Greek · Adversus haereses · Detection and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called
A five-book refutation of Valentinian and other Gnostic teachings, followed by an exposition of the apostolic faith from scripture. The Greek original is lost apart from fragments; it survives complete in an early Latin translation.
Dating
Book 3 names Eleutherus as the current bishop of Rome (3.3.3; c. 174-189). The five books were probably written in stages across the 180s.Books it uses
AH 3.1.1 gives each Gospel's origin; AH 3.11.8 argues there can be neither more nor fewer than four Gospels.
AH 3.1.1 gives each Gospel's origin; AH 3.11.8 argues there can be neither more nor fewer than four Gospels.
AH 3.1.1 gives each Gospel's origin; AH 3.11.8 argues there can be neither more nor fewer than four Gospels.
AH 3.1.1 gives each Gospel's origin; AH 3.11.8 argues there can be neither more nor fewer than four Gospels.
AH 3.12–15 quotes Acts at length as Luke's record of apostolic preaching.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
Quoted by name as Paul's ('the apostle'); Irenaeus cites every Pauline letter except Philemon.
No clear quotation in AH. Eusebius (HE 5.26) says a lost work of Irenaeus cited Hebrews; Photius reports he denied its Pauline authorship.
AH 4.16.2 Abraham 'the friend of God' (Jas 2:23; also Isa 41:8), a common phrase.
AH 4.9.2 'Peter says in his Epistle' (1 Pet 1:8); also 4.16.5, 5.7.2.
AH 5.23.2 and 5.28.3 'a day of the Lord is as a thousand years' may reflect 2 Pet 3:8 but equally Ps 90:4.
AH 3.16.5, 3.16.8 quote John's 'Epistle' (1 John 2:18–22; 4:1–3; 5:1).
AH 1.16.3 quotes 2 John 11 as from 'John, the disciple of the Lord'; AH 3.16.8 quotes 2 John 7–8 but merges it with 1 John as 'his Epistle'.
AH 4.20.11, 5.30 cite 'John, the Lord's disciple, in the Apocalypse'; 5.30.1 compares 'the most approved and ancient copies' on 666.
Quotations
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.
AH 3.1.1Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Origins of all four Gospels, with apostolic attribution for each.
It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. For, since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is scattered throughout all the world, and the “pillar and ground” of the Church is the Gospel and the spirit of life; it is fitting that she should have four pillars, breathing out immortality on every side, and vivifying men afresh. From which fact, it is evident that the Word, the Artificer of all, He that sitteth upon the cherubim, and contains all things, He who was manifested to men, has given us the Gospel under four aspects, but bound together by one Spirit.
AH 3.11.8Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
The four-Gospel canon argued as a necessity of creation (four zones, four winds; the passage goes on to the four living creatures of Rev 4:7). 'Pillar and ground' is from 1 Tim 3:15.
1 Timothy 3:15 BSB
15in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
and His disciple, in his Epistle already mentioned, commands us to avoid them, when he says: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Take heed to them, that ye lose not what ye have wrought.
AH 3.16.8Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Quotes 2 John 7–8 but as 'his Epistle already mentioned', i.e. Irenaeus does not distinguish it from 1 John.
2 John 1:7–8 BSB
7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
For this reason also he has thus testified to us in his Epistle: “Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that Antichrist doth come, now have many antichrists appeared;
AH 3.16.5Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
1 John quoted as John's Epistle.
1 John 2:18 BSB
18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
and Peter says in his Epistle: “Whom, not seeing, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, ye have believed, ye shall rejoice with joy unspeakable;”
AH 4.9.2Quotation
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
1 Peter cited by name ('his Epistle', singular).
1 Peter 1:8 BSB
8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
Truly, then, the Scripture declared, which says, “First of all believe that there is one God, who has established all things, and completed them, and having caused that from what had no being, all things should come into existence:”
AH 4.20.2Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Quotes Hermas, Mandate 1.1, as 'Scripture': the Shepherd's high standing in the late 2nd century.
this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it];
AH 5.30.1Names the book
ANF vol. 1 (1885), ed. Roberts & Donaldson, American ed. A. C. Coxe (tr. A. Roberts & W. H. Rambaut) · Source (opens in a new tab)
Text-critical remark on 666 vs 616: Revelation already circulates in multiple copies that can be compared.
Revelation 13:18 BSB
18Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.