Irenaeus (June 28th), is recognized by both Catholics and Protestants alike as Christianity's first great systematic theologian, that is, using human reason to work through topics of the faith in a logical and consequential way. Indeed, Irenaeus has been called "the founder of Christian theology." The best estimate for the date of his birth is ca.130. We do know that he learned the faith as a boy in Asia Minor (modem-day Turkey) from the venerable bishop Polycarp, who in turn had known John the Evangelist himself. After studies in Rome, Irenaeus went to Lyons (east-central France), a flourishing trade center and the major diocese of the region, in 177, as a priest of Lyons, he was sent to Rome to help mediate a dispute. While he was in Rome, a brutal persecution broke out in Lyons and many Christians were martyred, including the bishop.
Upon Irenaeus' return, he was elected to succeed as bishop. His tenure was marked by his being called upon to mediate the theological and liturgical disputes that often arose as the Church developed differently in various parts of the world. His fame and importance as a theologian rests upon the work that is usually titled
Against Heresies, a collection of five books that successfully held to
the received apostolic traditions and almost singly-handedly set the
bounds of orthodoxy. Thus, he is known as the original exponent of a "doctrine" of Apostolic Succession anchored by bishops. His thoughts on Christ's Incarnation and the Atonement were seminal, and his use of particular books of Scripture greatly helped to fix the contents of me New Testament nearly 200 years later, Irenaeus died ca. 202 in Lyons and is buried in what is now called me Church of St. Irenaeus. |
