The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Malchion of Antioch
fl. 268 (death unrecorded) · Presbyter & rhetor · Refuter of Paul of Samosata · Antioch
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Malchion of Antioch was
A presbyter of Antioch who had headed the city’s Greek school of rhetoric, and the man who finally cornered Paul of Samosata in open disputation at the synod of 268. Where other bishops had failed to pin down Paul’s slippery denials of Christ’s true divinity, Malchion — a trained debater — forced the issue, and stenographers took down the exchange. He drafted the synod’s encyclical announcing Paul’s deposition. A professional rhetorician’s skill turned to the church’s doctrinal defence.
Common questions
When was Malchion active?
Malchion of Antioch is dated fl. 268 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Malchion in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Malchion write?
Malchion of Antioch has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The synodal letter against Paul of Samosata.
Which early sources mention Malchion?
Malchion of Antioch 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 Malchion from?
The archive associates Malchion of Antioch with Antioch.
Writings (1)
The synodal letter against Paul of Samosata
Drafted for the council of Antioch (268/9); Eusebius preserves its portrait of the bishop's tribunal and claqueA lofty tribunal and throne he prepared for himself, not befitting a disciple of Christ.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.29
c. AD 325Malchion, a learned man… being a presbyter of the parish of Antioch, alone was able to detect the man, who concealed his real opinions; and the discussion, which was taken down by stenographers, we know to be still extant.Eusebius of Caesarea · VII.29 · source text
On Illustrious Men 71
c. AD 392Malchion, a most eloquent presbyter of the church at Antioch, who had most successfully taught rhetoric in the same city.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 71 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Malchion in the sources
These figures are placed with Malchion by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Malchion naming them in return.
- Aelianus (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Bolanus (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Eutychius (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Hierax (bishop, signatory at Antioch 268)
- Lucius (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Maximus of Bostra
- Nicomas
- Paul (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Proclus (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Protogenes
- Theodorus (signatory at Antioch 268)
- Theophilus (signatory at Antioch 268)
Events in this lifetime
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Malchion.