Irenaeus of Lyon, Bishop and Theologian, c.202
Almighty God, who strengthened servant Irenaeus to defend
thy truth against every blast of vain doctrine: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in
your true religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that
leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Irenaeus (pronounced ear-a-NAY-us) was probably born
around 125. As a young man in Smyrna (near Ephesus, in what is now western
Turkey) he heard the preaching of Polycarp, who as a young man had heard the
preaching of the Apostle John. Afterward, probably while still a young man,
Irenaeus moved west to Lyons in southern France. In 177, Pothinus, the bishop
of Lyons, sent him on a mission to Rome. During his absence a severe
persecution broke out in Lyons, claiming the lives of the bishop and others.
When Irenaeus returned to Lyons, he was made bishop. He died around 202. He is
thus an important link between the apostolic church and later times, and also
an important link between Eastern and Western Christianity. His principal work
is the Refutation of Heresies, a defense of orthodox Christianity against its
Gnostic rivals. A shorter work is his Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, a brief
summary of Christian teaching, largely concerned with Christ as the fulfilment
of Old Testament prophecy. An interesting bit of trivia about this latter book
is that it is, as far as I know, the first Christian writing to refer to the
earth as a sphere.*
*The Lectionary, James Kiefer, http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Irenaeus.htm