Eusebius’ Church History 7

Study Guide Questions for Book 3.11-3.26

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Despotism, Love, Vice, Compassion, Forgiveness, Sorrow, Resurrection

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. According to Hegesippus, how was Clopas related to the Lord Jesus?

2. What was Domitian's initial disposition towards the Christians?

3. According to Hegesippus, who were the people that Domitian spoke to which made him change his mind about persecuting the Christians any further? 

4. According to Eusebius, under what circumstances did the apostle John’s banishment on the island of Patmos come to an end?

5. What happened to the young man that John baptized in Ephesus whom he left in that church’s care?

6. How did John recover the young man for Christ?

7. According to Eusebius, why is John’s Gospel so different from the other three?

8. What categories does Eusebius use to distinguish between various books as to their level of acceptance or rejection within the early church?

9. What are the two reasons which Eusebius explicitly states as to why certain books “have never been cited by any” in the leadership of the early church and are considered to be “forgeries of heretics?”

10. What did Menander claim concerning himself?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Hegesippus reported that “Vespasian ordered that a search be made for all descendants of David.” Why would he do this?

2. Why did Domitian “despise” the Christians as “simple sorts” but then let them all go free, ordering “that the persecution against the church cease?”

3. Why might Eusebius be interested in recording not only the succession of Roman Emperors but also Christian Bishops? Why would that be important to him or to the church at large?

4. What does Clement mean by saying that the young man whom John baptized became “like a stallion taking the bit in mouth?”

5. What does Clement mean when he says that the young man was “baptized a second time with his own tears?”

6. Eusebius says that Matthew “wrote his Gospel in his own native language.” What language would that most likely be?

7. Why does Eusebius use the categories he does for books purporting to be Christians documents (i.e. Received, Disputed, Spurious, and Heretical)? Why not simply say Received or rejected? Why might it be important to have middle categories?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Define the concept of vice? How does the story about the apostle John and the young man do a good job of illustrating the way vice works in a person’s life? What would you say the story teaches us is necessary in order to break free from the power of vice?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” What is meant by this? (Hint: Go read the verse in its context.) How does this relate to our current reading?