Digital Verbum Edition
Irenaeus of Lyons was an influential Church Father of the second century. He was one of the first to emphasize the episcopacy and the canonicity of the four Gospels, playing a large role in the formation of a New Testament canon. Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of the Apostle John.
This volume contains Irenaeus’ The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching. It also includes translator J. Armitage Robinson’s introduction and notes.
“And for this reason the baptism of our regeneration proceeds through these three points: God the Father bestowing on us regeneration through His Son by the Holy Spirit. For as many as carry (in them) the Spirit of God1 are led to the Word, that is to the Son; and the Son brings them to the Father; and the Father causes them to possess incorruption.2 Without the Spirit it is not possible to behold the Word of God, nor without the Son can any draw near to the Father: for the knowledge of the Father is the Son,3 and the knowledge of the Son of God is through the Holy Spirit; and, according to the good pleasure of the Father, the Son ministers and dispenses4 the Spirit to whomsoever the Father wills and as He wills.” (Pages 75–76)
“So then the Father is Lord and the Son is Lord,1 and the Father is God and the Son is God; for that which is begotten of God is God.2 And so in the substance and power of His being there is shown forth one God; but there is also according to the economy of our redemption both Son and Father. Because to created things the Father of all is invisible and unapproachable,3 therefore those who are to draw near to God must have their access to the Father through the Son.” (Page 112)
“For it was necessary that Adam should be summed up in Christ,* that mortality might be swallowed up and overwhelmed by immortality; and Eve summed up in Mary, that a virgin should be a virgin’s intercessor,4 and by a virgin’s obedience undo and put away the disobedience of a virgin.” (Page 100)
“For He made man the image of God; and the image of God is the Son, after whose image man was made: and for this cause He appeared in the end of the times that He might show the image (to be) like unto Himself.” (Pages 89–90)
Irenaeus of Lyons (AD 130–202) was bishop of Lyon in Gaul. He was an early Church Father and apologist. His work played a key role in forming Christian theology. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Irenaeus was born into a Christian family. He was a priest at Lyons and became bishop after Pothinus was martyred. Most of his writing is directed against the Gnostic heretics. He is recognized as a Saint by both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.
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