On Scripture (Book 3)

Irenaeus begins Book 3 by outlining his understanding of Scripture. For him the Written Scripture is linked to the oral proclamation of the Gospel and is granted through the power of the Holy Spirit.

On the Gospels Irenaeus claims that

• Matthew wrote a "written Gospel among the Hebrews"

• Peter and Paul were laying the foundations of the Church in Rome.

• Mark wrote down Peter's preaching

• Luke wrote down Paul's preaching

• John wrote his Gospel whilst in Ephesus.

In contrast Heretics downplay the value of the Scriptures and of the apostolic tradition.

[chs 1-2]

The role of heresy

For Justin, the existence of heresy, in a funny sort of way, confirms the truth of the Gospel, as the coming of heretics was predicted by Jesus and the New Testament. (Ch 35)

De-fragmenting Papias

Reading through the fragments of Papias preserved in other authors. Pity that his five books seem to have gone AWOL.

Papias is a name which crops up quite regularly in Biblical studies with his theories on the composition of NT books, especially Mark and Matthew. Is the story in the Gospel of the Hebrews of the woman caught in a multitude of sins the mysterious passage of the woman's gospel now [kind of] in the Gospel of John? Is his reference to a presbyter called John significant for the composition of Revelation?