Who Is Saint Irenaeus of Lyons? | Catholic Saints

[@TrixRN]

I love reading & learning about the Early Church Fathers.

[@tonyl3762]

LOVE Irenaeus! Such a pivotal figure and prolific writer in history and for the faith. One of my children is named after him.

[@sambigg4620]

Irenaeus said that Jesus Christ was 50 years old when crucified and had a 20-year Ministry do you still love him?

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

Tony, check out Pirkei Avot 5:25. Ireneaus is saying Jesus couldn’t be merely 30. He’s using a cultural argument of his time. According to Judah Ben Tema, a man could not give counsel until 50, Wisdom at 40. This is only one of the attacks Irenaeus used against the Gnostics claim that Jesus was 30 at the time of his passion. Sorry if this is old news. I love Saint Irenaeus as well.

[@tonyl3762]

@@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν Thank you for that Jewish citation! Much appreciated!

[@tonyl3762]

@@sambigg4620 Irenaeus does NOT claim that the Apostles passed down the Tradition that Jesus was 50 years old when He died. The Apostolic Tradition was likely that Jesus "possessed the full age of a Master/Teacher" at the age of 30. But Irenaeus goes beyond the Tradition, appealing to "common knowledge" and his own personal interpretation of Jn 8:56-57 to infer from Tradition that Jesus must have been older than 40. He overreaches in his desire to rebut the heretics who said Jesus died at age 30. Moreover, this is a relatively minor historical issue to be mistaken about (not really theology/doctrine), and he is the only one of the early fathers to make this mistake. What Irenaeus has to say about the papacy, Church authority and hierarchy, apostolic succession in the episcopate, transubstantiation and sacrifice of the Eucharist, Christian priesthood, Mary as the New Eve and her role in salvation, the canon of Scripture (including Deuterocanon), etc. all comports with those writing before and after him. This objection about Jesus' age is merely an excuse/rationalization to unjustly ignore the legit apostolic Traditions and biblical interpretations Irenaeus received and passed on.

[@TheAuntMar-USA]

Wonderful discussion! Thank you!

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

Irenaeus’ argument is Jesus’ age was not merely 30 as the Gnostics claimed. The 50 yr old statement is taken from Pirkei Avot 5:25. It’s a cultural norm that existed in that time regarding a mans age and station in life. Irenaeus counts the Passovers to reckon Jesus’ age. If you follow what he’s saying you arrive at 32 years old. Ο Θεός να ευλογεί.

[@tonyl3762]

In which writing/book/chapter/paragraph, does Irenaeus count Passovers to reckon Jesus' age??

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

@@tonyl3762 It’s Book II chapter 22 paragraph 3. Irenaeus cites the 3 Passovers and seemingly expected us to count them out following our Lords baptism. This seems to refute the number 12 and 30 (Aeons) that the Gnostics claim. At least regarding our Lords age and length of ministry.

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

@@tonyl3762 Against Heresies that is. New Advent has a translation of it.

[@sambigg4620]

He didn't even know the age of Jesus or his length of ministry so he's not really worth much in my book he said Jesus was 50 years old and had a 20 year Ministry anybody who was trained right under polycarp should know this😢

[@ΕλέησονΑμαρτωλόν]

Check out Pirkei Avot 5:25. It’s a contemporary cultural argument. One must be 50 to be a Master or as Ben Judah Tema said, give counsel. Jesus’ actual age is reckoned in Against Heresies Book II chapter 22 verse 3. Irenaeus, if you keep up with what he’s saying, claims Jesus was 32-33. He counts the Passovers from his Baptism.