This volume is the first critical edition of the theological fragments of Asterius of Cappadocia, the so-called Arian Sophist, who lived in the early fourth century. The first part of the volume provides an introduction to the theological thought of Asterius, an important member of the "Eusebians". It also compares the theological thought of Asterius with Origen's and Arius' theology. The second part consists of the 77 theological fragments of Asterius of Cappadocia with a German translation. In the third part a commentary is given for each fragment explaining the content, the language and also the authenticity of the texts.

The present study (edition, translation and commentary) of the fragments expressing interest oin the lives of wise men, philosophers, poets and politicians shed light on the various antecedents of Greek biographical writing in the fifth and forth centuries B.C.

Marcellus of Ancyra (ca. 285/290 - ca. 374) was one of the prominent bishops who fought against the Eusebians at the council of Nicaea. After this council, he was the first to attack them, and especially Asterius of Cappadocia. Only fragments of his work were preserved. These fragments, together with a letter which he wrote in 341 to Julius of Rome, the only undisputed works of Marcellus, are collected in this volume. The book opens with an introduction, contains the edition with German translation, notes and indices. In contrast to the former editions of Marcellus' works, this edition follows substantially the new order of the fragments established by K. Seibt (1994). As a result, Marcellus' fragments give an idea of how his work was originally structured.