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Against Heresies
Irenaeus of LyonsComplete selected work at the provider; bounded import of III.18-23, IV.20-34, and V.21.
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Author: Irenaeus of Lyons
Kind: Other
Tradition: patristic
Original work: Public-domain historical work
Digital source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Edition status: Needs verification
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Source provider: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Edition citation: Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 1, Buffalo: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.
Contents
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Chapter XVIII.--Continuation of the foregoing argument. Proofs from the writings of St. Paul, and from the words of Our Lord, that Christ and Jesus cannot be considered as distinct beings; neither can it be alleged that the Son of God became man merely in appearance, but that He did so truly and actually.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 18Chapter XIX.--Jesus Christ was not a mere man, begotten from Joseph in the ordinary course of nature, but was very God, begotten of the Father most high, and very man, born of the Virgin.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 19Chapter XX.--God showed himself, by the fall of man, as patient, benign, merciful, mighty to save. Man is therefore most ungrateful, if, unmindful of his own lot, and of the benefits held out to him, he do not acknowledge divine grace.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 20Chapter XXI.--A vindication of the prophecy in Isa. vii. 14 against the misinterpretations of Theodotion, Aquila, the Ebionites, and the Jews. Authority of the Septuagint version. Arguments in proof that Christ was born of a virgin.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 21Chapter XXII.--Christ assumed actual flesh, conceived and born of the Virgin.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 22Chapter XXIII.--Arguments in opposition to Tatian, showing that it was consonant to divine justice and mercy that the first Adam should first partake in that salvation offered to all by Christ.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 3 / Chapter 23Chapter XX.--That one God formed all things in the world, by means of the Word and the Holy Spirit: and that although He is to us in this life invisible and incomprehensible, nevertheless He is not unknown; inasmuch as His works do declare Him, and His Word has shown that in many modes He may be seen and known.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 20Chapter XXI.--Abraham's faith was identical with ours; this faith was prefigured by the words and actions of the old patriarchs.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 21Chapter XXII.--Christ did not come for the sake of the men of one age only, but for all who, living righteously and piously, had believed upon Him; and for those, too, who shall believe.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 22Chapter XXIII.--The patriarchs and prophets by pointing out the advent of Christ, fortified thereby, as it were, the way of posterity to the faith of Christ; and so the labours of the apostles were lessened inasmuch as they gathered in the fruits of the labours of others.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 23Chapter XXIV.--The conversion of the Gentiles was more difficult than that of the Jews; the labours of those apostles, therefore who engaged in the former task, were greater than those who undertook the latter.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 24Chapter XXV.--Both covenants were prefigured in Abraham, and in the labour of Tamar; there was, however, but one and the same God to each covenant.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 25Chapter XXVI.--The treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the true exposition of the Scriptures is to be found in the Church alone.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 26Chapter XXVII.--The sins of the men of old time, which incurred the displeasure of God, were, by His providence, committed to writing, that we might derive instruction thereby, and not be filled with pride. We must not, therefore, infer that there was another God than He whom Christ preached; we should rather fear, lest the one and the same God who inflicted punishment on the ancients, should bring down heavier upon us.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 27Chapter XXVIII.--Those persons prove themselves senseless who exaggerate the mercy of Christ, but are silent as to the judgment, and look only at the more abundant grace of the New Testament; but, forgetful of the greater degree of perfection which it demands from us, they endeavour to show that there is another God beyond Him who created the world.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 28Chapter XXIX.--Refutation of the arguments of the Marcionites, who attempted to show that God was the author of sin, because He blinded Pharaoh and his servants.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 29Chapter XXX.--Refutation of another argument adduced by the Marcionites, that God directed the Hebrews to spoil the Egyptians.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 30Chapter XXXI.--We should not hastily impute as crimes to the men of old time those actions which the Scripture has not condemned, but should rather seek in them types of things to come: an example of this in the incest committed by Lot.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 31Chapter XXXII.--That one God was the author of both Testaments, is confirmed by the authority of a presbyter who had been taught by the apostles.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 32Chapter XXXIII.--Whosoever confesses that one God is the author of both Testaments, and diligently reads the Scriptures in company with the presbyters of the Church, is a true spiritual disciple; and he will rightly understand and interpret all that the prophets have declared respecting Christ and the liberty of the New Testament.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 33Chapter XXXIV.--Proof against the Marcionites, that the prophets referred in all their predictions to our Christ.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 4 / Chapter 34Chapter XXI.--Christ is the head of all things already mentioned. It was fitting that He should be sent by the Father, the Creator of all things, to assume human nature, and should be tempted by Satan, that He might fulfil the promises, and carry off a glorious and perfect victory.Irenaeus, Against Heresies / Against Heresies / Book 5 / Chapter 21