Oxford University Press God and Christ in Irenaeus - Oxford Early Christian Studies

Challenge long-held academic assumptions with God and Christ in Irenaeus. For years, many scholars viewed Irenaeus of Lyons as a well-meaning churchman who lacked theological depth. This volume from the Oxford Early Christian Studies series provides a necessary correction to that view. Through a careful reading of his polemical and constructive arguments, this work demonstrates that Irenaeus was a highly educated thinker trained in the rhetorical arts. This book shows how Irenaeus was aware of general philosophical positions and used both rhetorical and philosophical methods to build his arguments. The theological account he established was both original and sophisticated, marking him as a significant figure of the second century. This text is an essential resource for students and scholars of early Christianity who want to understand the true depth of Irenaeus's intellectual contributions and his mastery of the theological debates of his time.