Irenaeus of Lyons

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.

• Irenaeus undertook the first great synthesis of Christian thought • This study explicates his work and makes new claims for its relevance • Osborn finds in Irenaeus new sources for the creativity of two millennia of European culture

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.