Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses, Complete)
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~290,000 words · 1,373 passages
Cite this work
- APAIrenaeus. (n.d.). Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses, Complete). Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/irenaeus/against-heresies-adversus-haereses-complete
- MLAIrenaeus. Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses, Complete). Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/irenaeus/against-heresies-adversus-haereses-complete.
- ChicagoIrenaeus. Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses, Complete). Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/irenaeus/against-heresies-adversus-haereses-complete.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
Irenaeus's five books against the Gnostics: first a detailed exposition of their doctrines, then a refutation of them one by one.
Context and history
Written around 180. Nearly all the Greek original is lost and the work survives chiefly in an early Latin translation. And here is what makes it irreplaceable: until 1945 this was the main source for what was known of Gnosticism, because the Gnostic texts themselves had not survived. In that year the Nag Hammadi codices came to light and comparison became possible: Irenaeus summarises fairly faithfully, but it is still an opponent speaking, and that is worth recalling on every page.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
Chapter 8 Vain attempts of Marcion and his followers, who exclude Abraham from the salvation bestowed by Christ, who liberated not only Abraham, but the seed of Abraham, by fulfilling and not destroying the Law when he healed on the sabbath day. Chapter 9 There is but one Author, and one end to both covenants. Chapter 10 The Old Testament Scriptures, and those written by Moses in particular, do everywhere make mention of the Son of God, and foretell his Advent and Passion. From this fact it follows that they were inspired by one and the same God. Chapter 11 The old prophets and righteous men knew beforehand of the Advent of Christ, and earnestly desired to see and hear him, he revealing himself in the Scriptures by the Holy Ghost, and without any change in himself, enriching men day by day with benefits, but conferring them in greater abundance on later than on former generations. Chapter 12 It clearly appears that there was but one Author of both the Old and the New Law, from the fact that Christ condemned traditions and customs repugnant to the former, while he confirmed its most important precepts, and taught that he was himself the end of the Mosaic Law. Chapter 13 Christ did not abrogate the natural precepts of the Law, but rather fulfilled and extended them. He removed the yoke and bondage of the Old Law, so that mankind, being now set free, might serve God with that trustful piety which becomes sons. Chapter 14 If God demands obedience from man, if he formed man, called him and placed him under laws, it was merely for man's welfare; not that God stood in need of man, but that he graciously conferred upon man his favours in every possible manner.…