The first comprehensive history of early Christianity.
Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. AD 260–340), born in Palestine, was a student of the presbyter Pamphilus, whom he loyally supported during Diocletian’s persecution. He was himself imprisoned in Egypt, but became Bishop of Caesarea around 314. At the Council of Nicaea in 325 he sat by the emperor, led a party of moderates, and made the first draft of the famous creed.
Of Eusebius’ many learned publications we have the
Martyrs of Palestine
and the
Life of Constantine
; several apologetic and polemic works; parts of his commentaries on the Psalms and Isaiah; and the
Chronographia
, known chiefly in Armenian and Syriac versions of the original Greek. But Eusebius’ chief fame rests on the
History of the Christian Church
in ten books, published in 324–325, the most important ecclesiastical history of ancient times, a great treasury of knowledge about the early Church.