Lucian of Antioch
Encyclopedia : L : LU : LUC : Lucian of Antioch
Lucian of Antioch (c. 240–January 7, 312) was an early and extremely influential theologian and teacher of Christianity, particularly for the Eastern Orthodox. He was noted for both his scholarship and personal virtue.
History
According to a tradition preserved by the Suidas, Lucian was born at Samosata, Kommagene, Syria (now Samsat, Turkey), to Christian parents, and was educated in the neighbouring city of Edessa, Mesopotamia at the school of Macarius. Not much accuracy can be attached to these statements since they are not corroborated by any other author; the Suidas most likely confounded the history of Lucian with that of his famous namesake, Lucian of Samosata, the pagan satirist of the 2nd century. The confusion can be explained because both exhibited the same intellectual traits, including a love for literalism.
Early life
Lucian took up his residence at Antioch, where he was ordained presbyter, and soon attained a commanding position as head of the theological school in that city. Though he did not share the theological views of Paul of Samosata, he fell under suspicion at the time of Paul's condemnation, and was compelled to sever his communion with the Church.
This breach with the orthodox party lasted during the episcopates of three bishops, Domnus, Timaeus, and Cyril, whose administration extended from 268 to 303. It seems more likely that Lucian was reconciled with the Church early in the episcopate of Cyril (perhaps about 285) than in that of his successor, because bishops in the Orient received his pupils.
Theology
Few men have left such a deep imprint on the history of Christianity. The opposition to the allegorizing tendencies of the Alexandrines centred in him. He rejected this system entirely and propounded a system of literal interpretation which dominated the Eastern Church for a long period. In the minds of nearly all theological writers (a notable modern exception being Henry Melvill Gwatkin, in his Studies of Arianism, London, 1900), he is said to be the real author of the opinions which manifested themselves in the Arianism.
In his Christological system, Christ, though himself the creator of all subsequent beings was a creature, and though superior to all other created things, was separated from God by the wide gulf between Creator and creature. The great leaders in the Arian movement (Arius himself, Eusebius of Nicomedia, Maris, and Theognis) received their training under him and always venerated him as their master and the founder of their system.
Despite his heterodoxy, Lucian was a man of the most unexceptionable virtue (Eusebius of Caesarea, H.E., VIII, xiii, 2); at the height of the Arian controversy his fame for sanctity was not less than his reputation as a scholar. During the persecution of Maximinus, Lucian was arrested at Antioch and sent to Nicomedia, where he endured many tortures. After delivering a long oration in defence of his faith, he was put to death on January 7, 312, in Nicomedia, Bithynia, Asia Minor (now Izmit, Turkey).
Legacy
The most enduring memorial of the life of Lucian, next to the Christological controversy which his teachings aroused, was his influence on Biblical study. Receiving the literal sense alone, he laid stress on the need of textual accuracy and undertook to revise the Septuagint based on the original Hebrew. His edition was widely used in the 4th century (Jerome, De Vir. III. I, xxvii Praef. ad Paralip.; Adv. Rufium xxvi, Epist., 106). He also published a rescension of the New Testament. St. Jerome (De Vir. Ill, 77), in addition to the recension of the Bible, speaks of Libelli de Fide, none of which are extant.
He is also credited with the composition of a Creed, presented to the Council of Antioch in 341 (Athanasius of Alexandria, Ep. de Synod. Arim. et Seleuc. xxiii), but his authorship is doubtful; it is certain he did not compose it in its present form. Rufinus (H.E., IX, vi) has preserved a translation of his apologetic oration. There are epistles mentioned by the Suidas; a fragment of one announces the death of Anthimus, a bishop (Chronicon Paschale in P.G. XCII, 689).
References
ROUTH, Reliquiae Sacrae, IV, i, 17; Acta SS. Jan. I, 357, 365BARDENHEWER, Geschichte der altkirchlichen Literatur, II, 235, 241
HARNACK, Die Chronologie der alchristlichen Litteratur, II, 138-146
BATIFOL, Etude d'hagiographie arienne ;La Passion Saint Lucien d'Antioche, compte-rendu au congris scientifique international des Catholiques (Paris, 1891), sect. 11, 181, 186
WESTCOTT, History of the New Testament Canon, 392 sq.
NEWMAN, Arians of the Fourth Century
BARDENHEWER, Patrology, tr. SHAHAN, (St. Louis, 1908).
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.