Revisiting Irenaeus’ Philosophical Acumen
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeAbstract
The primary place held by Scripture in the theology of Irenaeus of Lyons is beyond doubt. A number of scholars have pointed out, however, that Irenaeus also utilizes philosophy and rhetoric to his advantage. Despite the gains of this research there is a persistent tendency to trivialize Irenaeus’ philosophical and rhetorical ability. In this paper I argue against this tendency by calling more attention to the philosophical ability that Irenaeus displays. In the first place, I summarize the current state of scholarly opinion on the role of philosophy and rhetoric in Irenaeus’ thought. In the second, I illustrate Irenaeus’ use of philosophy by examining his comments in Against Heresies 3,24,2-3,25,5.
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| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 202 | 31 | 7 |
| Full Text Views | 85 | 3 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 36 | 6 | 2 |
Revisiting Irenaeus’ Philosophical Acumen
In: Vigiliae ChristianaeAbstract
The primary place held by Scripture in the theology of Irenaeus of Lyons is beyond doubt. A number of scholars have pointed out, however, that Irenaeus also utilizes philosophy and rhetoric to his advantage. Despite the gains of this research there is a persistent tendency to trivialize Irenaeus’ philosophical and rhetorical ability. In this paper I argue against this tendency by calling more attention to the philosophical ability that Irenaeus displays. In the first place, I summarize the current state of scholarly opinion on the role of philosophy and rhetoric in Irenaeus’ thought. In the second, I illustrate Irenaeus’ use of philosophy by examining his comments in Against Heresies 3,24,2-3,25,5.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 202 | 31 | 7 |
| Full Text Views | 85 | 3 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 36 | 6 | 2 |