Irenaeus of Lyons — Overview

The Church, though dispersed through the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith: [She believes] in one God, the Father Almighty...and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who became incarnate for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit...

Against Heresies, I.10.1 (ANF 1) (Eph. 4:4–6; 1 Cor. 8:6)

...the tradition which originates from the apostles, [and] which is preserved by means of the succession of presbyters in the Churches...those do not come to a knowledge of the truth who do not examine the tradition of the Church.

Against Heresies, III.4.1 (ANF 1) (2 Tim. 2:2; Jude 3)

It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. For, since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is scattered throughout all the world...it is fitting that she should have four pillars.

Against Heresies, III.11.8 (ANF 1) (Rev. 7:1; Ezek. 1:10)

If anyone do not agree to these truths, he despises the companions of the Lord; nay more, he despises Christ Himself the Lord; yea, he despises the Father also, and stands self-condemned, resisting and opposing his own salvation, as is the case with all heretics.

Against Heresies, III.1.2 (ANF 1) (Luke 10:16; John 5:39)

For it was for this end that the Word of God was made man, and He who was the Son of God became the Son of man, that man, having been taken into the Word, and receiving the adoption, might become the son of God.

Against Heresies, III.19.1 (ANF 1) (John 1:12; Gal. 4:4–5; Rom. 8:29)

When He became incarnate, and was made man, He commenced afresh the long line of human beings, and furnished us, in a brief, comprehensive manner, with salvation; so that what we had lost in Adam — namely, to be according to the image and likeness of God — that we might recover in Christ Jesus.

Against Heresies, III.18.1 (ANF 1) (Rom. 5:12–19; 1 Cor. 15:22; Gen. 1:26–27)

He has therefore, in His work of recapitulation, summed up all things, both waging war against our enemy, and crushing him who had at the beginning led us away captive in Adam...that as our species went down to death through a vanquished man, so we may ascend to life again through a victorious one.

Against Heresies, V.21.1 (ANF 1) (Eph. 1:10; Col. 2:15; 1 Cor. 15:45)

He took that created thing, bread, and gave thanks, and said, "This is My body." And the cup likewise, which is part of that creation to which we belong, He confessed to be His blood, and taught the new oblation of the new covenant, which the Church receiving from the apostles, offers to God throughout all the world.

Against Heresies, IV.17.5 (ANF 1) (Matt. 26:26–28; Mal. 1:11)

Both the Lord and His apostles show, by many examples, that the one and the same God is the Founder and Creator of the world, who also sent the prophets and who established the law, and who in the last times, through His Son Jesus Christ, has bestowed the new covenant upon the human race.

Against Heresies, IV.9.1 (ANF 1) (Heb. 1:1–2; Matt. 5:17)