Eusebius of Caesarea

Eusebius of Caesarea (Church historian) .

Eusebius of Caesarea wrote an extensive history of the early church.

Greek: "Εὐσέβιος τῆς Καισαρείας" ≈ "Eusebius of Caesarea".
Latin: "Eusébios tês Kaisareías" ≈ "Eusebius of Caesarea"

He refers to Clement on the martyrdom of Peter and his wife.
He refers to disputed books.

The book of James is one of many disputed books from the fourth century. Some were kept. Some were not kept.

Some books, such as Peter and John, contain embedded prophecies that help authenticate the writing. Some, such as Hebrews (kept), James (kept) and Barnabas (not kept) do not appear to contain embedded prophecies to help authenticate the writing.

The Latin technical term for disputed books, from Eusebius, of the New Testament is "Antilegomena" ≈ "disputed books" and is from the ancient Greek word "ἀντιλεγόμενα " ≈ "in place of saying" which comes from "ἀντιλέγω" ≈ "contradict, reply in response, argue against".

Some writings were rejected by almost all. Some were accepted by some and rejected by some. Here is a table.

Disputed NT books ‑ some accepted by Catholic or Eastern Church
ACCEPTED	2 John	Apocalypse of Peter
Epistle to the Hebrews	Epistle of Jude	Acts of Paul
Epistle of James	Book of Revelation	Shepherd of Hermas
2 Peter	REJECTED	Epistle of Barnabas
2 John	Gospel of the Hebrews	Didache

Eusebius gives some details in his Church History written about 325 AD.

It is interesting to look at each book in detail and try to determine why or why not each book was kept or not kept in the canon.

Details are left as a future topic.

English: And again in another prophet he says: All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient people who oppose my righteous way. (Holmes, 2007, p. 419)

Greek: καὶ πάλιν ἐν ἑτέρῳ προφήτῃ λέγει· Ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐξεπέτασα τὰς χεῖρας μου πρὸς λαὸν ἀπειθῆ καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα ὁδῷ δικαίᾳ μου. Epistle of Barnabas [12.4]

Barnabas uses the ancient Greek word "ἀντιλέγω" ≈ "contradict, reply in response, argue against". Holmes translates the word as "oppose" but the meaning "contradict" or "argue against" fits better. Barnabas is referring to Isaiah 65:2 where, in context, the "thoughts" are "opposed" or "contradict" or "argue against" that of God.

Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; [kjv]

εξεπετασα τας χειρας μου ολην την ημεραν προς λαον απειθουντα και αντιλεγοντα οι ουκ επορευθησαν οδω αληθινη αλλ οπισω των αμαρτιων αυτων [lxx]

More: Epistle of Barnabas

More: James 1: Interpretation and misinterpretation

English: And in the Hypotyposeis, to speak briefly, he has given concise explanations of all the Canonical Scriptures, not passing over even the disputed writings, I mean the Epistle of Jude and the remaining Catholic Epistles, and the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Apocalypse known as Peter's. (Loeb #265, p. 47)

Greek: Ἐν δὲ ταῖς Ὑποτυπώσεσιν ξυνελόντα εἰπεῖν πάσης τῆς ἐνδιαθήκου γραφῆς ἐπιτετμημένας πεποίηται διηγήσεις, μηδὲ τὰς ἀντιλεγομένας παρελθών, τὴν Ἰούδα λέγω καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς καθολικὰς ἐπιστολὰς τήν τε Βαρναβᾶ, καὶ τὴν Πέτρου λεγομένην Ἀποκάλυψιν. [Eusebius 6.14.1]

English: And as for the Epistle to the Hebrews, he says indeed that it is Paul's, but that it was written for Hebrews in the Hebrew tongue, and that Luke, having carefully translated it, published it for the Greeks; hence, as a result of this translation, the same complexion of style is found in this Epistle and in the Acts: (Loeb #265, p. 47)

Greek: καὶ τὴν πρὸς Ἑβραίους δὲ ἐπιστολὴν Παύλου μὲν εἶναί φησιν, γεγράφθαι δὲ Ἑβραίοις Ἑβραϊκῆι φωνῆι, Λουκᾶν δὲ φιλοτίμως αὐτὴν μεθερμηνεύσαντα ἐκδοῦναι τοῖς Ἕλλησιν, ὅθεν τὸν αὐτὸν χρῶτα εὑρίσκεσθαι κατὰ τὴν ἑρμηνείαν ταύτης τε τῆς ἐπιστολῆς καὶ τῶν Πράξεων· [Eusebius 6.14.2]

English: but that the [words Paul an apostle were naturally not prefixed. For, says he, in writing to Hebrews who had conceived a prejudice against him and were suspicious of him, he very wisely did not repel them at the beginning by putting his name.] (Loeb #265, p. 47)

Greek: μὴ προγεγράφθαι δὲ τὸ «Παῦλος ἀπόστολος» εἰκότως· «Ἑβραίοις γάρ, φησίν, ἐπιστέλλων πρόληψιν εἰληφόσιν κατ' αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑποπτεύουσιν αὐτόν, συνετῶς πάνυ οὐκ ἐν ἀρχῆι ἀπέτρεψεν αὐτούς, τὸ ὄνομα θείς». [Eusebius 6.14.3]

Eusebius was a church historian in Rome of the fourth century. The following is from a "copy of imperial ordinances translated from the Latin tongue". This is where Constantine decrees religious toleration, especially for the Christians, and that property taken to be restored.

English: ... to grant both to the Christians and to all the free choice of following whatever form or worship they pleased. (Loeb#265, p. 447)

Greek: τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν, ὅπως δῶμεν καὶ τοῖς Χριστιανοῖς καὶ πᾶσιν ἐλευθέραν αἵρεσιν τοῦ ἀκολουθεῖν τῇ θρῃσκείᾳ ᾗ δ᾿ ἂν βουληθῶσιν, (Eusebius, book 10)

English: if any should appear to have bought them either from our treasury or from any other source - that these they should restore to these same Christians without payment or any demand for compensation. (Loeb#265, p. 449)

Greek: εἴ τινες ἢ παρὰ τοῦ ταμείου τοῦ ἡμετέρου ἢ παρά τινος ἑτέρου φαίνοιντο ἠγορακότες, τούτους τοῖς αὐτοῖς Χριστια νοῖς ἄνευ ἀργυρίου καὶ ἄνευ τινὸς ἀπαιτήσεως τῆς τιμῆς, (Eusebius, book 10)

By the fourth century, the word appears to have come to be associated with money and funds in a "treasury" as it is today.

More: Matthew 6:6 A storehouse of secret chambers: praying in the closet