The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Crescens
fl. c. 66 (death unrecorded) · Co-worker sent to Galatia · Rome → Galatia
The Apostolic Age
Who Crescens was
Named once, in the roll-call of Paul’s final letter: “Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia” — the missions continuing even as the apostle waited for execution. Some ancient texts and Eusebius read “Gaul” for Galatia (the Greek is ambiguous), whence the later claims of Vienne and Mainz to him as founder. Distinct from the Crescens who carried Polycarp’s letter a generation later.
Common questions
When was Crescens active?
Crescens is dated fl. c. 66 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Crescens in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Crescens?
Crescens is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, Eusebius of Caesarea and The Constitutions' compiler. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Crescens from?
The archive associates Crescens with Rome, Galatia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Crescens’ contemporaries?
The archive links Crescens to 2 other figures, including Paul of Tarsus and Titus of Crete. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History III.4 (his mission read as Gaul)
c. AD 325Crescens was sent to Gaul.Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History III.4 · source text
Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 (bishop of the churches of Galatia)
c. AD 380Of the churches of Galatia, Crescens.The Constitutions' compiler · Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Crescens, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.