Irenaeus Quotes

We continually give thanks to God, who by his great and unsearchable wisdom delivered us and proclaimed the salvation from heaven.

The trespass which came by the tree was undone by the tree of obedience.

God delivered Israel by the tenth plague, 'revealing in a mystery the sufferings of Christ by the sacrifice of a lamb without spot.'

The Spirit of God gives us knowledge of the truth and sets forth the Father and the Son.

Every word of the Scriptures will seem consistent to him if he diligently reads them in the company of the presbyters of the Church. The apostolic doctrine is among them.

We are required to be all the more watchful in our walk of life. We are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, idle words, and insulting language.

All people come short of the glory of God and are not justified in themselves, but by the advent of our Lord.

Those who break apart the unity of the Church will receive from God the same punishment that Jeroboam received (1 Kings 14:10).

Fellowship with God is to know God and to enjoy his goodness.

As those who see light are in the light and partake of its radiance; so too, those who see God are in God and receive of his splendor.

Humanity does not see God by their own power. God is seen when he pleases, by whom he wills, when he wills, as he wills.

This is his Word – our Lord Jesus Christ. In the last times, he was made human among humanity, that he might join the end to the beginning, that is, humanity to God.

On the Two Hands of God:

The Word – who is the Son – was always with the Father. So too Wisdom, which is the Spirit, was present with him before all creation.

The bread is produced from the earth. When it receives the invocation of God, it is no longer common bread. It is the Eucharist, consisting of two realities – earthly and heavenly. So too our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible. We have the hope of the resurrection to eternity.

In the beginning, God formed Adam, not as if he stood in need of humanity, but so that he would have someone to confer his benefits upon.

It is better to belong to the simple and unlettered class and by means of love to attain to nearness to God, than, by imagining ourselves learned and skilful, to be found among those who are blasphemous against their own God by conjuring up another God as the Father.