Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 1) - XXV - Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV concluded

Required reading
Ante-Nicene Fathers (Volume 1) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV.
 
My summary
This week we close the fourth book from Irenaeus.

We hear about:
(i) how not to judge Old Testament heroes who sin (e.g. Lot);
(ii) who are true spiritual disciples;
(iii) why certain teachings of the Valentinians and Marcion are wrong;
(iv) the free will of man.

What grabbed me
I wasn't impressed by Irenaeus' teaching on freewill: 'But since all men are of the same nature, able both to hold fast and to do what is good; and, on the other hand, having also the power to cast it from them and not to do it,—some do justly receive praise even among men who are under the control of good laws (and much more from God), and obtain deserved testimony of their choice of good in general, and of persevering therein; but the others are blamed, and receive a just condemnation, because of their rejection of what is fair and good. And therefore the prophets used to exhort men to what was good, to act justly and to work righteousness, as I have so largely demonstrated, because it is in our power so to do, and because by excessive negligence we might become forgetful, and thus stand in need of that good counsel which the good God has given us to know by means of the prophets.'

Irenaeus needs Luther to set him straight. 

Fallen man does not have the power to hold fast to what is good.

Next week's reading
Commence Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V by reading Chapters I to XVII.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.