On Illustrious Men

Contents

Translation in progress.

Reading pages: 0–22 · 23–68 · 69–135

1. 0Jerome dedicates to Dexter a catalogue of Christian writers from Christ's passion to 392, modelled on Suetonius, to show the church's learned men.
2. 1Peter: bishop of Antioch, then of Rome for twenty-five years, crucified head downward under Nero; author of two letters; several books under his name are apocryphal.
3. 2James the Lord's brother, first bishop of Jerusalem: his letter, his holiness as told by Hegesippus, his martyrdom, and his appearance in the Gospel of the Hebrews.
4. 3Matthew wrote his Gospel in Hebrew; Jerome copied a Hebrew Gospel used by the Nazarenes and notes that Matthew quotes the Hebrew Old Testament.
5. 4Jude's short letter, doubted because it quotes Enoch, is now accepted among the Scriptures.
6. 5Paul: his origins, conversion, mission, imprisonment, release and martyrdom under Nero; his letters, and opinions on Hebrews and the letter to the Laodiceans.
7. 6Barnabas, Paul's companion, wrote one letter now counted among the apocrypha.
8. 7Luke the physician wrote the Gospel and Acts; the Acts of Paul and Thecla are apocryphal, written by a presbyter deposed for it.
9. 8Mark wrote his Gospel from Peter's preaching, founded the church of Alexandria, and is the occasion of Philo's praise of the first Christians there.
10. 9John the apostle wrote the last Gospel against Cerinthus and the Ebionites, one letter, and the Apocalypse on Patmos; the second and third letters are ascribed to John the presbyter.
11. 10Hermas, perhaps the one greeted in Romans, is said to have written the Shepherd, read in Greek churches but almost unknown to the Latins.
12. 11Philo the Jew is included because his book on the Therapeutae was read as praise of the first Christians at Alexandria; his works are listed.
13. 12Seneca is included because of the letters said to have passed between him and Paul.
14. 13Josephus's works are listed, with his testimony to Christ from the Antiquities.
15. 14Justus of Tiberias, a Jewish historian accused of falsehood by Josephus.
16. 15Clement of Rome wrote 1 Clement, which resembles Hebrews; 2 Clement and the Disputation of Peter and Apion are wrongly ascribed to him.
17. 16Ignatius of Antioch, condemned to the beasts under Trajan, wrote seven letters on his way to Rome; Jerome quotes Smyrnaeans and Romans.
18. 17Polycarp of Smyrna, disciple of John, visited Rome over the Easter question, rebuked Marcion, was martyred by fire, and wrote to the Philippians.
19. 18Papias of Hierapolis wrote five books on the Lord's sayings, distinguishes John the apostle from John the elder, and taught a thousand-year reign.
20. 19Quadratus, bishop of Athens, presented an apology to Hadrian, citing people healed or raised by Christ who lived into his day.
21. 20Aristides the Athenian philosopher presented an apology to Hadrian.
22. 21Agrippa Castor refuted the Gnostic Basilides, whose god Abraxas has the number of the days of the year.
23. 22Hegesippus wrote five books of church history in simple style, visited Rome under Anicetus, and mentioned the cult of Hadrian's Antinous.
24. 23Justin Martyr's apologies, Dialogue with Trypho and other works are listed; he was denounced by Crescens the Cynic and martyred.
25. 24Melito of Sardis presented an apology to Marcus Aurelius and wrote many works, including On the Pascha.
26. 25Theophilus of Antioch wrote against Marcion and Hermogenes and three books To Autolycus.
27. 26Apollinaris of Hierapolis wrote an apology and works against the pagans and against the Montanists.
28. 28Pinytus of Cnossus wrote to Dionysius of Corinth urging solid spiritual food rather than milk.
29. 29Tatian, Justin's pupil, later founded the Encratite heresy; his Oration to the Greeks survives.
30. 30Philip of Gortyna wrote against Marcion.
31. 31Musanus wrote against the Encratites.
32. 32Modestus wrote against Marcion.
33. 33Bardesanes of Mesopotamia, at first a Valentinian, wrote many works including On Fate.
34. 34Victor of Rome wrote on the Easter question.
35. 35Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp: his works, his adjuration to copyists, and his letter urging Victor not to break unity over Easter.
36. 36Pantaenus of Alexandria went to India, where he found Matthew's Gospel in Hebrew left by Bartholomew.
37. 37Rhodon, Tatian's pupil, wrote against Marcion, on the Hexaemeron, and against the Montanists.
38. 38Clement of Alexandria, head of the catechetical school after Pantaenus: his works, and Alexander of Jerusalem's praise of him.
