Bishop of Lyons · c. 130 – c. 202

Irenaeus of Lyons

Bishop of Lyons in Gaul, born in Asia Minor and, he says, a hearer of Polycarp. His Against Heresies is the first large account of the whole Christian faith.

Writings

1. Treatise · 26 parts

   Against Heresies, Book III

   Irenaeus argues from the apostles, the common teaching of the churches and the Scriptures that the faith has been handed down unchanged, and sets out the doctrine of Christ.

   176 min read · translated by Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut

2. Treatise · 77 parts

   Adversus haereses, Part 1

   Adversus haereses, by Irenaeus of Lyons: part 1 of 2 (Preface to Adversus haereses: Chapter 8).

   405 min read · translated by Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut

3. Treatise · 70 parts

   Adversus haereses, Part 2

   Adversus haereses, by Irenaeus of Lyons: part 2 of 2 (Adversus haereses: Chapter 9 to Adversus haereses: Chapter 36).

   368 min read · translated by Alexander Roberts and William Rambaut

4. Collection

   Other Writings

   Letters, homilies, sermons, commentaries, fragments and shorter pieces by Irenaeus of Lyons that are not published as books, in the order of the New Advent collection.

   34 min read · translated by Alexander Roberts

Portrait: drawn in the site’s engraved style from “Saint irenee saint irenee” (Lucien Bégule (stained glass)), public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

All the Fathers