσαίμεθα.

quaecumque igitur proposito operi convenire credidimus, ex his, quae illi sparsim memoraverant, eligentes ac velut e rationabilibus campis doctorum flosculos decerpentes historica narratione in unum corpus redigere et coagmentare temptavimus, satis abundeque gratum putantes, etsi non omnium, nobilissimorum certe salvatoris nostri apostolorum successiones celebrioribus quibusque ecclesiis traditas in unum colligere atque in ordinem modumque digerere.

ܟܠܗܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܪܢ̇ܝܢ ܐܢܚܢܢ ܕܚܫܚܢ ܠܗܢܐ ܫܪܒܐ̣. ܡܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܒܕܝܪܢ (6) ܒܥܘܗܕܢܝܗܘܢ ܕܡܟ̈ܬܒܢܐ ܩܕܡ̈ܝܐ̣. ܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ܡܪ̈ܓܐ ܡ̈ܠܝܠܐ ܢܠܩ̇ܛ ܗܒ̈ܒܐ ܕܩܠܝܗܘܢ ܘܢܓ̇ܫܡ ܒܬ̣ܢܝܢܐ ܕܬܫܥܝܬܢ̇ ܘܢܫܠܡ ܡܝܒܠܢܘܬܐ ܕܫ̈ܠܝܚܘܗܝ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ̇. ܕܢܛܝܪ ܥܘܗܕܢܗ̇ ܒܥܕܬ̈ܐ ܝܕܝ̈ܥܬܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܝܘܡܢܐ. ܐܦܢ ܠܐ ܕܟܠܗܘܢ̣ ܐܠܐ ܐܦܢ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܝܕܝܥܝܢ ܒܗܘܢ.

5. Having gathered therefore from the matters mentioned here and there by them whatever we consider important for the present work, and having plucked like flowers from a meadow the appropriate passages from ancient writers, we shall endeavor to embody the whole in an historical narrative, content if we preserve the memory of the successions of the apostles of our Saviour; if not indeed of all, yet of the most renowned of them in those churches which are the most noted, and which even to the present time are held in honor.

ἀναγκαιότατα δέ μοι πονεῖσθαι τὴν ὑπόθεσιν ἡγοῦμαι, ὅτι μηδένα πω εἰς δεῦρο τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν συγγρα φέων διέγνων περὶ τοῦτο τῆς γραφῆς σπουδὴν πεποιημένον τὸ μέρος· ἐλπίζω δ' ὅτι καὶ ὠφελιμωτάτη τοῖς φιλοτίμως περὶ τὸ χρηστομαθὲς τῆς ἱστορίας ἔχουσιν ἀναφανήσεται.

opus autem mihi pernecessarium videor adsumpsisse eo magis, quo, ut superius dixi, neminem ecclesiasticum dumtaxat scriptorem ad hanc partem narrationis animum adiecisse comperior. in quo illud etiam spero, quod et utilitatis plurimum ex rerum gestarum cognitione studiosis quibusque noster hic conferat labor.

ܣ̇ܓܝ ܕܝܢ ܥ̇ܗܢ ܥܡܠܗ ܕܗܢܐ ܫܪܒܐ ܕܪܡ̣ܐ ܠܢ. ܡܛܠ ܕܠܚܕ ܡܢ ܡܟ̈ܬܒܢܐ ܩܕܡ̈ܝܐ ܕܗܘ̣ܘ ܒܥܕܬܐ̣. ܠܐ ܐܪܓܫܢܢ ܕܗܘ̣ܬ ܚܦܝܛܘܬܐ ܥܠ ܡܟܬܒܢܘܬܗ ܕܗܢܐ ܫܪܒܐ.

6. This work seems to me of especial importance because I know of no ecclesiastical writer who has devoted himself to this subject; and I hope that it will appear most useful to those who are fond of historical research.

ἤδη μὲν οὖν τούτων καὶ πρότερον ἐν οἷς διετυπωσάμην χρονικοῖς κανόσιν ἐπιτομὴν κατεστησάμην, πληρεστάτην δ' οὖν ὅμως αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ὡρμήθην τὴν ἀφήγησιν ποιήσασθαι.

quamvis iam de his ipsis nonnulla etiam in chronicis, id est in eo opere, quod de temporum ratione conscripsimus, breviter succincteque perstrinxerim, plenius tamen in praesenti opere singulorum narrationem aperire temptavimus.