39. 39Miltiades wrote against the Montanists, the pagans and the Jews, and an apology.
40. 40Apollonius wrote a long work against the Montanists, exposing their prophets' greed and vanity; Tertullian answered him.
41. 41Serapion of Antioch wrote against the Montanists and against the Gospel of Peter.
42. 42Apollonius the Roman senator defended his faith before the senate and was beheaded.
43. 43Theophilus of Caesarea wrote a synodal letter against the Quartodecimans.
44. 44Bacchylus of Corinth wrote on Easter for the bishops of Achaia.
45. 45Polycrates of Ephesus defended the Asian custom of keeping Easter on the fourteenth day against Victor of Rome.
46. 46Heraclitus wrote commentaries on Paul.
47. 47Maximus wrote on the origin of evil and the creation of matter.
48. 48Candidus wrote on the six days of creation.
49. 49Appion wrote on the six days of creation.
50. 50Sextus wrote on the resurrection.
51. 51Arabianus wrote short works on Christian doctrine.
52. 52Jude wrote on Daniel's seventy weeks and wrongly expected Antichrist in his own day.
53. 53Tertullian of Carthage, much read by Cyprian, became a Montanist and wrote against the church on modesty, flight in persecution, fasting and monogamy.
54. 54Origen: his youth, teaching at Alexandria, ordination in Palestine and conflict with Demetrius, his Hexapla and learning, and his suffering under Decius.
55. 55Ammonius of Alexandria wrote on the harmony of Moses and Jesus and devised Gospel canons.
56. 56Ambrose, Origen's patron, funded his writing; Origen's Exhortation to Martyrdom is addressed to him.
57. 57Tryphon, Origen's pupil, wrote on the red heifer and on Abraham's sacrifice.
58. 58Minucius Felix wrote the Octavius; a work On Fate under his name is doubtful.
59. 59Gaius of Rome disputed against the Montanist Proclus and did not count Hebrews as Paul's.
60. 60Beryllus of Bostra, who denied Christ's pre-existence, was corrected by Origen.
61. 61Hippolytus wrote an Easter table and many commentaries and treatises; in emulation of him Ambrose drove Origen to write.
62. 62Alexander became coadjutor bishop of Jerusalem with the aged Narcissus after a revelation, wrote letters, and died a martyr under Decius.
63. 63Julius Africanus wrote a chronography, a letter to Origen doubting Susanna, and a letter to Aristides on the genealogies of Christ.
64. 64Geminus of Antioch wrote a few works.
65. 65Gregory Thaumaturgus, Origen's pupil, wrote a Panegyric to Origen and a Paraphrase of Ecclesiastes, and worked many miracles.
66. 66Cornelius of Rome wrote letters to Fabius of Antioch on Novatian and the lapsed.
67. 67Cyprian of Carthage, convert from rhetoric, bishop and martyr under Valerian.
68. 68Pontius wrote the Life of Cyprian.
69. 69Dionysius of Alexandria, Origen's pupil, wrote many letters, including one urging Novatian to end his schism, and books against Nepos's millenarianism.
70. 70Novatian led a schism at Rome against receiving the lapsed; among his works are On Jewish Foods and On the Trinity.
71. 71Malchion of Antioch disputed against Paul of Samosata and wrote the synod's letter against him.
72. 72Archelaus recorded his disputation with Mani.
73. 73Anatolius of Laodicea, learned in the sciences, wrote on Easter and arithmetic.
74. 74Victorinus of Pettau wrote many commentaries, including on the Apocalypse, and died a martyr.
75. 75Pamphilus copied Origen's works for the Caesarea library, wrote an Apology for Origen, and was martyred.
76. 76Pierius of Alexandria, called the younger Origen, an ascetic and eloquent teacher.
77. 77Lucian of Antioch, whose recension of the Scriptures bears his name, was martyred at Nicomedia.
78. 78Phileas of Thmuis wrote in praise of the martyrs and was beheaded.
79. 79Arnobius of Sicca wrote Against the Pagans.
80. 80Lactantius, Arnobius's pupil, taught at Nicomedia and wrote the Divine Institutes and other works; he tutored Constantine's son Crispus.
81. 81Eusebius of Caesarea's many works are listed, including the Demonstration, the Preparation, the Church History and the Chronicle.
82. 82Reticius of Autun wrote on the Song of Songs and against Novatian.
83. 83Athanasius of Alexandria, often exiled by the Arians: his works include Against the Pagans and the Life of Antony.
84. 84Juvencus put the Gospels into Latin hexameters.
85. 85Eustathius of Antioch, exiled for opposing the Arians, wrote against Origen on the Witch of Endor.
