Against Heresies, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus

Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus

• Against Heresies Fragments from.1 — I. I adjure thee, who shalt transcribe this book, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by His glorious appearing, when He comes to judge the living and the dead, that thou compare what thou hast transcribed, and be careful…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.2 — II. These opinions, Florinus, that I may speak in mild terms, are not of sound doctrine; these opinions are not consonant to the Church, and involve their votaries in the utmost impiety; these opinions, even the…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.3 — III. For the controversy is not merely as regards the day, but also as regards the form itself of the fast. For some consider themselves bound to fast one day, others two days, others still more, while others [do so…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.4 — IV. As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a stranger to the love of the Lord.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.5 — V. The will and the energy of God is the effective and foreseeing cause of every time and place and age, and of every nature. The will is the reason (λόγος) of the intellectual soul, which [reason] is within us,…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.6 — VI. Since God is vast, and the Architect of the world, and omnipotent, He created things that reach to immensity both by the Architect of the world and by an omnipotent will, and with a new effect, potently and…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.7 — VII. This [custom], of not bending the knee upon Sunday, is a symbol of the resurrection, through which we have been set free, by the grace of Christ, from sins, and from death, which has been put to death under Him.…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.8 — VIII. For as the ark [of the covenant] was gilded within and without with pure gold, so was also the body of Christ pure and resplendent; for it was adorned within by the Word, and shielded without by the Spirit, in…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.9 — IX. Ever, indeed, speaking well of the deserving, but never ill of the undeserving, we also shall attain to the glory and kingdom of God.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.10 — X. It is indeed proper to God, and befitting His character, to show mercy and pity, and to bring salvation to His creatures, even though they be brought under danger of destruction. “For with Him,” says the…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.11 — XI. The business of the Christian is nothing else than to be ever preparing for death (μελεπᾷν ἀποθνήσκειν).vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.12 — XII. We therefore have formed the belief that [our] bodies also do rise again. For although they go to corruption, yet they do not perish; for the earth, receiving the remains, preserves them, even like fertile seed…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.13 — XIII. For when the Greeks, having arrested the slaves of Christian catechumens, then used force against them, in order to learn from them some secret thing [practised] among Christians, these slaves, having nothing…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.14 — XIV. How is it possible to say that the serpent, created by God dumb and irrational, was endowed with reason and speech? For if it had the power of itself to speak, to discern, to understand, and to reply to what was…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.15 — XV. When, in times of old, Balaam spake these things in parables, he was not acknowledged; and now, when Christ has appeared and fulfilled them, He was not believed. Wherefore [Balaam], foreseeing this, and wondering…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.16 — XVI. Expounding again the law to that generation which followed those who were slain in the wilderness, he published Deuteronomy; not as giving to them a different law from that which had been appointed for their…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.17 — XVII. By these Christ was typified, and acknowledged, and brought into the world; for He was prefigured in Joseph: then from Levi and Judah He was descended according to the flesh, as King and Priest; and He was…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.18 — XVIII. And this was not without meaning; but that by means of the number of the ten men, he (Gideon) might appear as having Jesus for a helper, as [is indicated] by the compact entered into with them. And when he did…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.19 — XIX. “Take unto thee Joshua (᾽Ιησοῦν) the son of Nun.” For it was proper that Moses should lead the people out of Egypt, but that Jesus (Joshua) should lead them into the inheritance. Also that Moses, as was the case…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.20 — XX. “And he laid his hands upon him.” The countenance of Joshua was also glorified by the imposition of the hands of Moses, but not to the same degree [as that of Moses]. Inasmuch, then, as he had obtained a certain…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.21 — XXI. But he does not give, as Christ did, by means of breathing, because he is not the fount of the Spirit.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.22 — XXII. “Thou shall not go with them, neither shalt thou curse the people.” He does not hint at anything with regard to the people, for they all lay before his view, but [he refers] to the mystery of Christ pointed out…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.23 — XXIII. “And he mounted upon his ass.” The ass was the type of the body of Christ, upon whom all men, resting from their labours, are borne as in a chariot. For the Saviour has taken up the burden of our sins. Now the…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.24 — XXIV. “God is not as a man.” He thus shows that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood, inasmuch as they change from one thing to another (μεταφερόμενοι); but such is not the case with God, for He always continues…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.25 — XXV. “To inflict vengeance from the Lord on Midian.” For this man (Balaam), when he speaks no longer in the Spirit of God, but contrary to God’s law, by setting up a different law with regard to fornication, is…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.26 — XXVI. Know thou that every man is either empty or full. For if he has not the Holy Spirit, he has no knowledge of the Creator; he has not received Jesus Christ the Life; he knows not the Father who is in heaven; if…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.27 — XXVII. The little boy, therefore, who guided Samson by the hand, pre-typified John the Baptist, who showed to the people the faith in Christ. And the house in which they were assembled signifies the world, in which…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.28 — XXVIII. “And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a tree, and cast it in there, and the iron floated.” This was a sign that souls should be borne aloft (ἀναγωγῆς ψυχῶν)…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.29 — XXIX. The Gospel according to Matthew was written to the Jews. For they laid particular stress upon the fact that Christ [should be] of the seed of David. Matthew also, who had a still greater desire [to establish…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.30 — XXX. “The axe unto the root,” he says, urging us to the knowledge of the truth, and purifying us by means of fear, as well as preparing [us] to bring forth fruit in due season.