A pivotal figure of the early Church, St. Irenaeus (c. 130-c. 200) and his June 28th day are worth remembering due to the saint’s great contribution to codifying the Church’s doctrine—beliefs that we still preach, teach, and confess today! Much of Irenaeus’s staunch defense of “tradition” is articulated in his famous Against Heresies, a massive book that is one of the most important works of all of Ancient Christianity written in response to heretics of his time.

Thus, turning to this text and learning more about St. Irenaeus through it can be a useful tool for understanding both how the Church came to be and why our doctrine is what it is.

In the first two parts, Irenaeus takes on the teachings of prominent Gnostic leaders, diving into them and exploring them in greater detail so that readers can understand the arguments he is making against them. Then, in the last three parts, Irenaeus shifts his focus towards explaining why what he professes is true Christian doctrine and showing the falsity of the popular heresies spread inside and outside the Church.

Besides working against these issues, Irenaeus also spends time and space in Against Heresies defending Scripture and the Gospels, as there was much discourse at the time regarding the biblical canon.

Living close to the time of the Apostles, catechized by them, and well educated on the early happenings of the Church, Irenaeus details some important insights on the composition of the Gospels and the Evangelists within Against Heresies, like his description the Matthew’s Gospel was originally composed in Hebrew, Mark wrote his gospel after Peter and Paul left Rome, Luke composed the “gospel Paul preached,” and John wrote his Gospel while in Ephesus. He also explains the various themes of each book and helps characterize them in ways that we still know and understand them.

Reflection Upon the Canonical Gospels

Against Heresies consists of a total of five volumes, 600 pages, and includes complicated language—definitely not “easy reading.” It can be difficult to access and learn from.

However, reading short sections of it can still be an important educational endeavor as it tells us through Irenaeus’s own words the importance of the four Evangelists and their four Gospels, how they came to be, and their significance for the Church. For a suggested “tradition” for this day we are suggesting two items: first, take a closer look at Against Heresies and read a section that discusses the Gospels. We’ve included a short tidbit here for you to look at, and if you’re so inclined, you can check out other parts of the English translations of this text, too.

Second, we wanted to provide a resource for your schools, churches, and homeschools that can help you not only reflect on St. Irenaeus but also pair his day with a deeper understanding of the Gospels and the four Evangelists known through the symbols of an angel/winged man for Matthew, a winged lion for Mark, a winged bull/ox for Luke, and an eagle for John. Through understanding how this second-century early Church father characterized the Gospels and their writers, you can also learn more about who Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were and the “flavors” that the four Gospels have, providing insight in how the teachings of the early Church connect with us today.

Against Heresies

Chapter 11 paragraph 8

8. 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. As also David says, when entreating His manifestation, “Thou that sittest between the cherubim, shine forth.” For the cherubim, too, were four-faced, and their faces were images of the dispensation of the Son of God. For, [as the Scripture] says, “The first living creature was like a lion,” symbolizing His effectual working, His leadership, and royal power; the second [living creature] was like a calf, signifying [His] sacrificial and sacerdotal order; but “the third had, as it were, the face as of a man,”-an evident description of His advent as a human being; “the fourth was like a flying eagle,” pointing out the gift of the Spirit hovering with His wings over the Church. And therefore the Gospels are in accord with these things, among which Christ Jesus is seated. For that according to John relates His original, effectual, and glorious generation from the Father, thus declaring, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Also, “all things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made.” For this reason, too, is that Gospel full of all confidence, for such is His person. But that according to Luke, taking up [His] priestly character, commenced with Zacharias the priest offering sacrifice to God. For now was made ready the fatted calf, about to be immolated for the finding again of the younger son. Matthew, again, relates His generation as a man, saying, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham; ” and also, “The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.” This, then, is the Gospel of His humanity; for which reason it is, too, that [the character of] a humble and meek man is kept up through the whole Gospel. Mark, on the other hand, commences with [a reference to] the prophetical spirit coming down from on high to men, saying, “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written in Esaias the prophet,”-pointing to the winged aspect of the Gospel; and on this account he made a compendious and cursory narrative, for such is the prophetical character. And the Word of God Himself used to converse with the ante-Mosaic patriarchs, in accordance with His divinity and glory; but for those under the law he instituted a sacerdotal and liturgical service. Afterwards, being made man for us, He sent the gift of the celestial Spirit over all the earth, protecting us with His wings. Such, then, as was the course followed by the Son of God, so was also the form of the living creatures; and such as was the form of the living creatures, so was also the character of the Gospel. For the living creatures are quadriform, and the Gospel is quadriform, as is also the course followed by the Lord. For this reason were four principal (kaqolikai/) covenants given to the human race: one, prior to the deluge, under Adam; the second, that after the deluge, under Noah; the third, the giving of the law, under Moses; the fourth, that which renovates man, and sums up all things in itself by means of the Gospel, raising and bearing men upon heavenly kingdom.