Irenaeus Against Heresies, v5
PREFACE.
CHAP. I.—CHRIST ALONE IS ABLE TO TEACH DIVINE
THINGS, AND TO REDEEM US: HE, THE SAME, TOOK FLESH OF THE VIRGIN MARY,
NOT MERELY IN APPEARANCE, BUT ACTUALLY, BY THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, IN ORDER TO RENOVATE US. STRICTURES ON THE CONCEITS OF
VALENTINUS AND EBION.
CHAP. II.—WHEN CHRIST VISITED US IN HIS GRACE,
HE DID NOT COME TO WHAT DID NOT BELONG TO HIM: ALSO, BY SHEDDING HIS
TRUE BLOOD FOR US, AND EXHIBITING TO US HIS TRUE FLESH IN THE
EUCHARIST, HE CONFERRED UPON OUR FLESH THE CAPACITY OF SALVATION.
CHAP. III.—HE POWER AND GLORY OF GOD SHINE FORTH
IN THE WEAKNESS OF HUMAN FLESH, AS HE WILL RENDER OUR BODY A
PARTICIPATOR OF THE RESURRECTION AND OF IMMORTALITY, ALTHOUGH HE HAS
FORMED IT FROM THE DUST OF THE EARTH; HE WILL ALSO BESTOW UPON IT THE
ENJOYMENT OF IMMORTALITY, JUST AS HE GRANTS IT THIS SHORT LIFE IN
COMMON WITH THE SOUL.
CHAP. IV.—THOSE PERSONS ARE DECEIVED WHO FEIGN
ANOTHER GOD THE FATHER BESIDES THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD; FOR HE MUST
HAVE BEEN FEEBLE AND USELESS, OR ELSE MALIGNANT AND FULL OF ENVY, IF HE
BE EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO EXTEND EXTERNAL LIFE TO OUR BODIES.
CHAP. V.—THE PROLONGED LIFE OF THE ANCIENTS, THE
TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH AND OF ENOCH IN THEIR OWN BODIES, AS WELL AS THE
PRESERVATION OF JONAH, OF SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO, IN THE MIDST
OF EXTREME PERIL, ARE CLEAR DEMONSTRATIONS THAT GOD CAN RAISE UP OUR
BODIES TO LIFE ETERNAL.
CHAP. VI.—GOD WILL BESTOW SALVATION UPON THE
WHOLE NATURE OF MAN, CONSISTING OF BODY AND SOUL IN CLOSE UNION, SINCE
THE WORD TOOK IT UPON HIM, AND ADORNED WITH THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, OF WHOM OUR BODIES ARE, AND ARE TERMED, THE TEMPLES.
CHAP. VII.—INASMUCH AS CHRIST DID RISE IN OUR
FLESH, IT FOLLOWS THAT WE SHALL BE ALSO RAISED IN THE SAME; SINCE THE
RESURRECTION PROMISED TO US SHOULD NOT BE REFERRED TO SPIRITS NATURALLY
IMMORTAL, BUT TO BODIES IN THEMSELVES MORTAL.
CHAP. VIII.—THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH
WE RECEIVE PREPARE US FOR INCORRUPTION, RENDER US SPIRITUAL, AND
SEPARATE US FROM CARNAL MEN. THESE TWO CLASSES ARE SIGNIFIED BY THE
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS IN THE LEGAL DISPENSATION.
CHAP. IX.—SHOWING HOW THAT PASSAGE OF THE
APOSTLE WHICH THE HERETICS PERVERT, SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD;VIZ., "FLESH
AND BLOOD SHALL NOT POSSESS THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
CHAP. X.—BY A COMPARISON DRAWN FROM THE WILD
OLIVE-TREE, WHOSE QUALITY BUT NOT WHOSE NATURE IS CHANGED BY GRAFTING,
HE PROVES MORE IMPORTANT THINGS; HE POINTS OUT ALSO THAT MAN WITHOUT
THE SPIRIT IS NOT CAPABLE OF BRINGING FORTH FRUIT, OR OF INHERITING THE
KINGDOM OF GOD.
CHAP. XI.—TREATS UPON THE ACTIONS OF CARNAL AND
OF SPIRITUAL PERSONS; ALSO, THAT THE SPIRITUAL CLEANSING IS NOT TO BE
REFERRED TO THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR BODIES, BUT TO THE MANNER OF OUR
FORMER LIFE.
