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Against Heresies
Irenaeus of Lyons
Book 4 · Chapter 26 About this work A five-book account and refutation of competing Christian movements that also develops Irenaeus’s positive theology of creation, Scripture, apostolic tradition, incarnation, salvation, and recapitulation in Christ.
Author Irenaeus of Lyons
Date c. AD 175–185
Origin Lyons, Gaul
Genre Heresiology The treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the true exposition of the Scriptures is to be found in the Church alone. Section 1 1 . If any one , therefore , reads
‹ Book 4 · Chapter 25 Book 4 · Chapter 27 ›
the
Scriptures
with
attention
,
he
will
find
in
them
an
account
of
Christ
,
and
a
foreshadowing
of
the
new
calling
(
vocationis
)
.
For
Christ
is
the
treasure
which
was
hid
in
the
field
,
that
is
,
in
this
world
(
for
“
the
field
is
the
world
”
)
;
but
the
treasure
hid
in
the
Scriptures
is
Christ
,
since
He
was
pointed
out
by
means
of
types
and
parables
.
Hence
His
human
nature
could
not
be
understood
,
prior
to
the
consummation
of
those
things
which
had
been
predicted
,
that
is
,
the
advent
of
Christ
.
And
therefore
it
was
said
to
Daniel
the
prophet
:
“
Shut
up
the
words
,
and
seal
the
book
even
to
the
time
of
consummation
,
until
many
learn
,
and
knowledge
be
completed
.
For
at
that
time
,
when
the
dispersion
shall
be
accomplished
,
they
shall
know
all
these
things
.
”
But
Jeremiah
also
says
,
“
In
the
last
days
they
shall
understand
these
things
.
”
For
every
prophecy
,
before
its
fulfilment
,
is
to
men
[
full
of
]
enigmas
and
ambiguities
.
But
when
the
time
has
arrived
,
and
the
prediction
has
come
to
pass
,
then
the
prophecies
have
a
clear
and
certain
exposition
.
And
for
this
reason
,
indeed
,
when
at
this
present
time
the
law
is
read
to
the
Jews
,
it
is
like
a
fable
;
for
they
do
not
possess
the
explanation
of
all
things
pertaining
to
the
advent
of
the
Son
of
God
,
which
took
place
in
human
nature
;
but
when
it
is
read
by
the
Christians
,
it
is
a
treasure
,
hid
indeed
in
a
field
,
but
brought
to
light
by
the
cross
of
Christ
,
and
explained
,
both
enriching
the
understanding
of
men
,
and
showing
forth
the
wisdom
of
God
and
declaring
His
dispensations
with
regard
to
man
,
and
forming
the
kingdom
of
Christ
beforehand
,
and
preaching
by
anticipation
the
inheritance
of
the
holy
Jerusalem
,
and
proclaiming
beforehand
that
the
man
who
loves
God
shall
arrive
at
such
excellency
as
even
to
see
God
,
and
hear
His
word
,
and
from
the
hearing
of
His
discourse
be
glorified
to
such
an
extent
,
that
others
cannot
behold
the
glory
of
his
countenance
,
as
was
said
by
Daniel
:
“
Those
who
do
understand
,
shall
shine
as
the
brightness
of
the
firmament
,
and
many
of
the
righteous
as
the
stars
for
ever
and
ever
.
”
Thus
,
then
,
I
have
shown
it
to
be
,
if
any
one
read
the
Scriptures
.
For
thus
it
was
that
the
Lord
discoursed
with
the
disciples
after
His
resurrection
from
the
dead
,
proving
to
them
from
the
Scriptures
themselves
“
that
Christ
must
suffer
,
and
enter
into
His
glory
,
and
that
remission
of
sins
should
be
preached
in
His
name
throughout
all
the
world
.
”
And
the
disciple
will
be
perfected
,
and
[
rendered
]
like
the
householder
,
“
who
bringeth
forth
from
his
treasure
things
new
and
old
.
”
Section 2 2 . Wherefore it is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church , — those who , as I have shown , possess the succession from the apostles ; those who , together with the succession of the episcopate , have received the certain gift of truth , according to the good pleasure of the Father . But [ it is also incumbent ] to hold in suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession , and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever , [ looking upon them ] either as heretics of perverse minds , or as schismatics puffed up and self - pleasing , or again as hypocrites , acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory . For all these have fallen from the truth . And the heretics , indeed , who bring strange fire to the altar of God — namely , strange doctrines — shall be burned up by the fire from heaven , as were Nadab and Abiud . But such as rise up in opposition to the truth , and exhort others against the Church of God , [ shall ] remain among those in hell ( apud inferos ) , being swallowed up by an earthquake , even as those who were with Chore , Dathan , and Abiron . But those who cleave asunder , and separate the unity of the Church , [ shall ] receive from God the same punishment as Jeroboam did .
