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Church History
Eusebius of Caesarea, NPNF II.1
Book 4, The Bishops of Rome and of Alexandria During the Reign of Trajan
About the twelfth year of the reign of Trajan the above-mentioned bishop of the parish of Alexandria1 died, and Primus,2 the fourth in succession from the apostles, was chosen to the office. 2At that time also Alexander,3 the fifth in the line of succession from Peter and Paul, received the episcopate at Rome, after Evarestus had held the office eight years.4
Notes
- Cerdon, mentioned in Bk. III. chap. 21.
- The Chronicle of Eusebius (Armenian) makes Primus succeed to the bishopric of Alexandria in the eleventh year of Trajan; the version of Jerome, in the ninth. According to chap. 4, below, he held office twelve years. No reliance can be placed upon any of the figures. The Alexandrian church is shrouded in darkness until the latter part of the second century, and all extant traditions in regard to its history before that time are about equally worthless. Of Primus himself we have no authentic knowledge, though he figures somewhat in later tradition. See Smith and Wace’s Dict. of Christian Biography, in loco.
- According to the Chronicle of Eusebius (Armenian), Alexander became bishop of Rome in the eighth year of Trajan; according to Jerome’s version, in the twelfth year. He is said, in chap. 4, below, to have died in the third year of Hadrian, after holding office ten years. On the reliability of these dates, see note 1, above. Of Alexander’s life and character we know nothing.
- On Evarestus, see Bk. III. chap. 34, note 3.