Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

NPNF historical edition · Translated text

Book IV — Chapter XX — The Rulers of the Church of Antioch.

Chapter XX.—The Rulers of the Church of Antioch.

1. At that time also in the church of Antioch, Theophilus ^{Edition note 1} was well known as the sixth from the apostles. For Cornelius, ^{Edition note 2} who succeeded Hero, ^{Edition note 3} was the fourth, and after him Eros, ^{Edition note 4} the fifth in order, had held the office of bishop.

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Edition notes

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Edition note 1

On Theophilus and his writings, see chap. 24.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 2

Of the life and character of Cornelius and Eros we know nothing. The Chron. of Eusebius puts the accession of Cornelius into the twelfth year of Trajan (128 a.d. ), and the accession of his successor Eros into the fifth year of Antoninus Pius (142). These dates, however, are quite unreliable, and we have no means of correcting them (see Harnack’s Zeit des Ignatius, p. 12 sqq.). Theophilus, the successor of Eros we have reason to think became bishop about the middle of Marcus Aurelius’ reign and hence the Chron., which puts his accession into the ninth year of that reign, (169 a.d. ) cannot be far out of the way. This gives us the approximate date for the death of Eros.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 3

On Hero, see above, Bk. III. chap. 36, note 23.

Open note in the edition commentary

Edition note 4

On Eros, see note 2.

Open note in the edition commentary