Eastern Christian Supply—Proof of the Apostolic Preaching

Proof of the Apostolic Preaching

St. Irenaeus
Translated and Annotated by Joseph P. Smith, S.J.

No. 16 of Ancient Christian Writers: The Works of the Fathers in Translation

“The Proof[...]is addressed to a fellow-Christian, Marcianus, who may have been the author’s brother, and who may have been a bishop. It expounds the ‘rule of faith’ in the formula of baptism (the mysteries of the Trinity and of the Incarnation), and the history in the Old Testament of the creation and fall of man and the unfolding of God’s design for his restoration, showing also how the details of the Incarnation, Ministry, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension and universal Kingdom of Christ were foretold, and thereby proves the truth of the mission of the apostles, and so of the Church which they founded.”
—“Introduction”

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
   A. AUTHOR AND WORKS. PUBLICATIONS OF THE PROOF
      1. The Author.—2. His Works.—3. Armenian Text.—4. Translations.
   B. TEXTUAL HISTORY
      5. Authenticity.—6. Date and Place of Composition.—7. Date of the Manuscript. Textual Tradition.—8. Date of Translation: External Evidence.—9. Date of Translation: Internal Evidence.—10. Translation Directly from the Greek.—11. State of Text.—12. Principles of this Translation.
   C. TITLE, ADDRESSEE, FORM AND STYLE
      13. Title.—14. Addressee.—15. Literary Form.—16. Style.
   D. DIVISION AND CONTENTS
      17. Division.—18. God and Creatures; the Fall.—19. History of Redemption.—20. Christ in the Old Law.—21. Christ in the New Law.—22. Problems presented.
   E. SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE
      23. Apparent Aim: Catechetic.—24. Real Aim: Apologetic.—25. Method. Exegesis.—26. Importance.
   F. THEOLOGY OF THE PROOF
      27. Irenaeus’s Preoccupations.—28. Gnosticism; Marcion.—29. God and the World.—30. God the Father.—31. God the Son.—32. The Holy Spirit.—33. Man.—34. “Spiritual Man” and Good Works.—35. The Trinity and Man.—36. Recapitulation; Communion; Incorruptibility.
   G. LITERARY AFFINITIES OF THE PROOF
      37. Irenaeus and his Sources; Contra Iudaeos.—38. Scripture.—39. Apocrypha.—40. Tradition; Plato; the “Elders.”—41. Apostolic Fathers.—42. Justin.—43. Theophilus; other Apologists.—44. Clement of Alexandria?
   H. SOME REMARKS ON THE MATTER OF THE PROOF
      45. Omissions and Inclusions.—46. Some Notable Points.—47. Some Peculiarities.—48. Leading Ideas.
   I. CONCLUSION (SUMMARY)
      49. Irenaeus and the Proof.—50. The Message of the Proof.
TEXT
   A. GOD AND CREATURES. THE FALL
      1. The Way of Life.—2. Faith and Good Works.—3. The Rule of Faith.—4. Origin of Creatures.—5. The Trinity and Creatures.—6. The Three Articles of the Faith.—7. The Trinity and our Rebirth.—8. God the Father and Mankind.—9. Seven Heavens.—10. God Supreme Ruler.—11. Creation of Man.—12. Paradise.—13. Eve.—14. Primal Innocence.—15. Tree of Knowledge. Immortality.—16. The Fall.
   B. HISTORY OF REDEMPTION
      17. Cain and Abel.—18. The Giants.—19. The Flood.—20. The Curse of Cham.—21. The Blessings of Sem and Japheth.—22. The Covenant with Noe.—23. Babel.—24. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.—25. Egypt. The Passover.—26. The Law.—27. The Spies. The Wandering in the Desert.—28. Deuteronomy.—29. The Promised Land.—30. The Prophets.—31. Incorruptibility.—32. Adam and Christ.—33. Eve and the Mother of God.—34. The Tree of Knowledge and the Cross.—35. Promise of Abraham fulfilled.—36. Promise to David fulfilled. Virgin Birth.—37. The Triumph of the Redemption.—38-39. Genuine Birth, Death, and Resurrection.—39-40. The Primacy of Christ.—40-41. Review: Moses to the Apostles.—41-42. Apostolic Preaching.
   C. CHRIST IN THE OLD LAW
      42. The Prophecies.—43. The Son in the Beginning.—44. The Son and Abraham. Sodom and Gomorrha.—45. The Son and Jacob. Theophanies are of the Son.—46. The Son and Moses in the Desert.—47. The Trinity and Creatures.—48. The Lord saith to my Lord... (Ps. 109).—49. The Son Anointed King. God speaks in the Prophets.—50-51. The Son Pre-existent. Saviour of All.—52. The Message of Scripture.—53. The Virgin shall conceive. “Christ Jesus.”—54. “Emmanuel.” Virgin Birth.—54-55. “Wonderful Counsellor.”—56. They shall wish that they had been burnt with fire.—57. “A Ruler from Juda.” “Blood of the Grape.”—58. Star of Jacob.—59. Rod and Flower from the Roots of Jesse.—60. “Just Judgement to the Lowly.”—61. The wolf shall feed with the lamb.—62. I will raise up the tabernacle of David.—63. Bethlehem of Judaea.—64. The Son of David for evermore.—65. Entry into Jerusalem.—66. Christ in the Prophets.—67. Christ’s Miracles.—68-69. The Passion.—69 The Taking of Judgement.—70. Who shall declare His generation?—. 71. Under Thy shadow shall we live.—72. The Death of the Just Man.—73. The Resurrection.—74. Herod and Pilate.—75. The Passion (by the Will of the Father).—76. The Arrest of Christ.—77. Christ before Herod.—78. Descent into Hell.—79. Crucifixion.—80. The Parting of the Garments.—81. The Thirty Pieces of Silver.—82. Gall and Vinegar.—83. The Ascension.—84. The Entry into Heaven.—85. Awaiting the Judgement.
   D. CHRIST IN THE NEW LAW
      86. The Prophets and the Apostolic Preaching.—87. Charity supersedes the Law.—88. Christ in Glory. He Himself redeemed us.—89. The Spirit supersedes the Law.—90. Newness of Spirit. The New Covenant.—91-92. The Gentiles Heirs to the Promises.—93. The Gentiles to be a Holy People.—94. Church more fruitful than Synagogue.—95. The Gentiles supplant Israel.—96. We have no need of the Law.—97. Nearness of Almighty Aid.—98. Conclusion.—99. Error against the Persons of the Trinity.—100. Beware of Heretics!
NOTES
   TO THE INTRODUCTION
   TO THE TEXT
INDEX

Item Number: BKPP919C
Publication Data: New York, NY/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1952
Format: hardcover
Number of Pages: viii + 233
Dimensions (l × w × h): 22.2 cm × 14.6 cm × 2.2 cm
ISBN: 0‒8091‒0264‒1

$26.95 (USD)