c. A.D. 300 – c. 377

Eustathius of Sebaste

Worth knowing

Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia and an early leader of the ascetic movement in Asia Minor. The young Basil of Caesarea learned from him.
He later broke with Basil because he would not confess the Holy Spirit as God, and he became a leader of the party called the Spirit-fighters.
None of his own writing on the question survives. We know his position from the church historian Socrates.

In Scholar’s Dream, Eustathius of Sebaste has one book

Neither God Nor CreatureEustathius of Sebastia’s position on the Spirit, no work of his own survives — reported by Socrates ScholasticusTheology Proper

Eustathius of Sebaste’s quotes in the game

Every quotation from Eustathius of Sebaste that a player meets in Scholar’s Dream, attached to the move that says it. Or see them as a plain list →

In Scholar’s Dream, books argue with each other, and each thing a book can do in a debate is called a move. Every quote below is spoken by one of those moves. Open “How it works in the game” under a quote to see the move, which books learn it, and which arguments it answers best.

“I can neither admit that the Holy Spirit is God, nor can I dare affirm him to be a creature.”
Eustathius of Sebastia, as quoted in Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History 2.45 (trans. Zenos, NPNF² 2, public domain).public domain

How it works in the game: the move Neither God Nor Creature

Theology ProperArgument · power 48 · 100% accurate

In the gameA studied refusal to answer either way — not bold denial, careful agnosticism. Won’t call the Spirit God; won’t call him a creature either.

Learned byNeither God Nor Creature (Lv 1)

Words Eustathius of Sebaste’s books borrow from others

Moves these books can learn whose quotation comes from somebody else. The citation on each one names who actually said it.

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
James 1:19 (WEB).

How it works in the game: the move Steelman

RationalityType shift

In the gameRestate the foe’s position in its strongest form — exposing its true weak point. Lowers the foe’s Defend. Always fair; never a bad move to use.

Learned byNeither God Nor Creature (Lv 1)

“He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.”
Matthew 27:14 (WEB); cf. Isaiah 53:7.

How it works in the game: the move Silence

ChristologyType shift

In the gameSay nothing. Convinces no one — but the next argument lands harder. Raises the user’s Contend, after the pattern of Christ’s silence before his accusers.

Learned byNeither God Nor Creature (Lv 12)

Who else was alive

Eustathius of Sebaste against everyone else in the game.

A.D. 1A.D. 50A.D. 100A.D. 150A.D. 200A.D. 250A.D. 300A.D. 350A.D. 400A.D. 450

Matthew Paul John Mark Pliny the Elder Clement of Rome Ignatius An early Christian community Polycarp Claudius Ptolemy Hermas Justin Martyr Aristides Quadratus Melito Unknown authors writing under borrowed names Irenaeus The author of the Epistle to Diognetus Athenagoras Clement of Alexandria Tertullian Marcus Minucius Felix Origen Cyprian Plotinus Lactantius Eusebius Athanasius Eustathius of Sebaste Apollinaris of Laodicea Cyril of Jerusalem Epiphanius of Salamis Gregory of Nazianzus Basil of Caesarea Eunomius of Cyzicus Gregory of Nyssa Ambrose of Milan Jovinian Augustine The Macedonians Helvidius

Solid bar = firm dates · faded = approximate61 authors sit outside this window