The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Theodore of Heraclea
d. c. AD 355 · Arian bishop of Heraclea · Literalist commentator · Heraclea, Thrace
The Nicene Age
Who Theodore of Heraclea was
Bishop of Heraclea in Thrace and a fixture of every anti-Athanasian embassy and synod from Tyre to Serdica — yet remembered by Jerome for something else entirely: polished, clear, historical commentaries on Matthew, John, the Epistles, and the Psalter. The Arian party's exegete of record; the deposition rolls of Serdica and the catalogue of Christian literature both carry his name.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Theodore die?
Theodore of Heraclea is dated d. c. AD 355 in the archive, which places Theodore 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.
What did Theodore write?
Theodore of Heraclea has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Commentaries on Matthew, John, the Apostle, and the Psalter. All are lost, known only from later citation.
Which early sources mention Theodore?
Theodore of Heraclea is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Jerome and Socrates Scholasticus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Theodore from?
The archive associates Theodore of Heraclea with Heraclea, Thrace. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Commentaries on Matthew, John, the Apostle, and the Psalter
The Arian literalist's exegesis — gone but for catenae gleaningsElegant and clear commentaries, and of an historical sense. (after Jerome, On Illustrious Men 90)Lost — known only from later citation.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
On Illustrious Men 90
c. AD 393Theodore, bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, published under Constantius commentaries on Matthew and John, on the Epistles and on the Psalter — of polished and clear diction, and of the historical sense throughout.Jerome · 90 · source text
Ecclesiastical History II.18 (among the eastern envoys to Constans)
c. AD 440Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Theodore.
- 1Thraceprovince only