On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis

On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis (), commonly called Against Heresies (Latin: Adversus haereses, ), is a five-volume work written by St. Irenaeus in the second century. Due to his assertion that Eleutherus was the current bishop of Rome, the work is usually dated .Schaff, Philip (2001) [] "Introductory Note to Irenæus Against Heresies", Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. In it Irenaeus identifies and describes several schools of gnosticism and contrasts their beliefs with what he describes as catholic, orthodox Christianity. Only fragments of the original Greek text exist, but a complete copy exists in a wooden Latin translation, made shortly after its publication in Greek, and Books IV and V are also present in a literal Armenian translation.
==Purpose==
The purpose of Against Heresies was to refute the teachings of various Gnostic groups; apparently, several Greek merchants had begun an oratorial campaign praising the pursuit of "gnosis" in Irenaeus' bishopric. Another popular theory states that a group of Gnostics known as the Valentinians remained part of the early Christian church, taking part in regular church celebrations despite their radical differences. It is also said that Gnostics would secretly meet outside of regular church activity where they would discuss their "secret knowledge" and scripture that pertains to it. As bishop, Irenaeus felt obligated to keep a close eye on the Valentinians and to safeguard the church from them. In order to fulfil this duty, Irenaeus educated himself and became well informed of Gnostic doctrines and traditions. This eventually led to the compilation of his treatise.
It appears however, that the main reason Irenaeus took on this work was because he felt that Christians in Asia and Phrygia especially needed his protection from Gnostics, for they did not have as many bishops to oversee and help keep problems like this under control (probably only one bishop was assigned to a number of communities). Therefore, due to the issue of distance between Irenaeus (who was in the western Roman province of Gaul) and the orthodox Christian community of Asia, Irenaeus found that writing this treatise would be the best way to offer them guidance.
Until the discovery of the Library of Nag Hammadi in 1945, Against Heresies was the best surviving description of Gnosticism.
==Main arguments==
Irenaeus refers to the Word as the "Son" who he says, "was always with the Father," which doesn't necessarily oppose the unitarian view of God. Irenaeus affirms that "the Father is above all things. ''For the Father," says He[Christ]"is greater than I."The Father, therefore, has been declared by our Lord to excel with respect to knowledge."Irenaeus (2001) [] "Perfect knowledge cannot be attained in the present life: many questions must be submissively left in the hands of God", in Philip Schaff, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, Book II, Chapter XXVIII, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Irenaeus clarifies: "The Father is indeed above all, and He is the Head of Christ."Irenaeus (2001) [] "God the Father and His Word have formed all created things (which They use) by Their own power and wisdom, not out of defect or ignorance. The Son of God, who received all power from the Father, would otherwise never have taken flesh upon Him", in Philip Schaff, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter XVIII, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Nevertheless, his writings have been cited by others as proof that early Christians held a binitarian or a trinitarian view as he wrote, "…there is none other called God by the Scriptures except the Father of all, and the Son, and those who possess the adoption"Irenaeus (2001) [] "Preface to Book IV", in Philip Schaff, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Though this could also be held as the churches' teaching of the procession of Christ and the Holy Spirit from the Father alone as is evident in Irenaeus' teaching on the Holy Spirit within the same work.Irenaeus (2001) [] "The Holy Ghost, throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, made mention of no other God or Lord, save him who is the true God", in Philip Schaff, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter VI, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. This teaching was later greatly emphasized by Eastern Theologians through the teaching of St Irenaeus, "The Holy Spirit and the Christ being the hands of God the Father, reaching in from the infinite into the finite."
In Book II, chapter 22 of his treatise, Irenaeus asserts that the ministry of Jesus lasted from when he was baptized at the age of 30 until at least the age of 40:
Arguments have been provided in defense of this accusation by pointing out section 3 of this same chapter, demonstrating a three-year ministry starting from the age of 30:
Irenaeus cites from most of the New Testament canon, as well as the noncanonical works 1 Clement and The Shepherd of Hermas; however, he makes no references to Philemon, 2 Peter, 3 John or Jude four of the shortest epistles.
Mark Jeffrey Olson says that is quoted far more than any other verse from the letters of Paul in Against Heresies. He writes that the reason for this is because Irenaeus "believes that this verse is the textual key to the exegetical battle over Paul being fought by the Valentinian Gnostics and the Catholic Christians." Both Irenaeus and the Valentinians use this verse to prove their direct linkage to the Apostle Paul. The two sides completely disagree in their evaluation of the material world and each seeks to show that its own position truly represents what the Apostle Paul said about the issue. Olson states that according to Irenaeus, this important verse which reads, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" is used by the Gnostics to point out that "the handiwork of God is not saved."Irenaeus (2001) [] "Showing how that passage of the apostle which the heretics pervert, should be understood; viz., 'Flesh and blood shall not possess the kingdom of God.'", in Philip Schaff, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter IX, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. The Gnostics have a negative view of the material world. 
Valentinian Gnostics believe that Christ and Jesus were two separate beings temporarily united. They also adhere to the belief that before Jesus’ crucifixion, Christ departed from his body. Hence they believe that Christ did not actually have a physical body and therefore did not have a physical resurrection but a spiritual one. The correct interpretation according to Irenaeus would be to use the term "flesh and blood" which are stated in this verse to refer to "the wicked who will not inherit the kingdom because of their evil works of flesh."
==Trivia==
A distorted quotation from Adversus haereses—'Nihil cavum [correctly vacuum] neque sine signo apud Deum'—is used as epigraph to William Gaddis's 1955 novel The Recognitions. It translates as 'in God nothing is without meaning', or 'empty of sense'.
== See also ==
* Celsus
* Didache
* Polycarp
* POxy 405
* Tertullian
* Vladimir Lossky
==References==
==External links==
*Against Heresies full text at New Advent
*Against Heresies full text at Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Category:Works by the Church Fathers
Category:Ancient Christian controversies
Category:Early Christianity and Gnosticism
Category:Christianity-related controversies