Friday, April 27, 2007

Eusebius Book Ten: Constantine (Extra Credit)

Eusebius' final pages are among the most optimistic in all of historical literature. Why is Eusebius so positive and so hopeful about the future? In particular, why is he so positive about Constantine? What is Constantine doing that makes Eusebius feel that the Roman world is exactly on the right track? Do you feel Eusebius is missing anything here?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eusebius is in a "good mood" because he is living during a time when the Church is not being persecuted by Roman authorities. The Romans have accepted Christianity and was willing to help it through financial means and other ways of support. Eusebius is very positive to Constantine because he is the one that helped the Church by making Christianity the state religion.

Constantine during this time is trying to use Christianity to unite the Roman Empire. Constantine was also giving them special privileges and protecting them from outside attack, such as Licinius. Eusebius is giving praise to Constantine because he is doing things that helps the Church. However, I think that Eusebius is giving too much credit to Constantine, especially at the end of the book, where he praises Constantine as the person that purged the world of evil and persecution.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Warren about the "good mood" haveing it's source in the feeling of finally not being persecuted for being a christian. I suppose none of us can imagine what it would have felt like to go through that change of being persecuted to being protected under the same empire.

The idea's that Constantine has for the Church are all well and good as a uninification system and what not but he does seem to have a almost hero'esk aura from Eusebius. I believe that, even dismissing Constantine's own personal beliefs, Constantine saw the church as a tool and a very useful one at that.


John Schirado

Anonymous said...

i agree with warren. Eusebius alive during the persecution and during the reign of constantine. Which living through a bad situation to see a better one come along. THis would definitely bring since of overwhelming relief to someone.

Constantine was a very big advicator for the church he pushed the to be united in their differences. Through out christianity other than the early years of it when the first leaders were still alive there was division among the church and constantine pushed to have these resolved.

Dave potts

Anonymous said...

Eusebias is optomistic and hopeful about the day when all people worship God. Basically what is he is waiting for is the day when God makes the valleys high and the mountains low. Many would say that God is in the business of raising people up. It is not that hard to believe that God would want us all to succeed.

--Amanda Blood

Anonymous said...

First, Eusebius was a Christian bishop. Anyone would support his or her own religion. Eusebius glorified Constantine as the first Christian emperor. All leaders have bad traits such as the ability to commit murder in order to achieve their goals. Constantine was no exception. He warred with his own people for power and then condemned pagans for their beliefs. Another thing Constantine did that some consider being bad and others good was made the Christians put a council together (Nicaea) in order to compile one universal view of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.

adam J kuehl said...

why is he so positive about Constantine? What is Constantine doing that makes Eusebius feel that the Roman world is exactly on the right track? Do you feel Eusebius is missing anything here?
he is so positive because constantine like eusebius. he was a tutor to constantines children. he was a biship in the christian church so of course he would like a man who not only made christianity the national religion but ended persecution basically for good and gave them back their property. i agree with warren that the gives constantine too much credit. i think their perservetion was a bigger factor. they never gave up on their beliefs. i think it showed the romans they would not give in to their torture and they comended them for it

Anonymous said...

I too agree with Warren. Eusebius is writing at a time when the prosecution of the church has stopped. He is excited because he has just gotten over being prosecuted and witnessing prosecution.

Eusebius is positive about Constantine because not only is he ending the prosecution, he is giving back the things that were taken from the church. He is dining with bishops and building extravagant churches. He is also fighting to defend christianity (or using christianity as an excuse to fight) Either way the end result is less persecution.

Eusebius is missing a few things. I don't think he takes a critical enough approach on Constantine. But, as the translator/editor of the book says, Eusebius isn't a very critical historian. I think his treatment of Constantine is justified though. He sees him as the savior of the church, and after years of prosecution, anybody who brings relief will get praised like that.

Kevin Dahlberg