Eusebius of Caesarea: Power and Progress

Abstract The most recurrent description of Eusebius' theology is ‘old-fashioned’; it is usually summarized as a mixture of biblical exegesis, simplified Origenism, and uncritical Platonism. From his earliest apologies to his final summation, The Theophany, Eusebius celebrated the miraculous will of God in history, which, through the teaching and incarnation of the Logos, altered human society and life for ever. Discussion on Eusebius as apologist is provided. Theologically, Eusebius organized his historical and literary defence around a fundamental conviction of God's power as active and discernible at all levels of reality. Eusebius uses a combination of terms from Scripture, Judaeo-Christian Platonism, and contemporary philosophy in order to describe divine being and activity. He also modifies the traditional images of generation from Wisdom so as to accentuate the choice of the Father, rather than implying any sort of automatic causality. As an apologist, Eusebius presents an optimistic and universal account of divine power and human progress founded on the historical evidence of Jesus' life and the triumph of the church.