ܣ̇ܒܪ ܐܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܢܗܘܢ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ. ܠܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܚܒܝܢ ܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܕܬܢܝܢܐ ܕܬܫܥܝܬܐ ܗܕܐ. ܐܦ ܥܕ ܗܫܐ ܕܝܢ ܡܢܗ ܕܗܢܐ ܫܪܒܐ̣. ܒܬܫ̈ܥܝܬܐ ܕܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܢ ܩܕܝܡ ܣܝܡܢܢ ܠܢ ܒܦܣܩܝܢ ܦܣܩܝܢ ܪܫܝܡ ܗܘ ܠܢ.

7. I have already given an epitome of these things in the Chronological Canons which I have composed, but notwithstanding that, I have undertaken in the present work to write as full an account of them as I am able.

Καὶ ἄρξεταί γέ μοι ὁ λόγος, ὡς ἔφην, ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐπινοουμένης ὑψηλοτέρας καὶ κρείττονος ἢ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον οἰκονομίας τε καὶ θεολογίας.

Incipiet igitur mihi sermo ab ipso domino, sicut promisimus, Christo.

ܐܫܪܐ ܗܟܝܠ ܒܡܠܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܩܕܡܬ ܐܡܪܬ. ܡܢ ܐܠܗܘܬܗ ܡܥܠܝܬܐ ܘܫܒܝܚܐ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ. ܕܩܕܝܡܐ ܠܗܕܐ ܡܦܪܢܣܢܘܬܐ ܕܒܦܓܪ. ¹

1. In the Syriac version, chapter two begins here, and the heading: ܕܬܪ̈ܝܢ. ܦܣܘ̈ܩܐ ܕܪܝܫܐ. ܕܐܡܝܪܝܢ ܥܠ ܩܕܝܡܘܬ ܐܠܗܘܬܗ ܕܦܪܘܩܢ ܡܪܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ, is placed here. We have moved it to the Greek equivalent two records below.

8. My work will begin, as I have said, with the dispensation of the Saviour Christ — which is loftier and greater than human conception — and with a discussion of his divinity.

καὶ γὰρ τὸν γραφῇ μέλλοντα τῆς ἐκκλησιαστικῆς ὑφηγήσεως παραδώσειν τὴν ἱστορίαν, ἄνωθεν ἐκ πρώτης τῆς κατ' αὐτὸν τὸν Χριστόν, ὅτιπερ ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς προσωνυμίας ἠξιώθημεν, θειοτέρας (53) ἢ κατὰ τὸ δοκοῦν τοῖς πολλοῖς οἰκονομίας ἀναγκαῖον ἂν εἴη κατάρξασθαι.

verum quia Christianorum res gestas scribere proponimus, consequens videtur, uti prius vel genus hoc hominum unde ducat exordium vel quid nominis ipsius contineat ratio, excuius gens ista vel populus appellatione (11) censetur, repetentes paulo altius exponamus.

ܐܦ ܙܕܩ ܗܘ ܓܝܪ ܠܐܝܢܐ ܕܥܬܝܕ ܕܢܫܠܡ ܒܝܕ ܟܬܝܒ̈ܬܐ ܬܫ̈ܥܝܬܐ ܕܫܪ̈ܒܝܗ̇ ܕܥܕܬܐ. ܕܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܢܐܡܪ ܥܠ ܫܪܒܗ ܕܡܪܢ̇ ܡܢ ܐܠܗܘܬܐ ܗܘ ܓܝܪ ܩܒܠܬ ܐܢܫܘܬܐ ܟܘܢܝ (7) ܡܫܝܚܘܬܐ ܗܕܐ.

9. For it is necessary, inasmuch as we derive even our name from Christ, for one who proposes to write a history of the Church to begin with the very origin of Christ's dispensation, a dispensation more divine than many think.

Permanent link

http://www2.hf.uio.no/common/apps/permlink/permlink.php?app=polyglotta&context=ctext&uid=e31fd87b-4ca1-11e8-8a71-0050569f23b2

Choose languages

Choose images, etc.

Choose languages

Choose display