Lawrence DeMetrius

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Eusebius’s Ecclesiastical History
An Intimate Review Pt 2
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Eusebius notes that there were two devoted servants of Jesus Christ by the name of John. He also notes that The Original Twelve Apostles were not degreed theologians but true believers, who were completely led by the Holy Ghost in their public ministries. They had no interest in fame and were solely focused on their mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Eusebius expounds upon canonical and noncanonical writings, and how heretics wrote false allegories usurping the names of The Original Apostles. These false works were deemed forgeries and wholly discarded as profane. Eusebius writes of practicing sorcerers who pretended to be Christians in order to defame The Gospel of Jesus Christ, by distorting its literal meaning. There were others who acknowledged Christ but proclaimed Him to be someone He was not. These false teachers and their teachings increased when all of the Original Apostles of Christ died. Enoch wrote of such heretics in his writings long before their existence. In Book 3, Eusebius candidly depicts the horrid persecutions inflicted upon prominent Christian leaders during First Century Rome. He notes that there were innumerable Christians who were just as powerful as the Original Twelve Apostles, who faithfully served Christ in various offices of His Church. He verifies that divine miracles did accompany the preaching of the Original Apostles and other true Christian teachers. These miracles occurred to initiate and strengthen faith in Yahweh and HIS Word. [I Cor 2:4, 5]

Book 4 is entitled Bishops, Writings, And Martyrdoms. It covers the reigning periods of Roman emperors from Trajan to Marcus Aurelius. During this period, prophetic events affecting the Nation of Israel were fulfilled. In this book, Eusebius briefly touches on revolts that happened in Israel against Roman Rule. He notes that people who were miraculously healed and raised from the dead, lived many years afterwards as living testaments of the power of Jesus Christ. He writes about the colonization of Israel by foreigners after their demise. This gives credence to the idea of the Original Hebrew people being displaced from their native settlements in Israel. During this time, many died due to their confession of Christ. Eusebius writes of how Lucifer used avarice to insight persecution upon Christians. Strong desire for wealth, power, and control was instrumental in First Century Rome, as it was in ancient Egypt and still today throughout the world. [Mt 6:24; I Jn 2:15, 16] He writes of how the Holy Ghost quickened the mortal bodies of believers, so they could endure the gruesome tortures inflicted upon them. [Mt 16:18; Rm 8:11, 31-39] Again, it is important to note that Christians were considered atheists because they refused to worship idols and false gods. They were falsely accused of being hedonists and blood eating cannibals. These lies were perpetrated by false Christian witnesses. Eusebius writes of The Gnostics, which were a brand of anti-Christ teachers who posed as believers within Christian Assemblies. They were the cause of many perceiving Christianity as evil. These devils worked to make Christians appear as practitioners of cannibalism and incest. They also applied erroneous allegories to divine words to promote false teachings. They incorporated pagan rituals usurping the epithets of Yahweh and HIS Christ. Countless anti-Christ doctrines that sprang up after Christ’s ascension are rooted in these false doctrines. Ironically, some of these apostates were disciples of Jesus Christ. [Jn 6:66, 70; I Jn 2:18, 19] As prophesied by Enoch, Eusebius tells of their attempts to tamper with authentic and divinely inspired writings. Because there were so many anti-Christ teachers spreading false doctrines under the guise of devoted Christians, it was necessary for Yahweh to inspire many true believers to write responses that would expose and correct the most subtle anti-Christ doctrines. Anti-Christ teachers also did their best to discourage nonbelievers from considering Christianity as a new way of life. Anyone who genuinely perceives Christ and His doctrine as evil, is under the influence demonic persuasion. All such activity was foretold of by Enoch and Jesus Christ. [Mt 24:5, 11, 24] Eusebius writes of the lifestyles of true Christians being proof of their devotion to Yahweh. In fact, when appropriate, some alleged Christians were excommunicated from Christian fellowship, due to their support of false Christian doctrines. Eusebius reiterates that divine insight is available to all who desire it. [Jam 1:5-8] Yahweh’s grace guides HIS chosen to divine enlightenment and eternal salvation. Per the experience of Tatian, Eusebius expounds upon self-glorification and how it causes one to fall from divine truth, especially when one teaches doctrine that does not comply to Yahweh’s directives. Some apostate teachers even initiated their own sects to promote erroneous Christian Doctrines.

Book 5 is entitled Western Heroes, Eastern Heretics. It covers the reigning periods of Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius to Septimius Severus. Here, Eusebius again credits the quickening power of GOD, that enabled countless Christians to endure unimaginable tortures and martyrdom.
Some paganists truly believed that persecuting Christians was right because of their refusal to pay homage to idol gods. One’s sex, age, nationality, ethnicity, political affiliation, or social status did not matter. Just the confession of being a Christian was enough to be inflicted with unbelievable persecution. Professing Christians who were Roman citizens received a quick and simple death by beheading, while others endured prolonged tortures. Such would include being burned to death and eaten alive by wild animals in open arenas. Some were slow roasted like hogs or cut into pieces and fed to beasts of the sea. These were just a few ways in which Christians were persecuted for their devotion to Yahweh and HIS Christ. Eusebius again notes accusations of cannibalism, incest and atheism. He writes of public miracles orchestrated by Yahweh that were witnessed by believers and nonbelievers alike. Miracles occurred to strengthen the faith of justified believers and to support the legitimacy of the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Ghost always supports the works of true Christian witnesses. Indeed, He is the One Who empowers them be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. [Acts 1:8] Eusebius writes of commentaries of the holy scriptures used by early Christian fathers. He reiterates that real Christian teachers are well equipped to confirm every word they speak. This was so from the most ancient of times, from Enoch to Christ and His Original Apostles. Some false teachers were and still are willing to die in support of their erroneous teachings. In fact, there were the likes of Montanus and Maximilla, who were believed to be driven by evil spirits to commit suicide as did Judas Iscariot. Eusebius provides a candid description of false prophets that is still prevalent today. He also gives honorable mention of the holy eunuch Melito, who was buried in the city of Sardis. [Isa 56:3-5; Mt 19:12]

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