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| "I+ AM THE VINE; YE ARE THE BRANCHES" |
IRENAEUS AGAINST HERESIES
(excerpts) The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, Book 3, Chapter 17, sections1, 2 & 3, pp.444-445. Reference data at the end of the blog.
CIRCA 180 AD, E/W (estimated from dates given for other Book 3 citations and E and W indicate Irenaeus was considered a writer from both the Eastern and the Western locales, according to David W. Bercot. See reference at the end of the blog.)
NOTE: Comments in green are explanatory notes from blogger's assistant, Sister Judith Hannah; extra words in black are in the text from the editors. Color added to pronouns, etc., for clarity.
CHAPTER 17-- THE APOSTLES TEACH THAT IT WAS NEITHER CHRIST NOR THE SAVIOR, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO DID DESCEND UPON JESUS. THE REASON FOR THIS DESCENT
1. It certainly was in the power of the Apostles to declare that CHRIST descended upon JESUS, or that the so-called superior SAVIOR [came down] upon the dispensational one, or HE+ Who is from the invisible places upon him from the Demiurge*; but they [the Apostles] neither knew nor said anything of the kind: for, had they known it, they would have also certainly stated it. *[ term the Gnostics used: Gnostic subordinate “deity” who is the creator of the material world . ed. note]
But what really was the case, that did they record, [namely,] that the SPIRIT of GOD as a dove descended upon HIM+; this SPIRIT, of Whom it was declared by Isaiah, “And the SPIRIT of GOD shall rest upon HIM+,” as I have already said.
And again: “The SPIRIT of the LORD is upon ME+, because HE hath anointed ME+.” That is the SPIRIT of Whom the LORD+ declares,
“For it is not ye that speak, but the SPIRIT of Your FATHER which speaketh in you.”
And again, giving to the disciples the power of regeneration into GOD, HE+ said to them,
“Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of THE FATHER, and of The SON+, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.”
For [God] promised, that in the last times HE would pour HIM [the SPIRIT] upon [His] servants and handmaids, that they might prophesy;
wherefore HE did also descend upon the SON+ of GOD, made the Son of Man, becoming accustomed in fellowship with HIM+ to dwell in the human race, to rest with human beings, and to dwell in the workmanship of GOD, working the will of THE FATHER in them, and renewing them from their old habits into the newness of CHRIST.
2. This SPIRIT did David ask for the human race, saying, “And stablish me with THINE all-governing SPIRIT;” Who also, as Luke says, descended at the day of Pentecost upon the disciples after the LORD’S+ ascension, having power to admit all nations to the entrance of Life, and to the opening of the New Covenant;
from whence also, with one accord in all languages, they uttered praise to GOD, the SPIRIT bringing distant tribes to unity, and offering to THE FATHER the first-fruits of all nations.
Wherefore also the LORD+ promised to send the Comforter, Who should join us to GOD.
For as a compacted lump of dough cannot be formed of dry wheat without fluid matter, nor can a loaf possess unity, so, in like manner,
neither could we, being many, be made one in CHRIST JESUS without the WATER from Heaven.
And as dry earth does not bring forth unless it receive moisture, in like manner we also, being originally a dry tree, could never have brought forth fruit unto Life without the voluntary RAIN from above.
For our bodies have received unity among themselves by means of that Laver [ Baptism ] which leads to incorruption; but our souls, by means of the SPIRIT;
Wherefore both are necessary, since both contribute towards the life of GOD;
our LORD+ compassionating that erring Samaritan woman — who did not remain with one husband, but committed fornication by [contracting] many marriages — by pointing out, and promising to her LIVING WATER,
so that she should thirst no more, nor occupy herself in acquiring the refreshing water obtained by labor, having in herself WATER springing up to Eternal Life.
The LORD+ receiving this as a gift from His+ FATHER, does Himself+ also confer it upon those who are partakers of Himself+, sending the HOLY SPIRIT upon all the earth.
3. [ …… ] This SPIRIT, again, HE+ did confer upon the Church, sending throughout all the world the Comforter from Heaven,
from whence also the LORD+ tells us that the devil, like lightning, was cast down.
Wherefore we have need of the DEW of GOD, that we be not consumed by fire, nor be rendered unfruitful,
and that where we have an accuser there we may have also an Advocate,
the LORD+ commending to the HOLY SPIRIT His+ own man [ i.e. the Believer ], who had fallen among thieves, whom HE+ Himself + compassionated, and bound up his wounds, giving two ROYAL DENARIA;
so that we, receiving by the SPIRIT the image and superscription of THE FATHER and The SON+, might cause the denarium entrusted to us to be fruitful, counting out the increase [thereof] to the LORD+.
REFERENCES
NOTE: Material is from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volumes 1-10, American Edition ( a reprint of Christian Literature Publishing Co. 1886), 2nd printing 1995, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA. ISBN 1-56563-087-4
Some supplemental information and dates are from: David W. Bercot, editor, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, Peabody, MA, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998. ISBN 978-1-56563-870-9
Digital Copy from: The Master Christian Library Version 8 CD-ROM 2000 Ages Softward, Rio, WI www.ageslibrary.com
NOTE: This Digital Copy of the ANF does NOT contain any Introductory Notes from the translators and editors, no footnotes, and no elucidations and comments at the end of the books, although these helpful items are contained in the hard copy listed above.
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