Cornelius bishop of Rome, succeeded Falianus in that see June 4, A.D. 251. Some of the clergy and people of Rome, not approving of the election of Cornelius because of his controversy with Novatianus about the lapsi, to whom Cornelius was disposed to be lenient, chose Novatianus bishop, and three Italian bishops ordained him; he therefore was the first antipope. In October, 251, Cornelius having convened a numerous council at Rome, consisting of sixty bishops and a number of presbyters and deacons, they confirmed his election. He did not enjoy his honor long, for he was banished by the emperor Gallus to Civita Vecchia, where he died (or, according to some accounts, suffered martyrdom) September 14, 252. Ten of Cyprian's letters are directed to Cornelius. There are two genuine letters of Cornelius to Cyprian Still preserved among Cyprian's epistles; they are the forty-sixth and forty-eighth (ed. Oberthur). Besides these, Cornelius wrote a long letter to Fabianus concerning the character and conduct of Novatian, considerable extracts from which Eusebius has preserved (Hist. Eccl. bk. 6, chap. 43). — Lardner, Works, 3:74 sq.; Cave, Hist. Lit. 1:80; Wetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lex 2:879.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More