PREFACE.

The present translation of the Church History of Eusebius has been made from the second edition of the Greek text by Heinichen Friedrich August Heinichen, a 19th-century German scholar., though I have not hesitated to adopt variant readings whenever they seemed justified. In all such cases, the variation from Heinichen's text is indicated in the notes. I originally proposed to simply revise the English version by Crusè Christian Frederick Crusè, a 19th-century American translator of Eusebius., but a brief examination convinced me that a satisfactory revision would be an almost impossible task; nothing less than a new, independent translation would suffice.

In preparing this translation, I received invaluable assistance from my father, the Rev. Joseph N. McGiffert, D.D., to whom I wish to publicly express my profound gratitude for his help and counsel. He examined the entire translation and contributed many timely suggestions; furthermore, the translation of a considerable portion of the work—specifically Books V–VIII and The Martyrs of Palestine—is his own. I have carefully revised the parts he rendered to ensure uniformity in style and expression throughout; therefore, I hold myself solely responsible for those sections as well as for the earlier and later books.

Regarding the principles of translation, little need be said. I have constantly endeavored to reproduce the substance and form of the original as closely as possible. Given the need for accuracy in a work of this nature, I have preferred the risk of over-literalness to the risk of undue license.

A word of explanation regarding the notes is necessary. Because this volume is part of a series intended for a general audience, I felt it important to include supplementary information about the people, places, and events mentioned. This material might be superfluous to a professional historian or a student with access to rich libraries, but I did not feel justified in limiting the notes to questions that would only interest the critical scholar. At the request of the general editor, I have attempted to make this volume a general history or historical commentary on the first three centuries of the Christian Church, devoting significant space to subjects that Eusebius only touched upon or briefly referenced.

My primary goal as a commentator has been to carefully study difficult and disputed points and to clarify them as faithfully as possible. While the number and depth of notes in such a work are always open to debate, I have been frustrated by the fragmentary annotations in existing editions and sought to avoid that defect. I have not ignored any passage that seemed to require discussion, nor have I consciously evaded any difficulty. With historical students in mind, I have felt it necessary to support my statements with references to the authorities upon which they are based and to indicate the sources required for further investigation. While the most helpful modern works are mentioned in the notes, I cannot refrain from making special reference at this point...