Irenaeus

Also known as Irenaeus of Lyon, Irenæus

Irenaeus ( or ; ; ) was a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by opposing Gnostic interpretations of Christian Scripture and defending orthodoxy. Originating from Smyrna, he had seen and heard the preaching of Polycarp, who in turn was said to have heard John the Evangelist.

AI overview

Irenaeus was an early Christian bishop in what is now southern France who became influential in developing Christian theology by opposing Gnostic interpretations of Scripture and defending orthodox Christian beliefs. He is notable for his direct connection to the earliest Christian leaders, having heard the preaching of Polycarp, who was said to have learned from John the Evangelist himself.

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Person · Open Library

Born: 1812
Died: 1885
Works: 89

Top works

Sketch of the life & character of William A. Whitehead ...
The case for united prayer
The riglet of copyright
The annals of the English Bible
The resurrection and ascension of Christ

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Music · MusicBrainz

Type: Person

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Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners: 12
Total plays: 151

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Recent publications · Crossref

5 total works indexed

Human USP18 deficiency underlies type 1 interferonopathy leading to severe pseudo-TORCH syndrome
· 2016 · cited 274x
A multicenter study on Leigh syndrome: disease course and predictors of survival
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Gemcitabine reduces MDSCs, tregs and TGFβ-1 while restoring the teff/treg ratio in patients with pancreatic cancer
· 2016 · cited 204x
International Consensus Statement on the Clinical and Therapeutic Management of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
· 2017 · cited 199x
Final Results of a Prospective Study Comparing the Local Control of Short-Course and Long-Course Radiotherapy for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression
· 2011 · cited 171x

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Quotes

“The Lord has taught with very great fulness, that souls not only continue to exist, not by passing from body to body, but that they preserve the same form [in their separate state] as the body had to which they were adapted, and that they remember the deeds which they did in this state of existence, and from which they have now ceased, - in that narrative which is recorded respecting the rich man and that Lazarus who found repose in the bosom of Abraham [Luke 16:19ff].”
“Polycarp replied to Marcion, who met him on one occasion, and said, "Do you know me?" "I do know thee, first-born of Satan." Such was the horror of the apostles and their disciples had against holding even verbal communication with any corrupters of the truth.”
“It is not necessary to seek truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church.”
“Wherefore also Luke, commencing the genealogy with the Lord, carried it back to Adam, indicating that it was He who regenerated them into the Gospel of life, and not they Him. And thus also it was that the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.”

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Key facts

Christian leader.honorific_prefix: Saint
Christian leader.name: Irenaeus of Lyon
Christian leader.title: Doctor of the Church
Christian leader.death_date: (aged 77)
Christian leader.image: Saint irenee saint irenee.jpg
Christian leader.predecessor: Pothinus
Christian leader.successor: Zechariah
Christian leader.diocese: Lyon
Christian leader.see: Lyon
Christian leader.caption: Stained-glass portrait by Lucien Bégule, 1901
Christian leader.birth_place: Smyrna, Asia, Roman Empire
Christian leader.death_place: Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis, Roman Empire
Christian leader.feast_day: June 28 (Latin Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism); August 23 (Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches);Monday after fourth Sunday of the Exaltation of the Cross (Armenian Apostolic Church)
Christian leader.venerated: Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchOriental Orthodox ChurchAssyrian Church of the East LutheranismAnglicanism
Christian leader.saint_title: Bishop of Lyon, Venerable, Hieromartyr, Church Father, Doctor of the Church
Theologian.embed: yes
Theologian.notable_works: Against Heresies
Theologian.era: Patristic Age

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Wikidata facts

Image: San Ireneo, vitral (cropped).jpg

Show 5 more facts

Commons category: Irenaeus
date of death: 0202-01-01
date of birth: 0130-00-00
name in native language: Εἰρηναῖος Λουγδούνου
nickname: Apostle of the Gauls

Sources (3)

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~31 min read

Article

19 sections

Contents

Biography
Veneration
Writings
Scripture
Apostolic authority
Theology and contrast with Gnosticism
Unity of salvation history
Christ's life
Use of Paul's Epistles
Christ as the New Adam
Valentinian Gnosticism
Quartodeciman Controversy
See also
Notes
References
Citations
Sources
Further reading
External links

Chosen as Bishop of Lugdunum, now Lyon, Irenaeus wrote his best-known work Against Heresies around 180 as a refutation of gnosticism, in particular that of Valentinus. To counter the doctrines of the gnostic sects claiming secret wisdom, he offered three pillars of orthodoxy: the scriptures, the tradition said to be handed down from the apostles, and the teaching of the apostles' successors. He is the earliest surviving witness to regard all four of the now-canonical gospels as essential.