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Jan 4, 2022 · Irenaeus (AD 130–202) was the bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul (modern Lyons, France), a stalwart opponent of heresy, and an influential witness concerning the development of the biblical canon. Little is known about the life of Irenaeus.
Information on Irenaeus of Lyons. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote his Against Heresies c. 175-185 CE. His work is invaluable to modern scholarship in the attempt to recover the content of Gnostic teachings in the second century. Irenaeus also provides the first explicit witness to a four-fold gospel canon.
Irenaeus sought to dispel the myths and structure of Valentians' Gnosticism, such as the complex structure of aeons or the split between the creator God, the supreme God, and other gods. He did this by basically expounding the doctrine of the Gnostics, especially Valentinus' disciples and followers.
The primary work of Irenaeus, Against Heresies, is one of the most precious remains of early Christian antiquity. It is devoted, on the one hand, to an account and refutation of those multiform Gnostic heresies which prevailed in the latter half of the second century; and, on the other hand, to an exposition and defense of the orthodox faith.
Saint Irenaeus, (born c. 120/140, Asia Minor—died c. 200/203, probably Lyon; Western feast day June 28; Eastern feast day August 23), Bishop and theologian. Born of Greek parents, he was a missionary to Gaul before being named bishop of Lugdunum (modern Lyon, France).
Summary. Irenaeus (b. c. 135) was installed as bishop of Lyons after a severe persecution of the churches of Lyons and Vienne took the life of his episcopal predecessor, Pothinus. He was not a native of Roman Gaul, but rather migrated from Asia Minor, where in his younger days he heard the Apostle John teach.
Irenaeus' primary goal in writing Against Heresies was to attack cults that fell away from orthodox Christianity, mainly the Gnostics and Marcionites. [10] [11] [12] In particular, he sought to disprove what he saw as incorrect interpretations of scripture on the part of Gnostics such as Valentinus. [13] .
