quotes as his authority a holy man of the name of Caius

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GoodTaste

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Does "quotes as his authority a holy man of the name of Caius" mean "quotes a holy man called Caius, whom the author (he in "his authority") thinks is authentic"?

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[h=1]How did the Apostle Paul die?[/h]
"Concerning the time, place, and manner of his death, we have little certainty. It is commonly believed that, when a general persecution was raised against the Christians by Nero, about A.D. 64, under pretence that they had set Rome on fire, both St. Paul and St. Peter then sealed the truth with their blood; the latter being crucified with his head downward; the former being beheaded, either in A.D. 64 or 65, and buried in the Via Ostiensis. EUSEBIUS, Hist, Eccles. lib. ii. cap. 25, intimates that the tombs of these two apostles, with their inscriptions, were extant in his time; and quotes as his authority a holy man of the name of Caius, who wrote against the sect of the Cataphrygians, who has asserted this, as from his personal knowledge. See Eusebius, by Reading, vol. i. p. 83; and see Dr. Lardner, in his life of this apostle, who examines this account with his usual perspicuity and candor.
"Other writers have been more particular concerning his death: they say that it was not by the command of Nero that he was martyred, but by that of the prefects of the city, Nero being then absent; that he was beheaded at Aquae Salviae, about three miles from Rome, on February 22; that he could not be crucified, as Peter was, because he was a freeman of the city of Rome.

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bhaisahab

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The author is saying that Caius is an expert on the subject.
 

GoesStation

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Yes, you understand the quoted text perfectly.
 

GoodTaste

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The author is saying that Caius is an expert on the subject.

That is, Caius is not only an expert/authority on the subject, but also a holy man/a saint?
 

Tarheel

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bhaisahab

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I doubt if the Cataphrygians considered him a saint.
 

Tdol

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That is, Caius is not only an expert/authority on the subject, but also a holy man/a saint?

We're dealing with ancient texts and disputes, but Eusebius claims that is Caius is both. Modern science, theology and knowledge may not necessarily see things this way.
 

BobK

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:up: Incidentally, "Quote as one's authority' is a collocation. He's not quoting him as an authoritative person (although he may think he is). He's saying "I believe this because someone else said (or, more specifically wrote) it."

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