Archive for category Irenaeus
The Paschal Feast – Are we to follow the Apostles?
Posted by Joel in Church Fathers, Irenaeus, Polycarp of Smyrna on March 29, 2010
The Lord’s Passover approaches. It is a time for Christians to joyously celebrated that single moment in all of history which changed humanity’s fate. It is also one to reflect on the ancient traditions of the Church. We are connected to the Apostles not merely by the name that we wear, and the doctrine that we teach, but also by the Traditions that we share.
Irenaeus on the Pedagogue of the Law
But as many as feared God, and were anxious about His law, these ran to Christ, and were all saved. For He said to His disciples: “Go ye to the sheep of the house of Israel, which have perished.” And many more Samaritans, it is said, when the Lord had tarried among them, two days, “believed because of His words, and said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we ourselves have heard [Him], and know that this man is truly the Saviour of the world.” And Paul likewise declares, “And so all Israel shall be saved;” but he has also said, that the law was our pedagogue [to bring us] to Christ Jesus. Let them not therefore ascribe to the law the unbelief of certain [among them]. For the law never hindered them from believing in the Son of God; nay, but it even exhorted them so to do, saying that men can be saved in no other way from the old wound of the serpent than by believing in Him who, in the likeness of sinful flesh, is lifted up from the earth upon the tree of martyrdom, and draws all things to Himself, and brings to life the dead. – Against Heresies 4.8
Difficult Verses: John 12.32
Posted by Joel in Athanasius, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, John Cassian, Theology on March 2, 2010
In discussing the doctrines of the afterlife, we find difficult verses, one of them being John 12.32. I will try not to draw a conclusion, but simply present information on this verse:
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.
The Virgin Birth and Irenaeus
Irenaeus is only a disciple of a disciple of the Apostle John, but still withing the framework of the early Church. (Just…. maybe)
Irenaeus on Montanism
There is a notion that Praxeas, Tertullian’s enemy, was Irenaeus. It is an interesting thought proposed by a very few, but it does begin to look remotely plausible when we begin to examine Irenaeus’s fight to keep Montanism from out of Rome.
Daniel Jennings has produced a remarkable collection of quotes and sayings found among the early Church writers concerning Montanism (HT). Here is the Irenaeus’ words, must different than what we would hear from Tertullian.
Irenaeus and the only Son of Adam Who is God
Those who claim that Jesus was a man…have not yet been joined in the Word of God the Father. I have demonstrated from Scriptures that there is not one son of Adam who is called God or Lord in an absolute and universal sense. But Jesus is God himself, by his own right, beyond any human being who has ever lived. He is the Lord, the eternal King….and the incarnated Word… He is the only Lord, the wonderful , the counselor, the one who is beautiful in appearance and the Almighty God. (Against Heresies 3.19.2 ACD vol 1 pg 68_
The Prophet Amos and the Resurrection
Posted by Joel in Church Fathers, Irenaeus on June 29, 2009
At the Voice of Stefan, the blogger has began a series of posts on this passage:
Amos 9:11-12:
On that day I will raise up
the tent of Dauid that is fallen
and rebuild its ruins
and raise up its destruction,
and rebuild it as the days of old
in order that those remaining of humans
and all the nations upon whom my name has been called
might seek out me,
says the Lord who does these things. (NETS)
He sites Patristic evidence that the primitive Church saw this as referring to the Resurrection.
I have been taught, and have taught it myself, that this prophecy refers to the Church, but I am interested in seeing where it leads. Check it out, if you can.
