The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

158 Credibility of the Gospel History.
afterwards proposes divers difficulties affecring* Philip's
account.
Photius says that Pierius was a martyr ; and that a brother
of his, named Isidore, suffered at tlie same time : but the
silence of Eusebius must needs render this doubtful : and
Jerom is positive that Pierius outlived the persecution under
Dioclesian, as before seen : nor does Tillemont receive this
account.
But though we have no good reason to think that Pieriits
was a martyr, he appears to have been in great esteem.
Epiphanius" speaks of a church at Alexandria called by his
name: and Photius'' intimates that there were temples and
churches built by the faithful in honour of him and his
brother.
There is still somewhat farther to be taken from Photius,
who read a work of'^i Pierius in twelve books or discourses :
Photius does not mention any other title. His character of
it is. this: 'His style is clear and perspicuous, easy and
' familiar, like that of extemporary discourse. He expresseth
' himself after the manner of the ancients, very differently
' from what now obtains in the church. Of the Father
' and the Son he speaks rightly enough, except that he
' makes two substances and two natures : nevertheless, as
' appears from what precedes and follows the place I refer
' to, by substance and nature he may mean only subsistence,
* and not in the sense of the Arians. But of the Spirit he
' speaks dangerously and impiously, for he makes him in-
' ferior in glory to the. Father and the Son.— And, with
' Origen, he seems to hold the pre-existence of souls.'
PKotius here also mentions Pierius's writing upon Hosea
and Easter, and therein treating of the Cherubim and Jacob's
stone pillar ; and something written by him"^ upon St. Luke ;
which words of Photius are not very clear : but it seems as
if the title of one of the twelve books above mentioned was
to this purpose: Upon Luke, or Observations upon Luke's
gospel.
This is Avhat we know of Pierius: from which it is easy
to conclude, that in his time he adorned the christian profession
by his piety, learning, and public labours. As we
have none of his works, we cannot particularly judge of his
sentiments ; but from the testimonies which we have col-
° Haer. 69. c. 2. p. 728. C. p 'Oig ujq (paai, km vtwg icai otKoi
VTTO Tojv tvrripsvToiv iSpvvOt]fTav. Cod. 118. p. 300. A.
•i
A.oy>ii Se to PifiXiov Trepuixt SioStKa. Cod. 119. p. 300.
Ex" ^' XP^'^'-^ *'S TovXoyov, a ») iwiypuf)], Eig tov Kara AdKav. k. \. lb.
p. 300. m.