Section 3 3 . Those , however , who are believed to be presbyters by many , but serve their own lusts , and , do not place the fear of God supreme in their hearts , but conduct themselves with contempt towards others , and are puffed up with the pride of holding the chief seat , and work evil deeds in secret , saying , “ No man sees us , ” shall be convicted by the Word , who does not judge after outward appearance ( secundum gloriam ) , nor looks upon the countenance , but the heart ; and they shall hear those words , to be found in Daniel the prophet : “ O thou seed of Canaan , and not of Judah , beauty hath deceived thee , and lust perverted thy heart . Thou that art waxen old in wicked days , now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light ; for thou hast pronounced false judgments , and hast been accustomed to condemn the innocent , and to let the guilty go free , albeit the Lord saith , The innocent and the righteous shalt thou not slay . ” Of whom also did the Lord say : “ But if the evil servant shall say in his heart , My lord delayeth his coming , and shall begin to smite the man - servants and maidens , and to eat and drink and be drunken ; the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him , and in an hour that he is not aware of , and shall cut him asunder , and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers . ”
Section 4 4 . From all such persons , therefore , it behoves us to keep aloof , but to adhere to those who , as I have already observed , do hold the doctrine of the apostles , and who , together with the order of priesthood ( presbyterii ordine ) , display sound speech and blameless conduct for the confirmation and correction of others . In this way , Moses , to whom such a leadership was entrusted , relying on a good conscience , cleared himself before God , saying , “ I have not in covetousness taken anything belonging to one of these men , nor have I done evil to one of them . ” In this way , too , Samuel , who judged the people so many years , and bore rule over Israel without any pride , in the end cleared himself , saying , “ I have walked before you from my childhood even unto this day : answer me in the sight of God , and before His anointed ( Christi ejus ) ; whose ox or whose ass of yours have I taken , or over whom have I tyrannized , or whom have I oppressed ? or if I have received from the hand of any a bribe or [ so much as ] a shoe , speak out against me , and I will restore it to you . ” And when the people had said to him , “ Thou hast not tyrannized , neither hast thou oppressed us neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand , ” he called the Lord to witness , saying , “ The Lord is witness , and His Anointed is witness this day , that ye have not found ought in my hand . And they said to him , He is witness . ” In this strain also the Apostle Paul , inasmuch as he had a good conscience , said to the Corinthians : “ For we are not as many , who corrupt the Word of God : but as of sincerity , but as of God , in the sight of God speak we in Christ ; ” “ We have injured no man , corrupted no man , circumvented no man . ”
Section 5 5 . Such presbyters does the Church nourish , of whom also the prophet says : “ I will give thy rulers in peace , and thy bishops in righteousness . ” Of whom also did the Lord declare , “ Who then shall be a faithful steward ( actor ) , good and wise , whom the Lord sets over His household , to give them their meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord , when He cometh , shall find so doing . ” Paul then , teaching us where one may find such , says , “ God hath placed in the Church , first , apostles ; secondly , prophets ; thirdly , teachers . ” Where , therefore , the gifts of the Lord have been placed , there it behoves us to learn the truth , [ namely , ] from those who possess that succession of the Church which is from the apostles , and among whom exists that which is sound and blameless in conduct , as well as that which is unadulterated and incorrupt in speech . For these also preserve this faith of ours in one God who created all things ; and they increase that love [ which we have ] for the Son of God , who accomplished such marvellous dispensations for our sake : and they expound the Scriptures to us without danger , neither blaspheming God , nor dishonouring the patriarchs , nor despising the prophets .
Notes 352 Matt. xiii. 44.
353 Matt. xiii. 38.
354 Harvey cancels “non,” and reads the sentence interrogatively.
355 Dan. xii. 4 , 7.
356 Jer. xxiii. 20.
357 The Latin is “a multis justis,” corresponding to the Greek version of the Hebrew text. If the translation be supposed as corresponding to the Hebrew comparative, the English equivalent will be, “and above (more than) many righteous.”
358 Dan. xii. 3.
359 The text and punctuation are here in great uncertainty, and very different views of both are taken by the editors.
360 Luke xxiv. 26 , 47. [The walk to Emmaus is the fountain-head of Scriptural exposition, and the forty days ( Acts i. 3 ) is the river that came forth like that which went out of Eden. Sirach iv. 31. ]
361 Matt. xiii. 52. [I must express my delight in the great principle of exposition here unfolded. The Old Scriptures are a night-bound wilderness, till Christ rises and illuminates them, glorying alike hill and dale, and, as this author supposes, every shrub and flower, also, making the smallest leaf with its dewdrops glitter like the rainbow.]
362 Lev. x. 1, 2.
363 Num. xvi. 33.
364 1 Kings xiv. 10.
365 Susanna 56.
366 Ibid. ver. 52, etc.; Ex. xxiii. 7.
367 Matt. xxiv. 48 , etc.; Luke xii. 45.
368 [Contrast this spirit of a primitive Father, with the state of things which Wiclif rose up to purify, five hundred years ago.]
369 Num. xvi. 15.
370 1 Sam. xii. 3.
371 2 Cor. ii. 17.
372 2 Cor. vii. 2.
373 Isa. lx. 17.
374 Matt. xxiv. 45, 46.
375 1 Cor. xii. 28.
376 [Note the limitation; not the succession only, but with it (1) pure morality and holiness and (2) unadulterated testimony. No catholicity apart from these.]
