1. Church’s Response to Gnosticism 1.Discipline; catechesis; polemic. 2.Irenaeus’s description of Gnostic teachings and practices. 3.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 1.Why did Irenaeus write Against Heresies? What was his purpose? (p. 197) 2.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). 3.Why are the Gnostics dangerous? 4.How did the Gnostics understand the process of redemption? 5.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