The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Dionysius of Corinth
fl. c. 170; d. later 2nd c. · Bishop of Corinth · Letter-writer to the churches · Corinth
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Dionysius of Corinth was
Bishop of Corinth in the reign of Marcus Aurelius and the most prolific letter-writer of his generation: Eusebius knew a whole collection of his “catholic epistles” to churches across the empire — Sparta, Athens, Nicomedia, Crete, Pontus, Rome — counselling on order, marriage, and the reception of the lapsed. His letter to Rome thanks bishop Soter for its charity and reports that 1 Clement was still read aloud in the Corinthian assembly. He also complained, tellingly, that heretics had already tampered with copies of his own letters — the earliest Christian author to protest textual corruption of his work.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Dionysius active?
Dionysius of Corinth is dated fl. c. 170; d. later 2nd c. in the archive, which places Dionysius in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Dionysius write?
Dionysius of Corinth has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Letter to the Romans (fragments).
Which early sources mention Dionysius?
Dionysius of Corinth is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Dionysius from?
The archive associates Dionysius of Corinth with Corinth.
Writings (1)
Letter to the Romans (fragments)
c. 170Today we observed the holy day of the Lord, and read your letter, which we shall continue to read from time to time for our admonition, as also the former one written to us through Clement.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History IV.23
c. AD 325First is to be mentioned his epistle to the Lacedaemonians, instructing them in the faith and inculcating peace and unity…Eusebius of Caesarea · IV.23 · source text
On Illustrious Men 27
c. AD 392Dionysius, bishop of the church of Corinth, was of so great eloquence and industry that he taught not only the people of his own city and province, but also those of other provinces and cities, by his letters.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 27 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Soter of Rome
- Clement of Rome
- Eusebius of Caesarea
- Publius of Athens
- Pinytus of Cnossus
- Philip of Gortyna
- Palmas of Amastris
Events in this lifetime
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Dionysius.