Thoughts for the Day

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Irenaeus was a native of Smyrna, born about 130 CE. As a boy, he heard Polycarp preach, who had in turn been a disciple of the apostle John. Irenaeus is thus one of the important connections between the apostles and the second century church. He studied at Rome before becoming a priest at Lyons in Gaul (France), then succeeding as bishop upon the martyrdom of his predecessor in 177 CE. He spent much of his time fighting the beliefs of the Gnostics through his teaching and preaching. He is honoured as the first great theologian, and drew upon traditions from East and West.

"So what!", we might think! "What has a second century teacher to do with us?" Well Christianity is built on the faith and teaching of Hebrew scholars and later men like Irenaeus. Gnosticism was a particularly virulent set of mythological beliefs that thought that the material world was evil and the spiritual world was good. They considered Jesus Christ to be a spiritual being and not a real, human, man. They also divided Christians into two categories, one group being earthly and inferior, and the other spiritual and superior. The latter people were thought to have mysterious hidden knowledge that allowed them to be saved.

Bishop Irenaeus were at the forefront of the fight against this mythological and unhistoric belief. He reaffirmed the Christian teaching that salvation is available to all, not just a special few. Salvation is not earned, or learned, it is a free gift of God, given in response to faith.

Collect for Irenaeus

God of peace,
who through the ministry of your servant Irenaeus,
strengthened the true faith
and brough harmony to your Church,
keep us steadfast in your true religion,
and renew us in faith and love,
that we may always walk in the way that leads to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.