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The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

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The Testimony of Eusebius

One of the outstanding sources of authentic history of the Christian church during the second century is a volume, entitled “Ecclesiastical History,” written by Eusebius, Bishop of the Christian church in Caesarea, Palestine. Eusebius was one of the most learned men of his age. He is referred to in the “Encyclopedia Britannica” (14th edition, art., “Eusebius”) as having recorded the experiences of the church during the second century, “in the belief that the old order of things was passing away.” His history covers the first and second centuries of the Christian era, and was completed about 324 or 325. Its value lies in “the wealth of the materials which it furnishes for a knowledge of the early church.” AGP 180.2

Of this “Ecclesiastical History,” written by Eusebius, Philip Schaff, a modern historian of note, says: AGP 180.3

“Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, in Palestine, and contemporary with Constantine the Great, composed a church history in ten books (ÝêêëçóéáóôéêÞßóôïñßá, from the incarnation of the Logos to the year 324), by which he has won the title of the Father of church history, or the Christian Herodotus. Though by no means very critical and discerning, and far inferior in literary talent and execution to the works of the great classical historians, this Ante-Nicene church history is invaluable for its learning, moderation, and love of truth; for its use of sources since totally or partially lost; and for its interesting position of personal observation between the last persecutions of the church and her establishment in the Byzantine Empire.” “History of the Christian Church,” Vol. I, “Apostolic Christianity,” p. 28. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887.

The publisher’s note on “Eusebius” in “Bohn’s Ecclesiastical Library” says of his history: AGP 180.4

“The ‘Ecclesiastical History’ of Eusebius, which succeeds immediately to the Acts of the Apostles, and is for a considerable period the only work of the kind, possesses a value to subsequent ages which belongs to no other uninspired document.” London: Bell and Daldy, 1872.

In his “Ecclesiastical History” Eusebius records the names, with brief information, of a number of leading messengers of the church in the second century, who, he says, were endowed with spiritual gifts, including the gift of prophecy. One of these was Quadratus of Athens, of whom Eusebius wrote in these words: AGP 181.1

“Of those that flourished in these times, Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts. There were many others, also, noted in these times, who held the first rank in the apostolic succession. These, as the holy disciples of such men, also built up the churches where foundations had been previously laid in every place by the apostles. They augmented the means of promulgating the gospel more and more, and spread the seeds of salvation and of the heavenly kingdom throughout the world far and wide…. The Holy Spirit, also, wrought many wonders as yet through them, so that as soon as the gospel was heard, men voluntarily in crowds, and eagerly, embraced the true faith with their whole minds.” “The Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus,” translated from the Greek by Rev. C. F. Crusé, A. M., Book III, chap. 38, pp. 111,112. London: George Bell and Sons, 1879.