SAMPLES OF IRENAEUS CHRISTOLOGY
(IRENAEUS): “...This,[98.] beloved, is the preaching of the truth, and this is the [Ltn., modus redemptionis nostrae] manner of our redemption, and this is the way of life, which the prophets proclaimed, and Christ established, and the apostles delivered, and the Church in all the world hands on to her children. This must we keep with all certainty, with a sound will and pleasing to God, with good works and right-willed disposition. [99.] SO THAT NONE SHOULD IMAGINE GOD THE FATHER TO BE OTHER THAN OUR CREATOR, as the heretics imagine; (for) they despise [Ltn., Ens In-creatum Deum] THE GOD WHO IS, AND MAKE GODS OF THAT WHICH IS NOT; and they fashion A FATHER OF THEIR OWN ABOVE OUR CREATOR, and imagine that they have found out for themselves something greater than the truth. For all these are impious and blasphemers against their Creator and against THE FATHER, as we have shown in the “Exposure & Overthrow Of Knowledge Falsely So-Called.” And others again reject the [Ltn., adventum] coming of the Son of God and the [Ltn., mysterium] dispensation of His incarnation, which the apostles delivered and the prophets declared beforehand, even such as should be the summing up of mankind, as we have shown you in brief: and such also are reckoned amongst those who are lacking in faith. And others receive not the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and cast away from themselves the prophetic grace, watered whereby man bears the fruit of life unto God: and these are they of whom Isaiah speaks: For they shall be, saith he, as an oak that is stripped of leaves, and as a garden that hath no water.[275] And such are in no wise serviceable to God, seeing that they cannot bear any fruit. [100.] So then in respect of [Ltn., tria capita signi] ( the - three – points )[276] ( of - our - seal ) error has strayed widely from the truth. For either they reject the Father, or they accept not the Son and speak against the dispensation of His incarnation; or else they receive not the Spirit, that is, they reject prophecy. And of all such must we beware, and shun their ways, if in very truth we desire to be well-pleasing to God and to attain the redemption that is from Him...” - (Chapters 98, 99, 100; Irenaeus, THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Translated by J. Armitage Robinson. 1920.)
[FOOTNOTE 274]: Lit. " with the formation (plasma) of God."
[FOOTNOTE 276]: Lit. "heads": cf. cc. 6f.[Chapter on Three Points and Rank of Faith]
(IRENAEUS): “...This [98.] is the beloved ( preaching of the truth ) and this is [Ltn., modus redemptionis nostrae] ( the plan of our salvation ) and ( the way of life ) which the prophets foretold and Christ established and the Apostles delivered to us and the Church gives to its children in all the world; which it is necessary to keep with great care being of sound mind and well pleasing to God, with good works and a sound character. [99.] ONE MUST ( NOT ) THINK THERE IS ANOTHER GOD THE FATHER THAN ( OUR ) CREATOR, AS THE HERETICS THINK. [Ltn., Ens In-creatum Deum] The ( Existing ) God they dispise and they make an idol of that which is not and they ( create ) for themselves a father higher than ( our ) Creator, and so they think they have found something greater than the truth. They all are ungodly and blasphemers of their ( Creator and Father ), as we have showed in ( our ) book: “A Refutation & Subversion Of Knowledge Falsely So-Called”. And others again reject the [Ltn., adventum] ( coming ) of the Son of God and the [Ltn., mysterium] dispensation of his Incarnation, which the Apostles delivered and the prophets foretold that ( by ) it mankind might find ( renovation ), as we have briefly shown you. And such ones must be counted weak in the faith. And others do not acknowledge the ( gifts – of ) the Holy Spirit and cast from themselves ( the prophetic grace ) by which man is ( watered and bears fruit ) in life to God. And these are they of whom Isaiah speaks: “For they shall be like a terebinth whose leaf fadeth and as a garden which has ( no – water ).” and such are of no use to God, for they can bear no fruit. [100.] But error concerning [Ltn., tria capita signi] the ( three – headings ) of our seal ( baptism ) leads many astray from the truth, for they - either - despise ( THE FATHER ) - or - reject ( THE SON ) and speak against the dispensation of his incarnation, - or - they do not receive ( THE HOLY SPIRIT ), that is, they ( despise – prophecies ). And we must be wary of all such and avoid their character, if we truly wish to be well pleasing to God and obtain salvation from Him...” - (Page 85/86; Chapters 98,99,100; ST. IRENAEUS - [Εἰς ἐπίδειξιν τοῦ ἀποστολικοῦ κηρύγματος ] THE PROOF OF APOSTOLIC PREACHING WITH SEVEN FRAGMENTS ARMENIAN VERSION EDITED AND TRANSLATED BY HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP KARAPET TER MEKERTTSCHIAN AND THE REV. DR. S. G. WILSON WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF H. R. H. PRINCE MAXE OF SAXONY D. D. AND D. C. L.)
(IRENAEUS): “...This [98.] beloved, is the preaching of the truth, and this is the manner of our slavation, and this is the way of life, announced by the prophets and ratified by Christ and handed over by the Apostles and handed down by the Church in the whole world to her children. This must be kept in all security, with good will, and by being well-pleasing to God through good works and sound moral character. [99.] AND NOW LET NONE THINK THAT THERE IS ANY OTHER GOD THE FATHER THAN OUR MAKER, AS THE HERETICS THINK; THEY DESPISE THE ( REAL ) GOD and make an idol of some ( unreal ) one, and ( create ) for themselves a ( father ) superior to ( our ) Creator, and think they have found on their own account something greater than the truth. For they are all wicked men and blasphemers against their Creator and ( Father ), as we have shown in the “Exposure & Over-Throw Of Knowledge Falsely So-Called.” And others again despise the coming of the Son of God and the dispensation of His incarnation, which the Apostles have transmitted to us, and which the prophets foretold would be the summing-up of humanity, as we have shown you in brief. And such people too should be counted among un-believers. And others do not admit the gifts of the holy spirit, and reject from themselves the charism of prophecy, being watered whereby, man bears fruit of life to God. And those are the ones spoken of by Isaias; “for they shall be,” he says, “as a leafless terebinth, and as a garden without water.” And such men are of no use to God, in that they can bear no fuit. [100.] So error with respect to ( the three articles of our seal ) has brought about much wandering away from the truth.[405] For either they despise the Father, or they do not accept the Son, they speak against the dispensation of His incarnation, or they do not accept the spirit, that is, they reject prophecy. And we must beware of all such men, and flee their ways, if we really desire to be well-pleasing to God and receive from Him salvation...” - (Pages 108, 109; Chapter 98, 99, 100; ST. IRENAEUS PROOF OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Translated and Annotated by Joseph P. Smith 1952.)
[FOOTNOTE 405]: “Our seal” being our baptism.
