Irenæus

Footnotes

Introductory Note to Irenæus Against Heresies

^[4128] So Harvey understands the obscure Latin text, “id quod erat inoperatum conditionis.”

Chapter XXIII.—The patriarchs and prophets by pointing out the advent of Christ, fortified thereby, as it were, the way of posterity to the faith of Christ; and so the labours of the apostles were lessened inasmuch as they gathered in the fruits of the labours of others.

^[4131] John iv. 35, etc.

^[4132] Matt. i. 20, etc.

^[4133] Luke iv. 18.

^[4134] Isa. lxi. 1.

^[4135] Acts viii. 27;Isa. liii. 7.

^[4136] Acts ii. 41, Acts iv. 4.

Chapter XXIV.—The conversion of the Gentiles was more difficult than that of the Jews; the labours of those apostles, therefore who engaged in the former task, were greater than those who undertook the latter.

^[4137] 1 Cor. xv. 10.

^[4138] [A clear note of recognition on the part of our author, that St. Paul’s mission was world-wide, while St. Peter’s was limited.]

^[4139] Eph. i. 21.

^[4140] Phil. ii. 8.

Chapter XXV.—Both covenants were prefigured in Abraham, and in the labour of Tamar; there was, however, but one and the same God to each covenant.

^[4141] Matt. iii. 9.

^[4142] Eph. ii. 20.

^[4143] [Note, the Gentile Church was the old religion and was Catholic; in Christ it became Catholic again: the Mosaic system was a parenthetical thing of fifteen hundred years only. Such is the luminous and clarifying scheme of Irenæus, expounding St. Paul (Gal. iii. 14-20). Inferences: (1) They who speak as if the Mosaic system covered the whole Old Testament darken the divine counsels. (2) The God of Scripture was never the God of the Jews only.]

^[4144] Gen. xxxviii. 28, etc.

^[4145] John iv. 37.

^[4146] 1 Cor. iii. 7.

^[4147] Jer. ix. 2. [A “remote dwelling-place” rather (σταθμὸν ἔσχατον according to LXX.) to square with the argument.]

^[4148] [The touching words which conclude the former paragraph are illustrated by the noble sentence which begins this paragraph. The childlike spirit of these Fathers recognises Christ everywhere, in the Old Testament, prefigured by countless images and tokens in paternal and legal (ceremonial) forms.]

Chapter XXVI.—The treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ; the true exposition of the Scriptures is to be found in the Church alone.

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