Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 1) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III.
Today Irenaeus argues against various early church heresies (some of which still prevail today), including:
(i) the apostle Paul was the only true teacher;
(ii) the apostle Paul was not a true teacher;
(iii) Jesus and the Christ were two separate beings;
(iv) the Spirit did not descend upon Jesus at his baptism;
(v) Jesus did not come in actual flesh;
(vi) Jesus was only a mere man, not God himself;
(vii) various denials of God's attributes, e.g. mercy, goodness and righteousness;
(viii) the prophecy about the virgin in Isaiah 8 was not referring to Jesus.
Particularly the importance of affirming all God's attributes together: ' Again, that they might remove the rebuking and judicial power from the Father, reckoning that as unworthy of God, and thinking that they had found out a God both without anger and [merely] good, they have alleged that one [God] judges, but that another saves, unconsciously taking away the intelligence and justice of both deities. For if the judicial one is not also good, to bestow favours upon the deserving, and to direct reproofs against those requiring them, he will appear neither a just nor a wise judge. On the other hand, the good God, if he is merely good, and not one who tests those upon whom he shall send his goodness, will be out of the range of justice and goodness; and his goodness will seem imperfect, as not saving all; [for it should do so,] if it be not accompanied with judgment. '
Thankfully God is both just AND good.
Next week's reading
Commence Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV by reading Chapters I to XVI.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment