Expositio Sanctorum Evangeliorum

Theodo'rus

42. Of HERACLEIA. Theodore, one of the leaders of the Arian party under Constantine the Great and Constantius, was a native of Heracleia (anciently Perinthus), on the Propontis, and bishop of the Church there. He advocated the Arian doctrine while yet a presbyter, and was raised the episcopate by the favour of the Arian party. (Athanas. Ad Episcopos Aegypti et Libyae, 100.7, Opp. vol. i. p. 277, ed. Montfaucon.) He is mentioned by Theodoret (H. E. 1.28), as one of those who persuaded Constantine to summon the (Council of Caesareia in Palestine, which was, however, countermanded. [ATHANASIUS.] He was probably afterwards present at the Council of Tyre, A. D. 336; for he was one of the delegates sent by that Council into Egypt, to investigate the charges against Athanasius. (Theodoret. H. E. 1.30 ; Athanas. Apolog. contra Arianos, 100.13, p. 135.) He was one of those who combined to raise Macedonius to the see of Constantinople. (Socrat. H. E. 2.12.) In A. D. 342 he was one of the delegates sent to convey to the emperor Constans the Confession of Antioch. (Athanas. De Synod. 100.25 ; Socrat. H. E. 2.18.) He was one of the Eastern bishops who, in A. D. 347, withdrew from the Council of Sardica, and formed the rival Council of Philippopolis; and was among those on whom the Council of Sardica passed sentence of condemnation and deposition. (Socrat. H. E. 2.20; Sozomen. H. E. 3.11, &c.; Theodoret. H. E. 2.7, 8 ; Athanas. Apolog. contra Arianos, 100.36, Historico Arianor. 100.17; Hilar. Pictav. Ex Opere Historico Fragment. 3.29.) He nevertheless appears to have retained his bishopric, the Council not being able to carry into effect the sentence which they had pronounced. He assisted at the Council of Sirmium and the deposition of Photinus, A. D. 351. (Hilar. Pictav. ibid. 6.7, col. 1337, ed. Benedictin.) He appears to have died about A. D. 355 (Fabric. Tillemont, ubi infrà) or 358 (Cave, ubi infra). After the development of the different sections of the Arian party Theodore acted with the Eusebians or Semi-Arians. In an ancient life of St. Parthenius of Lampsacus (apud Acta Sanctorum Februar. a. d. vii. vol. ii. pp. 41, 42), there is a Latin version of a curious account of the sickness, recovery, and subsequent death of Theodore (who, by an obvious error of the translator, is called Hypatius) ; in which account he is charged with avarice and extortion; yet, singular to say, no hint of his heresy is given.

Works

Commentaries on the Gospels

Theodore of Heracleia was a man of eminent learning. He wrote, according to Theodoret (H. E. 2.3), an exposition of the Gospels, Τῶν θείων εὐαγγελίων ἑρμηνεία, Expositio Sanctorum Evangeliorum, and other writings which Theodoret does not specify. Jerome (De Viris Illustr. c. 90) more exactly ascribes to him Commentarii in Matthaeum et in Joannem et in Apostolum (i. e. on the Acts and Apostolic Epistles) et in Psalterium. Corderius published, with his Expositio (s. potius Catena) Patrum Graecorum in Psalmos, an exposition which he had found ascribed in one MS. to Theodore of Heracleia (Θεοδώρου ἐπισκόπου Ἡρακλείας Θρᾴκης ἑρμηνεία εἰς τοὺς ψαλμούς, Theodori Episcopi Heracleotae Expositio in Psalmos), and consequently published it as his. Lambecius, Cave, and Fabricius, joined Corderius in ascribing it to Theodore ; but the identity of many parts of this commentary with that of Basil of Caesareia led Garnier to doubt whether it was correctly ascribed to Theodore ; and, on further examination, it was found to be a compilation from various fathers, from Origen and Didymus downward.

Further Information

Lambec. Commentar. de Biblioth. Caesaraea, vol. iii. col. 56, &c., ed. Kollar, especially Kollar's note on col. 59; Fabric. Biblioth. Graec. vol. viii. p. 652, vol. ix. pp. 20, 319, alibi; Cave, Hist. Litt. ad ann. 334, vol. p. 202 ; Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. vi. passim; Oudin. Commentarius de Scriptoribus Eccles. vol. i. col. 319.)

[J.C.M]