CHAP. XII.—OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND
DEATH; OF THE BREATH OF LIFE AND THE VIVIFYING SPIRIT: ALSO HOW IT IS
THAT THE SUBSTANCE OF FLESH REVIVES WHICH ONCE WAS DEAD.
CHAP. XIII.—IN THE DEAD WHO WERE RAISED BY
CHRIST WE POSSESS THE HIGHEST PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION; AND OUR HEARTS
ARE SHOWN TO BE CAPABLE OF LIFE ETERNAL, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOW RECEIVE
THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
CHAP. XIV.—UNLESS THE FLESH WERE TO BE SAVED,
THE WORD WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN UPON HIM FLESH OF THE SAME SUBSTANCE AS
OURS: FROM THIS IT WOULD FOLLOW THAT NEITHER SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN
RECONCILED BY HIM.
CHAP. XV.—PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION FROM
ISAIAH AND EZEKIEL; THE SAME GOD WHO CREATED US WILL ALSO RAISE US UP.
CHAP. XVI.—SINCE OUR BODIES RETURN TO THE
EARTH, IT FOLLOWS THAT THEY HAVE THEIR SUBSTANCE FROM IT; ALSO, BY THE
ADVENT OF THE WORD, THE IMAGE OF GOD IN US APPEARED IN A CLEARER LIGHT.
CHAP. XVII.—THERE IS BUT ONE LORD AND ONE GOD,
THE FATHER AND CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, WHO HAS LOVED US IN CHRIST, GIVEN
US COMMANDMENTS, AND REMITTED OUR SINS; WHOSE SON AND WORD CHRIST
PROVED HIMSELF TO BE, WHEN HE FORGAVE OUR SINS.
CHAP. XVIII.—GOD THE FATHER AND HIS WORD HAVE
FORMED ALL CREATED THINGS (WHICH THEY USE) BY THEIR OWN POWER AND
WISDOM, NOT OUT OF DEFECT OR IGNORANCE. THE SON OF GOD, WHO RECEIVED
ALL POWER FROM THE FATHER, WOULD OTHERWISE NEVER HAVE TAKEN FLESH UPON
HIM.
CHAP. XIX.—A COMPARISON IS INSTITUTED BETWEEN
THE DISOBEDIENT AND SINNING EVE AND THE VIRGIN MARY, HER PATRONESS.
VARIOUS AND DISCORDANT HERESIES ARE MENTIONED.
CHAP. XX.—THOSE PASTORS ARE TO BE HEARD TO WHOM
THE APOSTLES COMMITTED THE CHURCHES, POSSESSING ONE AND THE SAME
DOCTRINE OF SALVATION; THE HERETICS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE TO BE
AVOIDED. WE MUST THINK SOBERLY WITH REGARD TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE
FAITH.
CHAP. XXI.—CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS
ALREADY MENTIONED. IT WAS FITTING THAT HE SHOULD BE SENT BY THE FATHER,
THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, TO ASSUME HUMAN NATURE, AND SHOULD BE
TEMPTED BY SATAN, THAT HE MIGHT FULFIL THE PROMISES, AND CARRY OFF A
GLORIOUS AND PERFECT VICTORY.
CHAP. XXII.—THE TRUE LORD AND THE ONE GOD IS
DECLARED BY THE LAW, AND MANIFESTED BY CHRIST HIS SON IN THE GOSPEL;
WHOM ALONE WE SHOULD ADORE, AND FROM HIM WE MUST LOOK FOR ALL GOOD
THINGS, NOT FROM SATAN.
CHAP. XXIII.—THE DEVIL IS WELL PRACTISED IN
FALSEHOOD, BY WHICH ADAM HAVING BEEN LED ASTRAY, SINNED ON THE SIXTH
DAY OF THE CREATION, IN WHICH DAY ALSO HE HAS BEEN RENEWED BY CHRIST.
CHAP. XXIV.—OF THE CONSTANT FALSEHOOD OF THE
DEVIL, AND OF THE POWERS AND GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD, WHICH WE OUGHT
TO OBEY, INASMUCH AS THEY ARE APPOINTED OF GOD, NOT OF THE DEVIL.
CHAP. XXV.—THE FRAUD, PRIDE, AND TYRANNICAL
KINGDOM OF ANTICHRIST, AS DESCRIBED BY DANIEL AND PAUL.
