Grayden McCashen: The Date and Context of Fortunatianus of Aquileia's Gospels Commentary

This essay explores the date of Fortunatianus of Aquileia’s Gospels Commentary. Dorfbauer declined to be more specific than Jerome, who dated it in the reign of Constantius II (337-61). However, the cumulative evidence suggests that a mid-to-late 340s date is probable. Key points include more frequent attacks on “Arian heresy” than Houghton or Brennecke recognize. That Fortunatianus refers to Arianism as heresy but has no need of substantiating his attacks suggests the late 340s when pro-Nicene parties were thriving in the West. There is no hint of conflict with Constantius, even where it would have fit the polemic of the 350s, and Fortunatianus’ traveling, political activities, and Aquileia’s occupation by the usurper Magnentius in the 350s make this period inconducive to literary activity.The Gospels Commentary’s likely being written in the 340s has several importance consequences. First, given the radical differences in the political climates of the 340s and 350s, a 340s date gives a firmer context in which to evaluate Fortunatianus’ trinitarian and Christological thought than the broad 337-61 date allows. Second, it should influence the historiography of Liberius’ and Fortunatianus’ alleged apostasy. Initial readings of the Gospels Commentaryhave taken it as evidence that Jerome was mistaken about Fortunatianus’ convincing Liberius to apostatize. With the Commentarydated in the 340s, the possibility of Jerome’s accuracy cannot be discounted; Liberius’ and Fortunatianus’ actions in 358 must remain opaque. Third, it shows an important instance of the Nicene Creed being leveraged polemically before the 350s.