Early Christian Theology_ Irenaeus of Lyon

A.   Irenaeus of Lyon(d. around 200)

Background

·         Bishop of Lyons(modern france)

·         He belongs to the tradition of "Asian Theo"(Polycap, Papias, Ignatius) may have begun with the ministry of "John"(the   apostle) at Ephesus.

·         Through this tradition and through his confrontation with heretics, Irenaeus…

 

Opponents

a.     Gnostics, who taught a popularized "chain of being" philosophy(unknowable God, chain of mediators, evil matter). Cf. the   more sophisticated system of Plotinus.

b.    Marcion, who denied the canonicity of the OT and much of the New in the interest of a misinterpret….

 

Good emphases:

a.     Scripture

1.     Canonicity

2.     Authority

3.     Sufficiency - vs. speculation

4.     Perspicuity - opposed allegorical use of Scripture; developed a kind of "biblical theoolgy."

5.     Necessity

a.     Emphasizes the ignorance of gnostics and others who derive their ideas apart from scripture.

b.    Critique of Platonic doctrine of reminiscence

·         If all of us have forgotten the world of forms, how can we trust Plato's recollection of it?

·         So knowledge of G is not through reminiscence but through revelation.

b.    God: Irenaeus pictures him as concrete and living, as over against the abstract principles of the heretics. God is clearly   known in revelation.

c.     The history of Redemption: G is very much involved with creation - actively working his purposes. Irenaeus rejects   explicitly the non- Christian notion of transcendence, that God is incapable of direct interaction with his world.

d.    Direct creation :" Hence, G needs no semi-divine mediator to create the world. He does himself, by his Word and   Wisdom, ex niohilo. Another advance.

e.     No subordinationism in intertrinitarian relationship

f.      Internal critique of gnosticism : are the emanations of one substance with the supreme being or not?

1.     If they are, then how can they be ignorant of the supreme being?

2.     If they are not, then how can mediation convey true knowledge, identity of substance being require for understanding?

3.     Irenaeus' generally emphasis on a distinctively Scriptural orientation.