Irenaeus on the Christian Faith

Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130-202) was the greatest theologian of the early post-apostolic church. In his writings we have access to the Christian teaching of a spiritual grandson of the apostle John, for Irenaeus' instructor in the faith was himself taught by the apostle. Irenaeus stresses the importance of apostolic teaching and faithfully handing on the apostolic tradition. His presentation of the Christian faith deserves careful attention, since he knew exactly what he was talking about. There is no better avenue to the apostolic tradition in the early church than his writings.

James R. Payton Jr. is Professor of History at Redeemer University College, in Ancaster, Ontario. He is the author of Light from the Christian East: An introduction to the Orthodox Tradition (2007) and Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings (2010).