Research Catalog

Title

Against Marcellus ; and, On ecclesiastical theology / Eusebius of Caesarea ; translated with introduction and notes by Kelley McCarthy Spoerl (St. Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire), Markus Vinzent (King's College London).

Author

Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340

Publication

• Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of America Press, [2017]
• ©2017

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Spoerl, Kelley McCarthy
• Vinzent, Markus

Description

xxi, 368 pages; 22 cm

Summary

"This is the first English translation of the last two theological works of Eusebius of Caesarea, Against Marcellus and On Ecclesiastical Theology. The first text was composed after the deposition of Marcellus of Ancyra in 336 to justify the action of the council fathers in ordering the deposition on the grounds of heresy, contending that Marcellus was "Sabellian" (or modalist) on the Trinity and a follower of Paul of Samosata (hence adoptionist) in Christology. Relying heavily upon extensive quotations from a treatise Marcellus wrote against Asterius the Sophist, this text provides important information about ecclesiastical politics in the period before and just after the Council of Nicea, and endeavors to demonstrate Marcellus's erroneous interpretation of several key biblical passages that had been under discussion since before the council. In doing so, Eusebius criticizes Marcellus's inadequate account of the distinction between the persons of the Trinity, eschatology, and the Church's teaching about the divine and human identities of Christ. On Ecclesiastical Theology, composed circa 338/339 just before Eusebius's death, and perhaps in response to the amnesty for deposed bishops enacted by Constantius after the death of Constantine in 337 and the possibility of Marcellus's return to his see, continues to lay out the criticisms initially put forward in Against Marcellus, again utilizing quotations from Marcellus's book against Asterius. However, we see in this text a much more systematic explanation of Eusebius's objections to the various elements of Marcellus's theology and what he sees as the proper orthodox articulation of those elements. Long overlooked for statements at odds with later orthodoxy, even written off as heretical because allegedly "semi-Arian," recent scholarship has demonstrated the tremendous influence these texts had on the Greek theological tradition in the fourth century, especially on the orthodox understanding of the Trinity. In addition to their influence, they are some of the few complete texts that we have from Greek theologians in the period immediately folllowing the Council of Nicea in 325, thus filling a gap in the materials available for research and teaching in this critical phase of theological development"--Book jacket.

Series Statement

The fathers of the church: a new translation ; volume 135

Uniform Title

Fathers of the church ; v. 135.

Alternative Title

On ecclesiastical theology.

Subject

• Marcellus, of Ankara, Bishop of Ankara, approximately 280-approximately 374
• Jesus Christ > Natures > Early works to 1800
• Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340
• 30-600
• Trinity > Early works to 1800
• Arianism > Early works to 1800
• Apologetics > Early works to 1800
• Church history > Primitive and early church

Genre/Form

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages xiii-xxi) and indexes.

Language (note)

• Texts in English, translated from the original Greek; critical introduction in English.

Contents

Introduction. Justification for the translation ; The genesis of Eusebius of Caesarea's anti-Marcellan works ; Theological analysis ; The influence of Eusebius's anti-Marcellan works ; Overview of the major contributions of Eusebius's anti-Marcellan works to fourth-century theology ; Some notes about the translation -- Against Marcellus -- On ecclesiastical theology.

Call Number

JFD 18-1214

ISBN

• 9780813229911
• 081322991X

OCLC

989967842

Author

Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340, author.

Title

Against Marcellus ; and, On ecclesiastical theology / Eusebius of Caesarea ; translated with introduction and notes by Kelley McCarthy Spoerl (St. Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire), Markus Vinzent (King's College London).

Publisher

Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of America Press, [2017]

Copyright Date

©2017

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

The fathers of the church: a new translation ; volume 135

Fathers of the church ; v. 135.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages xiii-xxi) and indexes.

Language

Texts in English, translated from the original Greek; critical introduction in English.

Chronological Term

30-600

Added Author

Spoerl, Kelley McCarthy, translator, writer of introduction.

Vinzent, Markus, translator, writer of introduction.

Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340. Contra Marcellum. English (Spoerl and Vinzent)

Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340. De ecclesiastica theologia. English (Spoerl and Vinzent)

Added Title

On ecclesiastical theology.

Research Call Number

JFD 18-1214