86. 86Marcellus of Ancyra, writing against the Arians, was accused of Sabellianism but claimed communion with Julius and Athanasius.
87. 88Antony the monk wrote seven letters in Coptic.
88. 89Basil of Ancyra, a physician, wrote against Marcellus and on virginity, and led the Macedonian party.
89. 90Theodore of Heraclea wrote commentaries on Matthew, John, Paul and the Psalms.
90. 91Eusebius of Emesa, a popular rhetorical writer, wrote against Jews, pagans and Novatians and on Galatians.
91. 92Tryphillius of Ledra wrote on the Song of Songs.
92. 93Donatus founded the Donatist schism in Africa, charging Catholics with surrendering the Scriptures.
93. 94Asterius the Arian wrote commentaries on Romans, the Gospels and the Psalms.
94. 95Lucifer of Cagliari, exiled for defending Nicaea, wrote boldly against Constantius.
95. 96Eusebius of Vercelli, exiled for the faith, translated Eusebius of Caesarea on the Psalms.
96. 97Fortunatianus of Aquileia wrote on the Gospels and induced Liberius to sign an Arian formula.
97. 98Acacius of Caesarea wrote on Ecclesiastes and had Felix made bishop of Rome in place of Liberius.
98. 99Serapion of Thmuis, friend of Antony, wrote against Mani and on the Psalms.
99. 100Hilary of Poitiers, exiled to Phrygia, wrote twelve books against the Arians (On the Trinity), On the Synods, and commentaries on the Psalms and Matthew.
100. 101Marius Victorinus, a convert in old age, wrote obscure books against Arius and commentaries on Paul.
101. 102Titus of Bostra wrote against the Manichees.
102. 103Damasus of Rome wrote many short poems.
103. 104Apollinaris of Laodicea wrote many works on Scripture and thirty books against Porphyry.
104. 105Gregory of Elvira wrote treatises and On Faith.
105. 106Pacian of Barcelona wrote The Stag and against the Novatians.
106. 107Photinus of Sirmium, disciple of Marcellus, revived Ebionite teaching and was deposed.
107. 108Phoebadius of Agen wrote against the Arians.
108. 109Didymus the Blind of Alexandria, learned despite blindness, wrote many commentaries and On the Holy Spirit, translated by Jerome.
109. 110Optatus of Milevis wrote six books against the Donatists.
110. 111Aquilius Severus wrote an autobiographical work in prose and verse.
111. 112Cyril of Jerusalem, often exiled, wrote the Catecheses.
112. 113Euzoius of Caesarea restored the library of Origen and Pamphilus on parchment.
113. 114Epiphanius of Salamis wrote against all heresies and is still writing in old age.
114. 115Ephrem of Edessa wrote much in Syriac, read in some churches after Scripture.
115. 116Basil of Caesarea wrote against Eunomius, On the Holy Spirit, and the Hexaemeron homilies.
116. 117Gregory of Nazianzus, Jerome's teacher, wrote orations, poems, and works against Eunomius and Julian, and on the Holy Spirit.
117. 118Lucius, Arian bishop of Alexandria, wrote Easter letters.
118. 119Diodore of Tarsus wrote commentaries on Paul in the manner of Eusebius of Emesa.
119. 120Eunomius, the outspoken Arian, has been answered by Apollinaris, Didymus, Basil and the two Gregories.
120. 121Priscillian of Avila, executed at Trier, is accused by some of Gnosticism and defended by others.
121. 122Latronianus, a poet, was executed with Priscillian.
122. 123Tiberianus, accused with Priscillian, wrote an apology but later married off his consecrated daughter.
123. 124Jerome declines to judge the living Ambrose.
124. 125Evagrius of Antioch translated Athanasius's Life of Antony into Latin.
125. 126Ambrose of Alexandria wrote against Apollinaris and on Job.
126. 127Maximus the philosopher wrote On Faith against the Arians.
127. 128Gregory of Nyssa read his books against Eunomius to Jerome and Gregory of Nazianzus.
128. 129John (Chrysostom) of Antioch: Jerome has read only his On the Priesthood.
129. 130Gelasius of Caesarea writes but does not publish.
130. 131Theotimus of Tomi wrote short dialogue-like treatises.
131. 132Dexter, to whom this book is dedicated, wrote a universal history.
132. 133Amphilochius of Iconium wrote on the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
133. 134Sophronius translated several of Jerome's works and his versions of the Psalms and Prophets into Greek.
134. 135Jerome lists his own works up to 392, including his Lives, letters, translations, commentaries and the Bible translation.