Theological Term of the Week: Irenaeus of Lyons

Irenaeus of Lyons
The “first great Christian theologian of the patristic age.”1 Irenaeus was Greek and lived from around 130-202.

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham:

Irenaeus stands out as the most important Church father of the 2nd Century. This is because he wrote against the Gnostics a lengthy book usually known as Against Heresies … . The book has survived, mostly in a Latin translation, and comes down to us today completely intact. It is priceless for what it tells us about the beliefs of Christians in the 2nd Century and about the Gnostic movement. Irenaeus also wrote a smaller work against the Gnostics called Proof of the Apostolic Preaching.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who was Saint Irenaeus of Lyons?
2. Christian History: Irenaeus of Lyon
3. Theopedia: Irenaeus
4. Christian Classics Ethereal Library: St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons
5. Ligonier.org: Irenaeus of Lyons
6. Michael Haykin: The Roman Empire and Ireneaus of Lyons (audio)

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Apollinarius
• Athanasius
• Augustine of Hippo
• Basil of Caesarea
• Cappadocian fathers
• Columba
• Cyril of Alexandria
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Gregory the Great
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Maximus the Confessor
• Monica
• Nestorius
• Origen
• Patrick
• Pelagius
• Sabellius
• Tertullian
• Venerable Bede, The

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Sunday's Hymn: When Morning Gilds the Sky

When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Alike at work and prayer
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised.

When sleep her balm denies,
My silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
When evil thoughts molest,
With this I shield my breast,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

In heav’n’s eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
The powers of darkness fear,
When this sweet chant they hear,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Let earth’s wide circle round
In joyful notes resound,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Let air and sea and sky,
From depth to height, reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Be this, while life is mine,
My canticle divine,
May Jesus Christ be praised:
Be this th’eternal song,
Through all the ages on,
May Jesus Christ be praised.

Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• When Morning Guilds the Skies at The Happy Wonderer (Coincidentely, we chose the same song!)

Selected Reading, March 6, 2020

 

I’m really pleased with the selection of stuff this week. 

Christ

The Most Neglected Doctrine About Christ
This is an excellent review of what looks to be an excellent book. And when I say excellent review, I mean you might actually learn something from the review itself, especially when it comes to the place of the ascension of Christ in the threefold office of Christ.

Culture

What’s Wrong with Cancel Culture (and What Isn’t)
A very thoughtful piece by Amy Mantravadi.

Covenant

A Covenant With the Body Too
A reminder from Derek Rishmawy the “[o]ur union with Christ is body and soul, and even when our bodies lie in the grave, they are resting there in his care.” As he say, this is “marvelous.” 

Confession

The Belgic Confession
A few things you should know about this historic doctrinal statement: Who wrote it? What’s it’s history? What makes it disctinctive?