Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

NPNF historical edition · Translated text

Book III — Chapter XXII — Ignatius, the Second Bishop of Antioch.

Chapter XXII.—Ignatius, the Second Bishop of Antioch.

At this time Ignatius ^{Edition note 1} was known as the second bishop of Antioch, Evodius having been the first. ^{Edition note 2} Symeon ^{Edition note 3} likewise was at that time the second ruler of the church of Jerusalem, the brother of our Saviour having been the first.

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Edition notes

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Edition note 1

On Ignatius’ life, writings, and martyrdom, see below, chap. 36.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 2

We cannot doubt that the earliest tradition made Evodius first bishop of Antioch, for otherwise we could not explain the insertion of his name before the great name of Ignatius. The tendency would be, of course, to connect Ignatius directly with the apostles, and to make him the first bishop. This tendency is seen in Athanasius and Chrysostom, who do not mention Evodius at all; also in the Apost. Const. VII. 46, where, however, it is said that Evodius was ordained by Peter, and Ignatius by Paul (as in the parallel case of Clement of Rome).

The fact that the name of Evodius appears here shows that the tradition that he was the first bishop seemed to the author too old and too strong to be set aside. Origen ( in Luc. Hom. VI.) is an indirect witness to the episcopacy of Evodius, since he makes Ignatius the second, and not the first, bishop of Antioch. As to the respective dates of the early bishops of Antioch, we know nothing certain. On their chronology, see Harnack, Die Zeit des Ignatius, and cf. Salmon’s article Evodius, in Smith and Wace’s Dict. of Christ. Biog.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 3

On Symeon, see above, chap. 11, note 4.

Open note in the edition commentary