Making Christian History - (Christianity in Late Antiquity) by Michael Hollerich (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Known as the "Father of Church History," Eusebius was bishop of Caesarea in Palestine and the leading Christian scholar of his day. His Ecclesiastical History is an irreplaceable chronicle of Christianity's early development, from its origin in Judaism, through two and a half centuries of illegality and occasional persecution, into a new era of tolerance and favor under the Emperor Constantine. In this book, Michael J. Hollerich recovers the reception of this text across time. As he shows, Eusebius adapted classical historical writing for a new "nation," the Christians, with a distinctive theo-political vision. Eusebius's book left its mark on Christian historical writing from late antiquity to the early modern period, across linguistic, cultural, political, and religious boundaries, until its encounter with modern historicism and postmodernism. Making Christian History demonstrates Eusebius's vast influence throughout history, not simply in shaping Christian culture but also as his work itself has become contested territory as that culture has been constantly reevaluated, reformed, and resisted over the past 1,700 years"--

Book Synopsis

Known as the "Father of Church History," Eusebius was bishop of Caesarea in Palestine and the leading Christian scholar of his day. His Ecclesiastical History is an irreplaceable chronicle of Christianity's early development, from its origin in Judaism, through two and a half centuries of illegality and occasional persecution, to a new era of tolerance and favor under the Emperor Constantine. In this book, Michael J. Hollerich recovers the reception of this text across time. As he shows, Eusebius adapted classical historical writing for a new "nation," the Christians, with a distinctive theo-political vision.

Eusebius's text left its mark on Christian historical writing from late antiquity to the early modern period--across linguistic, cultural, political, and religious boundaries--until its encounter with modern historicism and postmodernism. Making Christian History demonstrates Eusebius's vast influence throughout history, not simply in shaping Christian culture but also when falling under scrutiny as that culture has been reevaluated, reformed, and resisted over the past 1,700 years.

Review Quotes

"Ecclesiastical History and Its Future," offers a compelling historical and theological reflection on the legacy of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History in our contemporary political and religious moment."
-- "Reading Religion"

"Hollerich's work is an exquisite product of valuable scholarship helpful for any historian, theologian of history, or student of hermeneutics."-- "Religious Studies Review"

"A remarkable book. . . .Hollerich has provided nothing less than the first sustained treatment of the legacy of one of historiography's most important voices."-- "Journal of Ancient Christianity"

"Michael Hollerich has produced a valuable study on Eusebius. . . . [And] Making Christian History is a welcome addition to the growing field of new Eusebian scholarship on the reception and influence of his innovative management of sources."-- "Catholic Historical Review"

About the Author

Michael J. Hollerich is Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, author of Eusebius of Caesarea's Commentary on Isaiah, coeditor of the fourth edition of The Christian Theological Tradition, and translator of Erik Peterson's Theological Tractates.