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Preface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2009

Eric Osborn
Affiliation:
La Trobe University, Victoria
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Summary

In Irenaeus, Athens and Jerusalem meet at Patmos. The visions of the prophets, which point to Christ, take the place of Plato's forms and from them he proves the truth of the apostolic preaching. Here Irenaeus follows Justin but with wider vision, for he is the first writer to have a Christian bible before him. To this text he applies the classical criteria of logic (what is true) and aesthetics (what is fitting) to draw out his four concepts of divine Intellect, economy, recapitulation and participation. His two criteria, along with his exuberant images, present his reader first with a jungle and then with a clear synthesis. From one central point he moves through the universe of biblical imagery, rubbing argument and image together because each is necessary to the other.

Irenaeus is a difficult author because of conflict within a clear general structure. Loofs identified multiple sources and wished to prove incoherence. His analysis was reasonably rejected by Hitchcock and others. His general claim for multiple sources stands, but his procedure is regressive rather than progressive. An interpreter may note what a source meant in an earlier context, but his chief interest is what the author or compiler makes of anything he includes. A second objection to Irenaeus was more to the point: Koch alleged conceptual bankruptcy or a general lack of coherent ideas.

The first step out of the genuine despair, which every interpreter of Irenaeus knows, is a recognition of Irenaeus' criteria.

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Irenaeus of Lyons , pp. xi - xv
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2001

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  • Preface
  • Eric Osborn, La Trobe University, Victoria
  • Book: Irenaeus of Lyons
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511487798.001
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  • Preface
  • Eric Osborn, La Trobe University, Victoria
  • Book: Irenaeus of Lyons
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511487798.001
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Preface
  • Eric Osborn, La Trobe University, Victoria
  • Book: Irenaeus of Lyons
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511487798.001
Available formats
×