Against Heresies 4

Against Heresies #4

by Irenaeus of Lyons

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Theology, Christian, History, Catholic

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 188

About the author

St. Irenaeus (2nd cenutry C.E. – c. 202) was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, then a part of the Roman Empire (now Lyon, France). He was an early church father and apologist, and his writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology. Irenaeus' best-known book, Adversus Haereses or Against Heresies (c. 180) is a detailed attack on Gnosticism, which was then a serious threat to the Church, and especially on the system of the Gnostic Valentinus.

Reviews

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irenaeus's fourth book of Adversus Haereses is heavily anti-Marcionite, arguing from the first chapter to the last, that the one God of the Old Covenant is the one God of the New Covenant, and that, though He gives various dispensations, His nature, benevolence, power, and purpose are unchanging through all time. Irenaeus also advances the Church's Faith: that the faith of the patriarchs in the coming of Christ is just as valid (is identical) as the faith of Christians; that the Ten Commandments are valid for all time; that Christ saves men from all eras; that God allowed mankind to fall into sin in order to tenderly guide them into mature sonship; that the Old Testament stories, even wen they seem contradictory or confusing, are nevertheless types for the Person and Body of Christ; that God is the Author of all the Scriptures; that He grants human beings freedom to obey Christ's commandments, leading to eternal life; and that while all men are sons of God, the wicked have renounced that sonship.

It is in this book that one finds some of the most distinctive, memorable Irenaean passages, including the following:

- "Wherefore the Son reveals the knowledge of the Father through His own manifestations. For the manifestation of the Son is the knowledge of the Father; for all things are manifested through the Word" (4.6.3).

- "But the Son reveals the Father to all to whom He wills that He should be known; and neither without the goodwill of the Father, not without the agency of the Son, can any man know God" (4.7.3).

- "For the glory of God is a living man; and the life of man consists in beholding God" (4.20.7).

- "...He did in these last days exhibit the similitude; for the Son of God was made man, assuming the ancient production of His hands into His own nature..." (4.33.4).

- "Now it was necessary that man should in the first instance be created; and having been created, should receive growth; and having received growth, should be strengthened; and having been strengthened, should abound; and having abounded, should recover from the disease of sin; and having recovered, should be glorified; and being glorified should see his Lord" (4.38.3).

Irenaeus continually demonstrates that the Scriptures contain Christ as the field in the parable in Matthew 13 contained a treasure. All of the prophets and writings and Psalms prophesy to men of Christ, and that prophecy saved those ancients who trusted in the Word and saw the day of salvation (John 8:56). Chapter 26 is especially beautiful in describing not just the "importance" of Christ in the Scriptures, but, the entire telos, goal, and orientation of them.

[Adonis McReynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book by a saint whose teachers interacted with the apostles and gave him absolutely amazing insight and teaching. This book further confirmed in my mind that both Scripture and the apostles confirm the free will of man either to choose obedience or disobedience to God. "For there is no coercion or compulsion with God". The Gospel is a valid offer to all who choose to accept. Praise God!

[Mark Smallwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully translated. Perhaps most notable is how Irenaeus takes pains to understand the worldview of his opponents, so that he may confound them. Thus his excoriating demolition of their arguments is rooted in love. Perhaps that is why it has stood the test of time.

[Robert Drumheller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing that many of the same heresies which the early church had to deal with are occurring today.

[Ben Mordecai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the first 4 volumes because Irenaeus takes a break from explaining the doctrine of the various Gnostic sects to explain the Christian doctrine, providing a lovely window into the doctrine of the ancient church. Thanks to the heresies of Marcion, we can see the ways that Irenaeus understood the role of the Old Testament in light of the New, why God gave so many laws which were later abrogated to Israel and why the Decalogue remains. In large part, this is why we would read the fathers in the first place.

[Tyson Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Book 4 Irenaeus is really starting to get into the good stuff. His proto-trinitarianism is developing, and will anticipate a lengthy discussion of the Holy Spirit in Book 5.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this last night and this morning. Loved it!