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.31 — XXXI. Observe that, by means of the grain of mustard seed in the parable, the heavenly doctrine is denoted which is sown like seed in the world, as in a field, [seed] which has an inherent force, fiery and powerful.…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.32 — XXXII. Josephus says, that when Moses had been brought up in the royal palaces, he was chosen as general against the Ethiopians; and having proved victorious, obtained in marriage the daughter of that king, since…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.33 — XXXIII. Inasmuch as certain men, impelled by what considerations I know not, remove from God the half of His creative power, by asserting that He is merely the cause of quality resident in matter, and by maintaining…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.34 — XXXIV. “And dipped himself,” says [the Scripture], “seven times in Jordan.” It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [it served] as an…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.35 — XXXV. If the corpse of Elisha raised a dead man, how much more shall God, when He has quickened men’s dead bodies, bring them up for judgment?vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.36 — XXXVI. True knowledge, then, consists in the understanding of Christ, which Paul terms the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, which “the natural man receiveth not,” the doctrine of the cross; of which if any man…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.37 — XXXVII. Those who have become acquainted with the secondary (i.e., under Christ) constitutions of the apostles, are aware that the Lord instituted a new oblation in the new covenant, according to [the declaration of]…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.38 — XXXVIII. The apostles ordained, that “we should not judge any one in respect to meat or drink, or in regard to a feast day, or the new moons, or the sabbaths.” Whence then these contentions? whence these schisms? We…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.39 — XXXIX. Christ, who was called the Son of God before the ages, was manifested in the fulness of time, in order that He might cleanse us through His blood, who were under the power of sin, presenting us as pure sons to…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.40 — XL. “And he found the jaw-bone of an ass.” It is to be observed that, after [Samson had committed] fornication, the holy Scripture no longer speaks of the things happily accomplished by him in connection with the…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.41 — XLI. This indicates the persecution against the Church set on foot by the nations who still continue in unbelief. But he (Samson) who suffered those things, trusted that there would be a retaliation against those…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.42 — XLII. Speaking always well of the worthy, but never ill of the unworthy, we also shall attain to the glory and kingdom of God.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.43 — XLIII. In these things there was signified by prophecy that the people, having become transgressors, shall be bound by the chains of their own sins. But the breaking of the bonds of their own accord indicates that,…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.44 — XLIV. It is not an easy thing for a soul, under the influence of error, to be persuaded of the contrary opinion.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.45 — XLV. “And Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.” For, speaking no longer by the Spirit of God, but setting up another law of fornication contrary to the law of God, this man shall no longer be reckoned as…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.46 — XLVI. “The god of the world;” that is, Satan, who was designated God to those who believe not.vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.47 — XLVII. The birth of John [the Baptist] brought the dumbness of Zacharias to an end. For he did not burden his father, when the voice issued forth from silence; but as when not believed it rendered him tongue-tied, so…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.48 — XLVIII. As therefore seventy tongues are indicated by number, and from dispersion the tongues are gathered into one by means of their interpretation; so is that ark declared a type of the body of Christ, which is…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.49 — XLIX. Now therefore, by means of this which has been already brought forth a long time since, the Word has assigned an interpretation. We are convinced that there exist [so to speak] two men in each one of us. The…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.50 — L. For then there shall in truth be a common joy consummated to all those who believe unto life, and in each individual shall be confirmed the mystery of the Resurrection, and the hope of incorruption, and the…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.51 — LI. Now, however, inasmuch as the books of these men may possibly have escaped your observation, but have come under our notice, I call your attention to them, that for the sake of your reputation you may expel these…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.52 — LII. The sacred books acknowledge with regard to Christ, that as He is the Son of man, so is the same Being not a [mere] man; and as He is flesh, so is He also spirit, and the Word of God, and God. And as He was born…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.53 — LIII. With regard to Christ, the law and the prophets and the evangelists have proclaimed that He was born of a virgin, that He suffered upon a beam of wood, and that He appeared from the dead; that He also ascended…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.54 — LIV. The law and the prophets and evangelists have declared that Christ was born of a virgin, and suffered on the cross; was raised also from the dead, and taken up to heaven; that He was glorified, and reigns for…vatican.va
• Against Heresies Fragments from.55 — LV. “Then drew near unto Him the mother of Zebedee’s children, with her sons, worshipping, and seeking a certain thing from Him.” These people are certainly not void of understanding, nor are the words set forth in…vatican.va