Irenaeus of Lyons / Eric Osborn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Osborn, Eric Francis, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Irenaeus, Saint, Bishop of Lyon.

Irenaeus.

Christian saints--France--Lyon--Biography.

Christian saints.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xviii, 307 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Summary:

Eric Osborn's book presents a major study of Irenaeus (125-200), bishop of Lyons, who attacked Gnostic theosophy with positive ideas as well as negative critiques. Irenaeus's combination of argument and imagery, logic and aesthetic, was directed to the bible. Dominated by a Socratic love of truth and a classical love of beauty, he was a founder of Western humanism. Erasmus, who edited the first printed edition of Irenaeus, praised him for his freshness and vigour. He is today valued for his splendid aphorisms, his optimism, love of the created world, evolutionary view of history, theology of beauty and humour. Why have two millennia of European culture been so creative? Irenaeus points to Greek ways of thinking and the Christian Bible. Irenaeus's thought is complex, yet rewarding to the critical reader, and this full study of it will be of interest to theologians, historians of ideas, classicists, scientists and students.

Contents:

1. Ireneus: argument and imagery.

2. One God: Intellect and love.

3. One creator: ut sapiens architectus et maximus rex.

4. Economy: God as architect of time.

5. Recapitulation: correction and perfection.

6. Recapitulation: inauguration and consummation.

7. Logic and the rule of truth: participation in truth.

8. Scripture as mind and will of God: participation in truth.

9. Aesthetics: participation in beauty.

10. Human growth from creation to resurrection: participation in life.

11. Goodness and truth: ethics of participation.

12. The glory of God and man.

Appendix Gnosticism.

Citations from Irenaeus.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-289) and indexes.

ISBN:

1-107-12235-X

0-511-17464-0

0-511-04737-1

0-521-67572-3

0-511-15461-5

1-280-43017-6

0-511-48779-7

0-511-32522-3

OCLC:

475915848