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Christian History Writing

Christian History Writing. A new chronology 2. Eusebius. Christian Historiography. By 3 rd century see development of enormous differences in thinking between pagan and Christian historians

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Christian History Writing

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  1. Christian History Writing A new chronology 2. Eusebius

  2. Christian Historiography • By 3rd century see development of enormous differences in thinking between pagan and Christian historians • Pagan historians identified the world of the past, present and future with the Roman state – see much talk of glory of Rome • Christian view of history evolved in discussions among church fathers through the interpretations of Christian texts in context of current events • In beginning, Christian life and traditions were shaped in opposition to Rome • Authors often accuse Christians of having led to Rome’s decline – that was not the case

  3. Christian Writers - a new chronology • Christian Historiographical ‘Revolution’: • Late 3rd century Sextus Julius Africanus –with his Chronography initiated a series of early Christian histories in which individuals and events from N. East, Greek and Roman Myths, and histories were organized into a Judeo-Christian framework. • By adding years to biblical characters and using chronologies from other cultures, Africanus concluded that 5,500 years had passed between Adam and Jesus ‘ birth

  4. Eusebius of Caesarea c. 263 - 339 • Bishop of Caesarea • Was close advisor to the Emperor Constantine • Wrote a patristic chronology, • Lived during early 4th century when Constantine made Christianity a tolerated religion • Christianity and the Roman empire became linked • Eusebius’ history illustrated that Christianity had become the dominant factor in historiography

  5. The context • Late 3rd early 4th century, period of political unrest; barbarian invasions; internal strife; economic decline; most of the revenue pumped into the army in order to defend the Empire from outside and inside. • Enormous social changes; many barbarian tribes settled within the empire; large components of army consisted of barbarians (non-Romans) • Values important to Romans of Republic and early Imperial period less important to the majority

  6. Eusebius’ Works • Works: Wrote 46 works including: The Chronicles; Ecclesiastical History; Life of Constantine • The Chronicle (chronica)– based on Africanus; christianity dominant in this work; • core of work was chronological canons; material borrowed from Hellenistic writers; • Roman and Near Eastern World merge into one chronological framework • When writing about earliest periods, he lists side by side individuals and events from Assyria , Egypt and major figures and events from the Old Testament • Bible is used as historical document

  7. Eusebius’ works • Work: Ecclesiastical History (a history of the Church) • Covers the Rise of Christianity from its beginnings, includes account of lives of Jesus Christ and the apostles; about faith, the most important leaders, enemies, writers, martyrs, bishops, persecutions, victory of church

  8. Eusebius • Life of Constantine • Constantine is depicted as a man who received sign from God and acted on a vision; reigned with divine protection • More in nature a hagiography than biography • Hagiography = biography in praise of someone; seriously biased

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