“The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies
This paper seeks to evaluate the ecclesiology of St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, particularly as it relates to his defense of orthodoxy against false teaching in his five-volume work, Against Heresies. Irenaeus employs sound reason and biblical theology in his battle against Valentinus, Marcion, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Perichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0013 |
| _version_ | 1797810841132728320 |
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| author | Chang Geoffrey |
| author_facet | Chang Geoffrey |
| author_sort | Chang Geoffrey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper seeks to evaluate the ecclesiology of St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, particularly as it relates to his defense of orthodoxy against false teaching in his five-volume work, Against Heresies. Irenaeus employs sound reason and biblical theology in his battle against Valentinus, Marcion, and other heretics. But Irenaeus also shows himself to be not only a theologian but also a devoted churchman. In all five books, his teaching on the church plays a significant role in exposing and refuting the false Gnostic teaching of his day. This paper will argue that Irenaeus employed his ecclesiology to distinguish between Gnosticism and the apostolic teaching in Against Heresies. He did this in two ways. First, he argued for the doctrinal identity of the church. The true church is built on apostolic teaching, and any deviation from that teaching results in a false church. Second, he argued that the church’s “ecclesiastical constitution,” both in her presbyters and her members, embodied the apostles’ teaching. In all this, the church preserved the truth entrusted to her by Christ and his apostles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:14:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-433e3260b070478696c1bea78153b68c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2284-7308 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:14:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University |
| spelling | doaj.art-433e3260b070478696c1bea78153b68c2023-06-05T09:18:58ZengSciendoPerichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University2284-73082023-06-0121242010.2478/perc-2023-0013“The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the HeresiesChang Geoffrey01Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryThis paper seeks to evaluate the ecclesiology of St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, particularly as it relates to his defense of orthodoxy against false teaching in his five-volume work, Against Heresies. Irenaeus employs sound reason and biblical theology in his battle against Valentinus, Marcion, and other heretics. But Irenaeus also shows himself to be not only a theologian but also a devoted churchman. In all five books, his teaching on the church plays a significant role in exposing and refuting the false Gnostic teaching of his day. This paper will argue that Irenaeus employed his ecclesiology to distinguish between Gnosticism and the apostolic teaching in Against Heresies. He did this in two ways. First, he argued for the doctrinal identity of the church. The true church is built on apostolic teaching, and any deviation from that teaching results in a false church. Second, he argued that the church’s “ecclesiastical constitution,” both in her presbyters and her members, embodied the apostles’ teaching. In all this, the church preserved the truth entrusted to her by Christ and his apostles.https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0013irenaeusagainst heresiesgnosticismecclesiologypresbytersapostolic successionchurch membershipchurch disciplineapostolic teachingearly church |
| spellingShingle | Chang Geoffrey “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies Perichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University irenaeus against heresies gnosticism ecclesiology presbyters apostolic succession church membership church discipline apostolic teaching early church |
| title | “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies |
| title_full | “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies |
| title_fullStr | “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies |
| title_short | “The Pillar and Ground of Truth”: Irenaeus’ Use of Ecclesiology Against the Heresies |
| title_sort | the pillar and ground of truth irenaeus use of ecclesiology against the heresies |
| topic | irenaeus against heresies gnosticism ecclesiology presbyters apostolic succession church membership church discipline apostolic teaching early church |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0013 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT changgeoffrey thepillarandgroundoftruthirenaeususeofecclesiologyagainsttheheresies |