Irenaeus

Irenaeus, Saint

Saint Irenaeus (īrĬnē´əs), c.125–c.202, Greek theologian, bishop of Lyons, and one of the Fathers of the Church. Born in Asia Minor, he was a disciple of St. Polycarp. Irenaeus went to Rome to plead for leniency toward the Montanists (see Montanism) and for those Eastern Christians who were threatened with excommunication because they did not observe the Roman date for Easter. He remained in the West and died in Gaul. Irenaeus was the earliest Father of the Church to systematize those Christian beliefs that would later be accepted as orthodox doctrine and is cited frequently by later theologians. Only two of his works survive—neither in the original Greek. The five-volume Against Heresies establishes Christian doctrine against the Gnostics and incidentally supplies much information on Gnosticism. The Epideixix is a concise exposition of Christian doctrine (tr. by J. P. Smith, Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, 1952). Feast: June 28.

Selected full-text books and articles on this topic at Questia

Irenaeus of Lyons
Eric Osborn. Cambridge University Press, 2001

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Irenaeus and the Baptism of Jesus
Smith, Daniel A. Theological Studies, Vol. 58, No. 4, December 1997

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Rethinking "Gnosticism": An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category
Michael Allen Williams. Princeton University Press, 1996

Librarian’s tip: Discussion of Irenaeus in multiple chapters

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A New Gnosticism: An Old Threat to the Church
Johnson, Luke Timothy. Commonweal, Vol. 131, No. 19, November 5, 2004

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Basic Sources of the Judaeo-Christian Tradition
Fred Berthold Jr.; Alan W. Carlsten; Klaus Penzel. Prentice Hall, 1962

Librarian’s tip: Includes "Against the Heresies" by Irenaeus

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Canon and Text of the New Testament
Caspar Rene Gregory. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907

Librarian’s tip: Chap. 4 "The Age of Origen. 200-300"

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The Church of Apostles and Martyrs
Henri Daniel-Rops; Audrey Butler. Image Books, vol.1, 1960

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The Early Christian Church
Philip Carrington. Cambridge University Press, vol.1, 1957

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The Christology of the New Testament
Oscar Cullmann; Shirley C. Guthrie; Charles A. M. Hall. Westminster Press, 1959

Librarian’s tip: Includes "The Son of Man in Jewish Christianity and in the Thought of Irenaeus" in Chap. 6

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Documents Illustrating Papal Authority, A.D. 96-454
E. Giles. S.P.C.K., 1952

Librarian’s tip: Chap. 2 "Irenaeus"

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Irenaeus

Irenaeus, Saint

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