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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.)