PREFACE TO THE “DIVINE NAMES.”

Bivarius says he was of the house and family of Cæsar, being uncle to the Emperor Hadrian. Marcellus was consecrated Bishop by Dionysius the Areopagite at Arles, and sent to Toledo. Respecting him, Dexter records that Dionysius dedicated the books of the Divine Names to him, U.C. 851, A.D. 98. Dexter further records that Dionysius surnamed Marcellus, "Timothy," on account of his excellent disposition. Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, relates that Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, to whom the works of Dionysius were originally dedicated, was martyred during the reign of Nerva, A.D. 96-97. Upon the return of Dionysius to Gaul, after his visit to St. John, released from Patmos, we find him calling his friend Marcellus, "Timothy," and presenting the books of the “Divine Names” to him, A.D. 98, in order that he might still have a Timothy on earth—“in vivis”original: "among the living"—although his first Timothy, “migravit ad Christum”original: "has departed to Christ", A.D. 97.

This touch of nature, preserved in a chronicle written more than 1400 years ago by an illustrious statesman, who was the son of a Bishop celebrated for learning and sanctity, may fairly be deemed, by an unprejudiced mind, reasonable proof that the “Divine Names” were written previous to A.D. 98.

N.B. As the result of some research, I affirm that our Saviour’s last commission is the Key to Church history in the first century. As He commanded the Apostles to preach the Gospel throughout the world, so the Gospel was preached when St. Paul wrote his