Irenaeus on the Trinity– Part Four

Irenaeus on the Trinity– Part Four May 25, 2015

jackson

Ben: What, in your estimation is the real importance and contribution of Irenaeus in church history? Are their salient ideas and actions of his that were game changers or made a big difference in the formation and defense of orthodoxy in the second century A.D.? How would you weigh his contribution over against other second century writers such as Justin Martyr or Polycarp, or Papias or even Tertullian in the last half of that century? Should we see Irenaeus as a theological heavyweight?

Jackson: There are multiple contributions that he made, which is what makes him such a compelling historical figure. Obviously, my argument in the book is that he is a much more important figure in the development of the doctrine of the Trinity than has previously been thought. Prior to Irenaeus the dominant theological trajectory of the second century in terms of a Trinitarian theology was what we would today call “subordinationist.” Justin Martyr, Athenagoras of Athens and many other apologists spoke of the Son and Spirit as second and third gods and argued, quite differently from Irenaeus’ logic, that the Son becomes incarnate by virtue of his lesser divinity. But it was Irenaeus’ encounter with the Gnostics that led him to depart from this dominant trajectory and argue for a fully divine Son and Spirit alongside the Father who together, nonetheless, constitute one simple and divine nature. Three distinct entities who together are one God. While not precisely Nicene theology, it certainly moves theology in the direction of Nicaea.

I also believe that Irenaeus’ manner of reading scripture as one narrative that begins in Genesis with creation, continues through the story of Israel and culminates in the incarnation, has had a tremendous influence on the church. This has been the most dominant way of reading scripture through church history and still maintains a central place—we think of salvation history or covenant theology today—and, arguably, we have had Irenaeus to thank. Certainly he provides the first major argument against Marcion and, of course the Gnostics, and I think there has always been a pull in certain parts of the church toward these heresies (a rejection of Israel as part of our story and a rejection of creation as God’s good intention). Irenaeus consistently reminds us of the integrity of the Old and New Testaments and that Christ came to redeem creation, not to destroy it.


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