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160 Credibility of the Gospel History.
Dorotheus. Cyril "^ is supposed to have been bishop of
Antioch from about the year 280, to the year 300, or longer.
We may therefore reckon that Dorotheus flourished about
200, and afterwards. Who is the emperor meant by Eusebius
is not certainly knoM n ; but it seems to me not improbable
to be Dioclesian, in the early part of his reign.
It ought to be supposed that Dorotheus first served in
civil offices, and after that became presbyter in the church
of Antioch.
This Dorotheus*^ ought to be distinouished from one of the
same name, elsewhere mentioned by'' Eusebius, who was
one of the eunuchs of Dioclesian's palace, and suffered martyrdom
; and from another Dorotheus, author of the Synopsis,
or short history of Christ's apostles and seventy disciples.
Fabricius*^ indeed supposeth, that this- presbyter of Antioch,
and the martyr of the same name, were one and the same
person, and that there is not sufficient reason to distinguish
them . but I think he is almost singular in that opinion.
Dorotheus, presbyter of Antioch, not being- a writer, is not
in Jerom's Catalogue : and for the same reason there is no
distinct article allotted him in Cave, or other modern authors
of ecclesiastical libraries, or such like works: nevertheless
I have thought it proper to insert his history here distinctly,
though it be short, as a proof that there were men of
learning and quality among christians in those early ages;
and that Christianity did not discourage any branch of
useful knowledge : though, as we have here and often elsewhere
occasion to observe, the scriptures were their principal
study.
II. I take this opportunity to give an account of the supposed
author of' The Synopsis of the life and death of the
prophets, and also of the apostles and disciples of Jesus
Christ.'
It has been thought by some thats he was bishop or presbyter
of Tyre at the beginning of the fourth century, in the
year 303, about which time he underwent many sufferings
in the persecution begun by Dioclesian, and afterwards died
•= See Tilleni. in St Lucien d'Antioche. Mem. T. v. P. iii. p. 149, et note
(4) p. 406, et Pagi Ann. 283. n. viii. Basnag. Ann. 283. n. ix.
d Vid. Cav. in Dorotheo Tyr. Hist. Lit. T. i. p. 1G3. et Pagi Ann. 283. n.
viii. Basa, Ann. 283. n. ix. Tillem. Mem. Ec. T. v. P, ii. p. 9, et note (8)
p. 342. « H. E. 1. viii. c. 1. p. 292. A. et cap. vi.
^ Bib. Gr. T. vi. p. 145. in notis. s Dorotheus, Tyriorum urbis,
ut volunt, epL'-copiis. Presbyterum quidem cum martyrologio Romano faciunt
recentiores. Quod non aliunde profluxisse videtur, quam quod hunc cum
DoTOtheo Antiochcno male confuderunt. Cav. H. L. [ad ann. 303.] T. i. p.
163. a.