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Church’s Response to Gnosticism

Church’s Response to Gnosticism. Discipline; catechesis; polemic. Irenaeus’s description of Gnostic teachings and practices. Irenaeus’s arguments against the Gnostics. St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Approx. 130-200 AD Knew Stt. Polycarp & Justin Bishop of Lyons Wrote Against Haeresies ca. 180.

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Church’s Response to Gnosticism

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  1. Church’s Response to Gnosticism • Discipline; catechesis; polemic. • Irenaeus’s description of Gnostic teachings and practices. • Irenaeus’s arguments against the Gnostics.

  2. St. Irenaeus of Lyons • Approx. 130-200 AD • Knew Stt. Polycarp & Justin • Bishop of Lyons • Wrote Against Haeresies ca. 180.

  3. Select Study Questions • Why did Irenaeus write Against Heresies? What was his purpose? (p. 197) • What Gnostic school does he mention on p. 197-8? What have we learned about the teachings of this school from Ptolemy’s Letter to Flora? (see the previous assignment). • Why are the Gnostics dangerous? • How did the Gnostics understand the process of redemption? • How does Irenaeus describe the common faith of the church? (chap. 10, pp. 201-2; chap. 22, p. 203-4)

  4. Origen of Alexandria:Do the two testaments speak about the same God? • Gnostics: No. The God of the OT is imperfect or even evil. The God of the NT is merciful and good. • Response of the Fathers: • Promise and fulfillment • Jesus’s Father is the God who created the world and gave the Law. • Divine mercy presupposes divine justice • Anthropomorphisms must not be interpreted literally

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