Theological Speculation in Irenaeus: Perils and Possibilities

For over seventy years scholars have accepted the reading advanced by T.-A. Audet, R.M. Grant, and W.R. Schoedel that Irenaeus of Lyons was strictly opposed to causal speculation. This article challenges their reading and offers one of its own. I contend that Irenaeus argues for a differentiated kno...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Briggman, Anthony (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2017
In: Vigiliae Christianae
Year: 2017, Volume: 71, Issue: 2, Pages: 175-198
IxTheo Classification:FA Theology
KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity
VA Philosophy
Further subjects:B Irenaeus of Lyons theological speculation Empiricism Scepticism economic theology Trinitarian theology
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:For over seventy years scholars have accepted the reading advanced by T.-A. Audet, R.M. Grant, and W.R. Schoedel that Irenaeus of Lyons was strictly opposed to causal speculation. This article challenges their reading and offers one of its own. I contend that Irenaeus argues for a differentiated knowledge of terrestrial and celestial matters, such that some things are known while others are not. This differentiation of knowledge encompasses questions of causation. Irenaeus, I argue, was not just concerned about the perils of theological speculation but also its possibilities.
ISSN:1570-0720
Contains:In: Vigiliae Christianae
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700720-12341293