Irenæus

Footnotes

Introductory Note to Irenæus Against Heresies

^[3320] [The uneducated barbarians must receive the Gospel on testimony. Irenæus puts apostolic traditions, genuine and uncorrupt, in this relation to the primary authority of the written word. 2 Thess. ii. 15, 2 Thess. iii. 6.]

^[3321] Literally, “without letters;” equivalent to, “without paper and ink,” a few lines previously.

^[3322] The old Latin translation says the eighth bishop; but there is no discrepancy. Eusebius, who has preserved the Greek of this passage, probably counted the apostles as the first step in the episcopal succession. As Irenæus tells us in the preceding chapter, Linus is to be counted as the first bishop.

^[3323] It is thought that this does not mean excommunication properly so called, but a species of self-excommunication, i.e., anticipating the sentence of the Church, by quitting it altogether. See Valesius’s note in his edition of Eusebius.

Chapter V.—Christ and His apostles, without any fraud, deception, or hypocrisy, preached that one God, the Father, was the founder of all things. They did not accommodate their doctrine to the prepossessions of their hearers.

^[3324] John xiv. 6.

^[3325] Ps. lxxxv. 11.

^[3326] Luke v. 31, 32.

^[3327] Eph. ii. 17.

^[3328] Gen. ix. 27.

Chapter VI—The Holy Ghost, throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, made mention of no other God or Lord, save him who is the true God.

^[3329] Ps. 110:1.

^[3330] Gen. xix. 24.

^[3331] Ps. xlv. 6.

^[3332] Ps. lxxxii. 1.

^[3333] Ps. l. 1.