Image: Marble bust of Tiberius Caesar, British Museum
A new installment is posted in the series on Eusebius of Caesarea’s The
Ecclesiastical History: book 2, chapter 2 (listen here).
Notes and Commentary:
Eusebius conveys here a legend that apparently circulated in
early Christianity (and which he seems to accept at face value), which says
that Pilate, the Roman governor under whom Jesus was crucified, sent a report
of his death and resurrection, as well as his deity, to the Roman Emperor
Tiberius. Tiberius then referred this report to the senate, but they rejected
it.
He cites a written portion of this report which he claims appeared
in the writings of Tertullian. Lake, however, notes that this citation is
unknown in the extant Latin writings of Tertullian.
Eusebius stresses that Tiberius approved of the report, even
if it was rejected by the senate, and that he did not persecute or impede the
early Christian movement. Eusebius is thus likely providing a precedent for
imperial favor for Christianity, relevant to his own setting and the rule of
Constantine.
He also points to the providential work of God in allowing
the early Christian movement to spread unimpeded by the empire.
JTR
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