CHAP. XXVI.—JOHN AND DANIEL HAVE PREDICTED THE
DISSOLUTION AND DESOLATION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WHICH SHALL PRECEDE THE
END OF THE WORLD AND THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST. THE GNOSTICS ARE
REFUTED, THOSE TOOLS OF SATAN, WHO INVENT ANOTHER FATHER DIFFERENT FROM
THE CREATOR.
CHAP. XXVII.—THE FUTURE JUDGMENT BY CHRIST.
COMMUNION WITH AND SEPARATION FROM THE DIVINE BEING. THE ETERNAL
PUNISHMENT OF UNBELIEVERS.
CHAP. XXVIII.—THE DISTINCTION TO BE MADE
BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. THE FUTURE APOSTASY IN THE TIME
OF ANTI-CHRIST, AND THE END OF THE WORLD.
CHAP.XXIX.—ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR THE
SERVICE OF MAN. THE DECEITS, WICKEDNESS, AND APOSTATE POWER OF
ANTICHRIST. THIS WAS PREFIGURED AT THE DELUGE, AS AFTERWARDS BY THE
PERSECUTION OF SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO.
CHAP. XXX.—ALTHOUGH CERTAIN AS TO THE NUMBER OF
THE NAME OF ANTICHRIST, YET WE SHOULD COME TO NO RASH CONCLUSIONS AS TO
THE NAME ITSELF, BECAUSE THIS NUMBER IS CAPABLE OF BEING FITTED TO MANY
NAMES. REASONS FOR THIS POINT BEING RESERVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ANTICHRIST'S REIGN AND DEATH.
CHAP. XXXI.—THE PRESERVATION OF OUR BODIES IS
CONFIRMED BY THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST: THE SOULS OF THE
SAINTS DURING THE INTERMEDIATE PERIOD ARE IN A STATE OF EXPECTATION OF
THAT TIME WHEN THEY SHALL RECEIVE THEIR PERFECT AND CONSUMMATED GLORY.
CHAP. XXXII.—IN THAT FLESH IN WHICH THE SAINTS
HAVE SUFFERED SO MANY AFFLICTIONS, THEY SHALL RECEIVE THE FRUITS OF
THEIR LABOURS; ESPECIALLY SINCE ALL CREATION WAITS FOR THIS, AND GOD
PROMISES IT TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED.
CHAP. XXXIII.—FURTHER PROOFS OF THE SAME
PROPOSITION, DRAWN FROM THE PROMISES MADE BY CHRIST, WHEN HE DECLARED
THAT HE WOULD DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE WITH HIS DISCIPLES IN HIS
FATHER'S KINGDOM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HE PROMISED TO REWARD THEM AN
HUNDRED-FOLD, AND TO MAKE THEM PARTAKE OF BANQUETS. THE BLESSING
PRONOUNCED BY JACOB HAD POINTED OUT THIS ALREADY, AS PAPIAS AND THE
ELDERS HAVE INTERPRETED IT.
CHAP. XXXIV.—HE FORTIFIES HIS OPINIONS WITH
REGARD TO THE TEMPORAL AND EARTHLY KINGDOM OF THE SAINTS AFTER THEIR
RESURRECTION, BY THE VARIOUS TESTIMONIES OF ISAIAH, EZEKIEL, JEREMIAH,
AND DANIEL; ALSO BY THE PARABLE OF THE SERVANTS WATCHING, TO WHOM THE
LORD PROMISED THAT HE WOULD MINISTER.
CHAP. XXXV.—HE CONTENDS THAT THESE TESTIMONIES
ALREADY ALLEGED CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD ALLEGORICALLY OF CELESTIAL
BLESSINGS, BUT THAT THEY SHALL HAVE THEIR FULFILMENT AFTER THE COMING
OF ANTICHRIST, AND THE RESURRECTION, IN THE TERRESTRIAL JERUSALEM. TO
THE FORMER PROPHECIES HE SUBJOINS OTHERS DRAWN FROM ISAIAH, JEREMIAH,
AND THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN.
CHAP. XXXVI.—MEN SHALL BE ACTUALLY RAISED: THE
WORLD SHALL NOT BE ANNIHILATED; BUT THERE SHALL BE VARIOUS MANSIONS FOR
THE SAINTS, ACCORDING TO THE RANK ALLOTTED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. ALL
THINGS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO GOD THE FATHER, AND SO SHALL HE BE ALL IN
ALL.
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