Hegesippus

Hegesippus (* before 130; † after 180), also Hegesipp or Hegesippos , was an early Christian church writer who wrote in the second half of the 2nd century. He is considered the first church historian after Luke , the author of the Acts of the Apostles .

Eusebius of Caesarea

Almost all the information about Hegesippus that has been preserved comes from Eusebius of Caesarea , who refers to him several times in his church history and quotes some passages from Hegesipp's books. Before Eusebius, Hegesippus is not mentioned in early Christian literature. However, there is speculation that some information in the work of Epiphanius von Salamis could be based on Hegesipp's information.

According to Eusebius, Hegesippus was a converted Jew who knew and reported Jewish Christian writings such as the Gospel of the Hebrews , but also oral Jewish traditions. He may have come from Palestine . In research he is perceived as a defender of Jewish Christianity and a representative of the James tradition, who underlines the position of the early Christian movement represented by the Lord Brother James and shows a special interest in the fate of the relatives of Jesus.

Missionary and teacher of Orthodoxy

Between 154 and 168 Hegesippus undertook a research trip via Corinth to Rome in order to ascertain the “right doctrine” (Greek “ orthodoxy ”), the true Christian faith. He saw the latter threatened by the new heresies , especially of Gnosticism and Marcion . He stayed in Rome for 20 years and from there researched the Christian tradition from the apostles to the bishops of the Roman Christian community. Since 174 he put his results down in five books Hypomnemata ("Memories", "Memories"). According to current research, the title probably did not originate from himself. According to medieval library registers, the books existed until the 17th century and have been lost ever since.

Founder of the succession theory

From the quotations of Euseb and other church fathers, however, we know roughly the content of at least the fifth volume. Accordingly, Hegesippus continued the tradition of early Christian missionary sermons in simple language. Against the heretics he appealed to the true teachings of the apostles, which had been handed down to him by their successors. By this he meant above all the bishops of the church planting who belonged to the group of students of Paul of Tarsus . On his journey he met many bishops and heard the same gospel from all of them. So he tried to refute the gnosis with the uninterrupted continuity of the episcopal faith tradition.

With this, Hegesippus became the founder of the idea of ​​the Apostolic Succession . A list of bishops from Simon Petrus to Anicetus , which he made in Rome, is considered the earliest such list that other church fathers such as Eusebius and Irenaeus of Lyons could have adopted. However, this, as well as the content of the list, is highly controversial in research.

literature

• Frank Schleritt (Ed.): Hegesipp. Translated and introduced by Frank Schleritt. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-647-53466-4 .

Web links

• Literature by and about Hegesippus in the catalog of the German National Library
• Hans Lietzmann : Hegesippos 7) . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume VII, 2, Stuttgart 1912, Col. 2611 f.