The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Diodore of Tarsus
d. c. 390 · Bishop of Tarsus · Father of the Antiochene school · Antioch → Tarsus
The Nicene Age
Who Diodore of Tarsus was
A monk and teacher of Antioch who, with Flavian, led the Nicene laity in resisting the Arians during the reign of Valens, and who founded the mature Antiochene school of biblical interpretation — insisting on the literal, historical sense against Alexandrian allegory. As bishop of Tarsus he attended the Council of Constantinople in 381 and was named by Theodosius a touchstone of orthodoxy for the East. The teacher of Theodore of Mopsuestia and John Chrysostom, his own works were later suspected for their sharp separation of Christ’s two natures — but his classroom shaped the exegesis of the Greek East for centuries.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Diodore die?
Diodore of Tarsus is dated d. c. 390 in the archive, which places Diodore in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). 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 Diodore?
Diodore of Tarsus is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Basil of Caesarea and Jerome & Socrates. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Diodore from?
The archive associates Diodore of Tarsus with Antioch, Tarsus. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Diodore’s contemporaries?
The archive links Diodore of Tarsus to 3 other figures, including John Chrysostom, Meletius of Antioch and Eustathius of Antioch. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Letter 135 (Basil reviews his books)
c. AD 372Ecclesiastical History VI.3 (Socrates); Jerome, Ill. Men. 119
c. AD 439Diodorus, bishop of Tarsus, while he was still a presbyter of Antioch, published many works, imitating Eusebius of Emesa; he followed the literal sense and avoided allegory.Jerome & Socrates · 119 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
- AD 381 · The Council of Aquileia, AD 381
- AD 384 · The Altar of Victory petition, AD 384
- AD 390 · Thessalonica and the penance of Theodosius, AD 390
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Diodore, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.