Book 4 of Against Heresies – the longest of the five books – is a critical defense of early Christian orthodoxy, addressing and refuting Gnostic beliefs. A significant portion of the Book defends the Old Testament against Gnostic claims of its irrelevance. In light of the Gnostic claim of secret knowledge, Irenaeus hearkens to Apostolic Tradition, noting its centrality to the Christian faith. He argues that God’s revelation is intended for all believers, not just a select few with special insights. Elsewhere, he addresses the ethical implications of Christian faith, critiquing the Gnostic disr ..read more

In Book 3 of Against Heresies, Saint Irenaeus of Lyons continues his refutation of Gnostic teachings and elaborates on the unity and truth of the Christian faith. He begins by pointing out that the Apostles did not speak about the mysteries of God until they received gifts and power from the Holy Spirit. The fact that we have an unbroken lineage from the Apostles to our own day points to this power. Indeed, Irenaeus lists, by name, the bishops of Rome in this lineage, further drawing out that it is through the Church – through the Holy Spirit – that the truth is preserved. And it is in th ..read more

Within the Second Book of Against Heresies, Saint Irenaeus endeavors yet again to lay bare the sophistries of the gnostic sects by demonstrating that neither the angels nor any supposed Demiurge distinct from a higher, supreme God created the universe. Instead, he shows that there is but one God – and it is this one God who created the Universe. Building upon his work in the first book, he further shows that the created world is neither an image nor a shadow of a higher spiritual plane. Such gnostic inventions, he claims, are the result of a wicked interpretation of scripture – a hermeneutic t ..read more

The second apology of Saint Justin Martyr was written during the second century as a defense of the Christian Faith against unjust persecution. At the time, Christianity was seen as a threat to the established pagan religious practices, resulting in sporadic outbreaks of violence against Christians. Tragically, the defense offered by Saint Justin Martyr was not enough to protect him from persecution. Despite his erudite arguments, Justin Martyr was eventually arrested and brought before the Roman authorities. Refusing to renounce his faith, he was condemned to death and martyred for his belief ..read more

The Dialogue with Trypho, composed around 155-160 AD, is a foundational work by the early Christian philosopher and apologist Saint Justin Martyr. Structured as a Socratic dialogue, it records Justin's debate with a Jewish man named Trypho, representing the contemporary discourse between Christians and Jews. In a dialectical style, Justin aims to demonstrate how the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament find fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This text provides invaluable insight into the biblical interpretation, exegetical methods, and theological reasoning of the 2nd century Church. A central ..read more

Dated somewhere between the late first and early second century A.D., the Epistle of Barnabas is a work traditionally attributed to Barnabas, a companion of the Apostle Paul. The author's meticulous employment of typology, which seeks to draw meaningful connections between the events, people, and institutions of the Old Testament and their counterparts in the New Testament, gives a kind of divine life to the work wherein the reader is presented with a vision of the Holy Scriptures as a beautiful tapestry of God's love for mankind. Amidst this profound theological exploration, however, the auth ..read more

The First Apology of Saint Justin Martyr was written around 155 AD during a time of Christian persecution under Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons. The aim of the letter: to argue against the persecution of the Church and defend the teachings of Christianity. As a seasoned philosopher, Saint Justin examines the role of reason and philosophy in the pursuit of truth, emphasizing that Christianity is the fulfillment of all philosophical and religious aspirations. To this end, he highlights the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, touching on the Christian belief in the real presence of Chris ..read more

The Martyrdom of the second-century bishop, Polycarp, stands as a testimony to unwavering faith and enduring devotion to Christ in the early Christian church. Preserved by Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, who meticulously documented the accounts of Polycarp's fellow disciples, this account of Polycarp's martyrdom portends the grim-yet-glorious future awaiting many followers of Christ in the next two centuries. Polycarp, himself a disciple of the apostle John, holds a special place in Orthodox Christian history, embodying the essence of Christian witness amidst persecution. Indeed, the Greek word for wi ..read more

This account of the martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which was written by Ignatius's compatriots Philo of Cilicia and Rheus Agathopus who were eyewitnesses of his death, is testament to the Bishop's unwavering faith and fearless commitment to Jesus Christ. According to Tradition, the Saint drew courage by repeating the name of Jesus Christ – whom he claimed to carry with him by the etching of his name, through ceaseless prayer, on his heart. It is said that the lions that devoured the Saint in the Roman Colosseum left his heart untouched, revealing a golden inscription of the name Jesus ..read more

The following Epistle bears no signature or authorial identification beyond "Mathetes," which means "disciple" or "learner" in Greek. Although the earliest manuscripts of the letter come to us from the thirteen and fourteenth centuries, it is believed that it was written in the early second century A.D. Although its intended recipient, Diognetus, remains somewhat of an enigma as well, he is believed to have been a highly respected individual of noble birth or philosophical disposition. The aim of Mathetes in writing the letter is to explain Christianity to this Diognetus, who appears to be cur ..read more