Irenaeus of Lyons (Full Script)

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Irenaeus of Lyons

Post-Apostolic Church

Irenaeus was an overseer in Gaul, which is modern-day Lyons, France, around AD 180.

He was probably a native of Smyrna because, as a boy, he was a personal student of Polycarp.  Therefore, there are only two degrees of separation between Irenaeus and the apostle John.  Hippolytus was one of his students.  Unlike many of his contemporary writers, Irenaeus was raised in a Christian family.

Having grown up in the eastern side of the Roman Empire and later living in the western side, Irenaeus became an important link in the church.  He was so respected that when an argument arose between the bishops of Rome and the bishops of Asia Minor over when to celebrate Pascha--that is, Christ's resurrection--he intervened and brought peace.

Irenaeus' most famous work is called Against Heresies in which he battled many religions that opposed Christianity, especially Gnosticism and its utter absurdities.  He began his journey of cataloging heresies when he visited Rome in the 170s.  There, he rebuked friends as well as the bishop of Rome [Victor] for embracing strange doctrines.  His work explains the beliefs of many pagan religions of the second century with incredible accuracy.

Irenaeus was martyred in AD 202 during the persecution under Emperor Septimius Severus.

About Irenaeus, Pre-Nicene Christians wrote,

[There is] Irenaeus, that very exact inquirer into all doctrines.  (Tertullian.  AD 207.  ANF, vol 3, page 506.)

The blessed presbyter Irenaeus has powerfully and elaborately refuted the opinions of these [heretics].  (Hippolytus.  AD 225.  ANF, Vol 5, page 99.)

Who is ignorant of the books of Irenaeus and Melito, and the rest, which declare Christ to be God and man?  (Caius, quoted by Eusebius.  AD 215.  ANF, vol 5, page 601.)

Athenagoras of Athens (Full Script)

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Athenagoras of Athens

Post-Apostolic Church

Athenagoras lived in Athens and wrote in AD 177.  Like Justin Martyr, he was well versed in philosophy.  Also, like Aristides and Justin before him, Athenagoras wrote apologies--that is, defenses--of the Christian faith.  Athenagoras called his apologies embassies.

It is possible that Clement of Alexandria was one of his students.

Athenagoras' original goal was to combat Christianity.  But when he read the Scriptures, he was converted to Christianity.  It is probable that Acts 17 helped convert him, as he read how Paul came to his home city of Athens and preached concerning the altar to the Unknown God.

He wrote an apology, or embassy, titled Plea on Behalf of the Christians, which was addressed to Marcus Aurelius.  Athenagoras wrote many works, but the only other work that has survived is called On the Resurrection of the Dead.

Theophilus of Antioch (Full Script)

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Theophilus of Anitoch

Post-Apostolic Church

Theophilus lived in Syrian Antioch around AD 175.

Theophilus was raised as a pagan.  When he wrote to non-Christians, he had a quality of writing that was both gentle yet stern, for he had little patience towards the pagan religions around him.

He was the first Christian to write a commentary on the Gospels, but the only works from him that have survived are his letters to his friend, Autolycus.  One of his greatest contributions to Christianity was his chronology of the world’s history.  He had much to say about this; here is an excerpt.

From the creation of the world to the deluge [the Flood] were 2242 years*.  And from the deluge to the time when our forefather Abraham begat a son [were] 1036 years.  And from Abraham's son Isaac to the time when the people dwelt with Moses in the desert [were] 660 years.  And from the death of Moses and the rule of Joshua son of Nun to the death of the patriarch David [were] 498 years.  And from the death of David and the reign of Solomon to the sojourning of the people in the land of Babylon [were] 518 years 6 months 10 days.  And from the government of Cyrus to the death of the Emperor Aurelius Verus** [were] 744 years.  All the years of creation of the world amount to a total of 5698 years.  (Theophilus.  AD 175.  ANF, vol 2, page 120.)

* This span of time follows the Septuagint.

** Emperor Lucius Verus, died 169 AD.

In short, Theophilus places the creation of the world in 5529 BC.

Melito of Sardis (Full Script)

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Melito of Sardis

Post-Apostolic Church

Melito was an overseer in Sardis in Asia Minor and wrote around AD 165.

It is highly likely that he knew Polycarp.  Melito was martyred around AD 177.

Like his contemporary Christian writers, Justin, Athenagoras, and Theophilus, he wrote apologies, which are written defenses of Christianity. Melito wrote an apology to Marcus Aurelius.

About Melito, Pre-Nicene Christians wrote,

Who is ignorant of the books of Irenaeus and Melito, and the rest, which declare Christ to be God and man?  (Caius, quoted by Eusebius.  AD 215.  ANF, vol 5, page 601.)