On the Apostolic Preaching [Paperback]

Irenaeus Saint Bishop of Lyon (Author), John Behr (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

St Irenaeus, the most important theologian of the second century, lays the foundation for all future Christian thinkers. Here he recounts all the various deeds of God, culminating in the exaltation of His crucified Son, Jesus Christ, and the bestowal of His Holy Spirit and the gift of a new heart of flesh.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Armenian

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881411744
• ISBN-13: 978-0881411744
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Congregations & Orders
  • #52 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Orthodoxy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irenaeus' summery of the Christian faith, March 11, 2004

By 

"korror" (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Apostolic Preaching (Paperback)

"On the Apostolic Preaching" is a recently discovered work of Irenaeus, a second century theologian. Irenaeus is better known for his attacks on Gnosticism but he still has time to write a summery of the Christian faith for his friend Marcianus.

In his book, Irenaeus presents the faith chronologically, from the creation of the world to the death of Christ. He masterfully interprets the Old Testament to show that Christ is the focus and the culmination of the Old Testament. When he does this, he is also attempting to refute a common Gnostic belief that the old bloodthirsty God of the Old Testament was a completely different creature from new gentle God of the New Testament.

He continues and finds support in the Old Testament for nearly every aspect of Christ and for the actions of the Apostles. This book also contains one of the earliest explanations of the Trinity which is interesting to see how it compares to modern understanding on the subject.

This book is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a second century theologian and an interesting read.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Execllent treatise by Irenaeus, March 27, 2000

By 

David Bennett (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the Apostolic Preaching (Paperback)

This is a work by Irenaeus that wasn't discovered until fairly recently, so it is not included in the excellent 10 volume Ante-Nicene Fathers set. The work is essentially a summary of the Christian faith by the Bishop Irenaeus (lived around 177 AD). The work 'recounts all the various deeds of God culminated in Jesus Christ.' It, unlike the works of Justin and Athenagoras from the same period, is non-polemical and non-apologetic. There are quite a few notes, a nice introduction, and some Greek words provided in the text when the English translation provided is uncertain.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight into the teaching of the early church, March 11, 2001

By 

M. E. Ritter (Gaylordsville, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Apostolic Preaching (Paperback)

Assuming that this is a true representation of an actual writing, it is invaluable for all Christians in showing us what the manner of preaching was at the very beginning. Of this fact, I really have no doubt, and accept this writing as that of Irenaeus himself. Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, so we have here a teaching of the preaching told by a second generation source.