Irenaeus’ Theology in Second-Century Platonism and Christianity
As scholars have come to appreciate Irenaeus’ use of philosophy, emphasis has fallen on his use of pre-Socratic traditions. This emphasis stands in stark contrast to the typical emphasis scholars place on Platonic themes in second-century Christian theologies. This article argues that Platonic resou...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2024
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| In: |
The journal of theological studies
Year: 2024, Volume: 75, Issue: 1, Pages: 148-169 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Irenaeus, Lugdunensis 140-202, Adversus haereses
/ Xenophanes 570 BC-460 BC
/ Aristoteles 384 BC-322 BC, De Melisso, Xenophane, Gorgia
/ Alkinoos ca. 2. Jh.
/ Platonism
/ Attributes of God
/ Simplicity of God
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| RelBib Classification: | KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NBC Doctrine of God TB Antiquity VA Philosophy |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | As scholars have come to appreciate Irenaeus’ use of philosophy, emphasis has fallen on his use of pre-Socratic traditions. This emphasis stands in stark contrast to the typical emphasis scholars place on Platonic themes in second-century Christian theologies. This article argues that Platonic resources, the definition of God as simple and incomposite, the Platonic viae, and reasoning from ‘oneness’ to ‘unlimitedness’, play a key role in Irenaeus’ theology, governing his interpretation of pre-Socratic materials, including Irenaeus’ version of the well-known Xenophanes quotation (fr. 24) and materials Irenaeus apparently draws from Pseudo-Aristotle’s On Melissus, Xenophanes, and Gorgias. Irenaeus, furthermore, draws a logical connection between God’s simplicity and the doctrine that there is one God to the exclusion of others, as he says, thereby pressing Platonic doctrine into the service of his distinctly Christian theological convictions. The upshot of all this is a deeper appreciation first for the sophistication of Irenaeus’ own theology, and second for Irenaeus’ role in engaging and advancing Christian philosophical theology. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-4607 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of theological studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jts/flae007 |