Irenaeus of Lyons (–202)

Typically I'm not a fan of books of 'selections' I would rather sit down and read a book cover to cover and find an author's thoughts, ancient or otherwise, in context.

That being said I have never read Irenaeus's Against Heresies cover-to-cover, but only in fits and starts. And this isn't just an ordinary edition of the 'Essential Irenaeus.'

With selections compiled and introduced by Hans Urs von Balthasar, arguably Roman Catholicism's greatest 20th Century theologian, Irenaeus words come to show more life. I enjoyed pondering these, and really appreciated Balthasar's commentary. show less

An important work for scholars, but mystifying to others who probably had no idea that there were as many as 60 different sects of Christianity during the 2nd. cent. This is the book referred to by almost all later writers. When Iranaeus wrote this he did not call the sects heretics - that came later from the RC Church - but he suggested they were sects in error in their thinking. he wrote the book for a friend (Bishop) to warn him how to detect wrong thinking in his congregation.

Strikingly orthodox for such an early work, but thenthe version which survives is a much later manuscript of a translation so it may have been smoothed out over time; notable also for its strong reliance on the Jewish tradition

Outstanding short book on the Incarnation by the first great Christian theologian. Excellent choice for Lent reading.