This english translation of against heresies, by irenaus, bishop of lyons in. The doctrine of man in irenaeus of lyon boston university. The purpose of this paper is to examine irenaeus interpretive method in against heresies, and to assert that contemporary. It is devoted, on the one hand, to an account and refutation of those multiform gnostic heresies which prevailed in the latter half of the second century. The oblation of the church, therefore, which the lord gave instructions to be offered throughout all the world, is accounted with god a pure sacrifice, and is acceptable to him. Irenaeus of lyons, against heresies adversus haereses. Therearethreeearlymanuscripts of the latin translation, the oldest of which claromontanus dates from the tenth or eleventh century. His work is invaluable to modern scholarship in the attempt to recover the content of gnostic teachings in the second century. During the second century, the church was gifted with a masterful defender of biblical authority irenaeus, bishop of lyons located in presentday france.
By transmitting to thee, my very dear friend, this fourth book of the work which is entitled the detection and refuation of false knowledge, i shall, as i have promised, add weight, by means of the words of the lord, to what i have already advanced. In against heresies, irenaeus spends the first two books understanding the gnostics and refuting them at every turn. The work of irenaeus against heresies is one of the most precious remains of early christian antiquity. Originally titled exposure and refutation of knowledge falsely socalled. The text of irenaeus, against heresies, in english translation with links to. By transmitting to thee, my very dear friend, this fourth book of the work which is entitled. For they allege that the truth was not delivered by means of written documents, but viva voce.
In contradistinction from justin martyr and origen, who baptize philosophy with christian truth and nomenclature, irenaeus is a biblical apologist in the purest sense. Against heresies, book iii irenaeus joshua charles. His great work against heresies was, we learn, written during the episcopate of eleutherus, that is, between a. Irenaeus was born in smyrna in asia minor, where he studied under bishop polycarp, who in turn had been a disciple of apostle john.
To vindicate the incarnation of god in human flesh, irenaeus described and attacked their principal doctrine, the evil origin of the natural world. Rambaut 1911 and alexander roberts 1826 1901 read by. He also wrote nowfragmentary letters of an indeterminate number, dealing with questions such as the sole. I already finished books i through iii and will soon, by gods. The classic source for ancient controversies regarding groups conventionally classified as gnostic is adversus haereses latin. Bishop of lyon and a disciple of polycarp, irenaeus wrote against heresies in order to shortly and clearly set forth the meaning of those who are now teaching amiss, i mean of ptolemy and his partisans, which school is a kind of efflorescence from that of valentinus. St irenaeus against heresies pdf thou hast indeed enjoined upon me, my.
First, irenaeus responds to a gnostic claim that the message preserved in the gospels is flawed since it was preached before the apostles came to perfect knowledge ecf 370. Against heresies 017585 the destruction of jerusalem, which was the city of the great king, diminished nothing from the supreme majesty and power of god, for that this destruction was put in execution by the most wise counsel of the same god. As much as my learning allows i am undergoing a thorough reading of his books. Irenaeus of lyons study archive the preterist archive of. Documents discovered in 1946 of ancient gnostics texts in coptic near nag hammadi. In against heresies in early christian fathers ecf, pictured to the right irenaeus articulates multiple arguments against gnostic teaching. Irenaeus, bishop of lyons, describes several schools of gnosticism which were prevalent among prenicene christianity. The text of irenaeus, against heresies, in english translation with links to the greek and latin. Against heresies by bishop irenaeus of lugdunum modern lyon, france, in addition to being a classical text and an important work of early christianity, is also a useful piece for understanding. Leaving asia minor for rome he joined the school of justin martyr before being made bishop of lyons in southern gaul in about ad 178. Irenaeus against heresies, book 4, chapters 1 to 20. This english translation of against heresies, by irenaus, bishop of lyons in gaul modern. Against heresies demonstrates that earliest christianity was a fascinating and diverse plethora of beliefs, debates, and schisms. Sola scriptura, biblical theology, and typology in against heresies,1 irenaeus of lyons presents a biblically rigorous defense of historic christianity in the face of secondcentury gnosticism.
Being the first at something makes it is easy to ascribe to him the qualities of unerring thought and perfect insight. Summary by joed for further information, including links to online text, reader information, rss feeds, cd cover or other formats if available, please go. In his work against heresies, irenaeus confronts the teachings of gnosticism, appealing to apostolic tradition as the final arbiter of truth. This is the complete adversus haereses against heresies perhaps. In the four preceding books, my very dear friend, which i put forth to thee, all the heretics have been exposed, and their doctrines brought to light, and these men refuted who have devised irreligious opinions. The spiritual grandson of the apostle john, for his. Preface chapter 1 absurd ideas of the disciples of valentinus as to the origin, name, order, and conjugal productions of their fancied aeons, with the. Against heresies adversus haereses, book 1 robertsdonaldson translation. Today we celebrate the memorial of the early church father, bishop, and declared doctor of the church, st. He then refutes these beliefs as heresies by contrasting them with what he describes as catholic, orthodox christianity. In contrast to justin whose writings he used and respected irenaeus rejected the philosophical approach to.
This work, which establishes irenaeus as the most important of the theologians of the second century, is a detailed and effective refutation of gnosticism, and a major source of information on the various gnostic sects and doctrines. May be read online, and available in pdf format, at hathi trust digital library. Pdf i have a keen interest in understanding how the book of. Against heresies, a fivevolume work written in greek about 180 ce by the christian bishop irenaeus of lyon. Please enter your email address associated with your salem allpass account, then click continue. Inasmuch as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says, minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, and by means of. Church of lyons awaiting martyrdom, to eleutherus, bishop of rome. This work is an abridgement of irenaeus antiheretical theology as found in against the heresies. Irenaeus is considered by many the first systematic theologian of the church.
Inasmuch as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says, minister questions. Irenaeus, bishop of lyons, against heresies, translated by john keble, with the fragments that remain of his other works oxford, london. It is the name of a twovolume work against gnosticism and other christian heresies, written about ad 180 by the church father irenaeus, bishop of lyon in gaul now france. Concerning sacrifices and oblations, and those who truly offer them. Inasmuch1 as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says,2 minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, and by means of their craftily. Volume 42 of a library of the fathers of the holy catholic church, anterior to the division of the east and the west. Irenaeus also provides the first explicit witness to a fourfold gospel canon. Irenaeus, bishop of lyons wrote around 180 to uphold against gnosticism the christian rule of faith that he had received. Those who, in the absence of written documents,4 have believed this faith, are barbarians, so far as regards our language.
The complete text of against the heresies, with fragments of other writings. Originating from smyrna, now izmir in turkey, he had seen and heard the. According to john behr, irenaeus of lyons, this work was written after books 1 and 2 of against the heresies but before the rest p. This new bishop of rome took very harsh measures for enforcing uniformity throughout. Irenaeus writing against the gnostic heresies of his day, formulating and defending jesus as both truly man and truly god, and how the two natures joined in christ is a reconciliation of god with humanity. Thou hast indeed enjoined upon me, my very dear friend, that i should bring to light the valentinian doctrines, concealed, as their votaries imagine. This is the complete adversus haereses against heresies perhaps the most popular work by saint irenaeus.