Irenæus

Footnotes

Introductory Note to Irenæus Against Heresies

^[4224] As Harvey remarks, this is “a strange translation for ἐκλίπητε” of the text. rec., and he adds that “possibly the translator read ἐκτράπητε.”

^[4225] Luke xvi. 9.

^[4226] We here follow the punctuation of Massuet in preference to that of Harvey.

^[4227] [The Fathers regarded the whole Mosaic system, and the history of the faithful under it, as one great allegory. In everything they saw “similitudes,” as we do in the Faery Queen of Spenser, or the Pilgrim’s Progress. The ancients may have carried this principle too far, but as a principle it receives countenance from our Lord Himself and His apostles. To us there is often a barren bush, where the Fathers saw a bush that burned with fire.]

^[4228] See Rev. xv., Rev. xvi.

Chapter XXXI.—We should not hastily impute as crimes to the men of old time those actions which the Scripture has not condemned, but should rather seek in them types of things to come: an example of this in the incest committed by Lot.

^[4229] [Thus far we have a most edifying instruction. The reader will be less edified with what follows, but it is a very striking example of what is written: “to the pure all things are pure.” Tit. i. 15.]

^[4230] Gen. xix. 33.

^[4231] Gen. xix. 35.

^[4232] “Id est duæ synagogæ,” referring to the Jews and Gentiles. Some regard the words as a marginal gloss which has crept into the text.

^[4233] Gen. xix. 31, 32.

^[4234] Deut. xxxii. 6, LXX. [Let us reflect that this effort to spiritualize this awful passage in the history of Lot is an innocent but unsuccessful attempt to imitate St. Paul’s allegory,Gal. iv. 24.]

^[4235] Matt. xi. 19.

^[4236] Ps. iii. 6.

^[4237] Jer. xxxi. 26.

^[4238] Comp. Clem. Rom., chap. xi. Josephus (Antiq., i. 11, 4) testifies that he had himself seen this pillar.

^[4239] The Latin is “per naturalia,” which words, according to Harvey, correspond to δἰ ἐμμηνοῤῥοίας. There is a poem entitled Sodoma preserved among the works of Tertullian and Cyprian which contains the following lines:—

“Dicitur et vivens, alio jam corpore, sexus

Munificos solito dispungere sanguine menses.”

^[4240] Matt. v. 13.

^[4241] The poem just referred to also says in reference to this pillar:—

“Ipsaque imago sibi formam sine corpore servans

Durat adhuc, et enim nuda statione sub æthram

Nec pluviis dilapsa situ, nec diruta ventis.

Quin etiam si quis mutilaverit advena formam,

Protinus ex sese suggestu vulnera complet.”

[That a pillar of salt is still to be seen in this vicinity, is now confirmed by many modern travellers (report of Lieut. Lynch, United States Navy), which accounts for the natural inference of Josephus and others on whom our author relied. The coincidence is noteworthy.]

Chapter XXXII.—That one God was the author of both Testaments, is confirmed by the authority of a presbyter who had been taught by the apostles.

^[4242] Harvey remarks here, that this can hardly be the same presbyter mentioned before, “who was only a hearer of those who had heard the apostles. Irenæus may here mean the venerable martyr Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna.”

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