Irenaeus of Lyons

Eric Osborn's book presents a major study of Irenaeus (125–200), bishop of Lyons.

Eric Osborn (Author)

9780521800068, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 October 2001

328 pages
22.5 x 14.6 x 2.6 cm, 0.56 kg

'… detailed analysis … Both graduate students and specialists will profit from Osborn's work.' Religious Studies Review

Eric Osborn's book presents a major study of Irenaeus (125–200), bishop of Lyons, who attacked Gnostic theosophy with positive ideas as well as negative critiques. Irenaeus's combination of argument and imagery, logic and aesthetic, was directed to the bible. Dominated by a Socratic love of truth and a classical love of beauty, he was a founder of Western humanism. Erasmus, who edited the first printed edition of Irenaeus, praised him for his freshness and vigour. He is today valued for his splendid aphorisms, his optimism, love of the created world, evolutionary view of history, theology of beauty and humour. Why have two millennia of European culture been so creative? Irenaeus points to Greek ways of thinking and the Christian Bible. Irenaeus's thought is complex, yet rewarding to the critical reader, and this full study of it will be of interest to theologians, historians of ideas, classicists, scientists and students.

1. Irenaeus: argument and imagery
Part I. Divine Intellect: 2. One God: intellect and love
Part II. Economy: 3. One creator: ut sapiens architectus et maximus rex
4. Economy: God as architect of our time
Part III. Recapitulation: 5. Recapitulation: correction and perfection
6. Recapitulation: inauguration and consummation
Part IV. Participation: 7. Logic and the rule of truth: participation in truth
8. Scripture as mind and will of God: participation in truth
9. Aesthetics: participation in beauty
10. Human growth from creation to resurrection: participation in life
11. Goodness and truth: ethics of participation
Part V. Conclusion: 12. The glory of God and Man.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], General & world history [HBG]