EIISE'BIIIS, of Cfesarea, the father of ecclesiastical history, was b. in Palestine, about 2.64 A.D. He took the surname of Pamphili from his friend Pamphilus, bishop of Cmsarea, whom he faithfully attended for the two years (307-309) in which he suffered imprisonment during the persecution of Diocletian. He then went to Tyre, and after wards to Egypt, where he himself was thrown into prison on account of his religion. In 315, he succeeded Agapius as bishop of Caesarea, took a prominent part at the council of Nice in 327, and died about 340.—E. was the head of the semi-Arian or moderate party in the council of Nice. That party were averse to discussing the nature of the Trinity, and would have preferred the simplicity of Scripture language in speaking about the Godhead to the metaphysical distinctions of either side. They regarded Trinitarianism, on the one hand, as logically indefensible, but, on the other, they recog nized the fact, that Scripture sometimes spoke of the Son in terms not compatible with the views of Arius, and therefore they wished each man to enjoy the utmost freedom in his interpretation of Scripture on this point. E. thought that the great thing was to lay to heart the truth, that " God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The promise is to him that believeth on him, not, he argues, to him that knows how he is generated from the Father. He was very reluctant to accept the term homoousios (of the same substance), devised by Athanasius to describe the equality of the Son with the Father, and retained the kindliest feelings towards Arius after the views of the latter were condemned. His moderation and other excellent qualities procured him the favor of Constantine, who declared that he was fit to be the bishop of almost the whole world. E. has the reputation of being the most learned Father of the church after Origen. His chief works are-1. The Chronie,on, a history of the world down to the celebration of Constantine's Vicennalia at Nicomedeia and Rome, 327 and 328 A.D.
It is valuable as containing extracts from such writers as Ilerosus, Sanclioniathon, Polyhistor, Cephalion, and Manetho. It was first published in a complete state by Mai and Zohrab, at Milan, in 1818, from an Armenian MS. version discovered at Constanti nople. 2, The Prceparatio &angelica, in 15 books, a collection of such statements in old heathen authors as were fitted to make the mind regard the evidences of Christian anity in a favorable light. It was translated into Latin, and appeared at Treviso in 1480. The Greek text was first published at Paris in 1544. 3. Demonstratio &angelica, in 20 books, a work intended to convince the Jews of the truth of Christianity from the evidence of their own Scriptures. A Latin version of this was printed as early as 1498; the Greek original did not appear till 1544, when it was published along with the Pra paratio at Paris, by R. Stephens. 4. The Ecclesiastical History, in 10 hooks. This relates the principal occurrences which took place in the Christian church till the year 324, and contains the results of his studies in numerous libraries, and even in the imperial archives, the emperor Constantine having ordered, at E.'s request, an examination of all documents relative to the history of martyrs. One drawback of the work is that E., on principle, withholds all account of the wickedness and dissensions of Christians, inasmuch as he did not consider such stories for the edification of the church. A Latin translation of the work by Rufinus was published at Rome in 1474; the Greek text at Paris in 1549, and at Geneva in 1612. Among the more recent editions are those of Heinichen (Leib. 1827) and Burton (Oxford, 1838). The Ecclesiastical History has been translated into English, German, French, etc. Besides the foregoing works, may be mentioned the De 3fartyribus Palestina, a book against Hierocles; another against Mar cellus; and a Life of Constantine. The first edition of all E.'s works appeared at Basel in 1542.