Irenaeus of Lyons

Irenaeus was a bishop of Lyons in Gaul who came from Asia Minor and had heard Polycarp as a youth. His five books Against Heresies, written about 180–190 against Valentinian and other Gnostic teachers, are the fullest surviving account of second-century Gnostic systems and an early defense of the church's rule of faith, the four Gospels, and apostolic succession. The work survives complete only in an early Latin translation, with parts in Greek and Armenian.

Dates

ca. 130 – ca. 202 (approximate)

See or city

Lyons (Lugdunum)

Region

Gaul (born in Asia Minor, probably near Smyrna)

Also known as

Irenaeus; Irenæus; Saint Irenaeus; Irenaeus of Lugdunum

Notes

Irenaeus says in a letter that as a boy he heard Polycarp at Smyrna. He became presbyter and then bishop of Lyons after the persecution of 177, in which his predecessor Pothinus died. Later tradition adds that he died as a martyr; the date and manner of his death are not known.

Works

• Against HeresiesAdversus haereses · ca. 180–190
• Demonstration of the Apostolic PreachingDemonstratio praedicationis apostolicae · ca. 180–200 · CPG 1105 (not yet checked)
• FragmentsFragmenta · ca. 190 · CPG number not yet checked
• Further Greek Fragments (Harvey)Fragmenta Graeca (Harvey) · ca. 170–200 · CPG number not yet checked