Month: May 2019

Irenaeus of Lyons on the humanity and divinity of Christ

The passage below by the second-century Christian theologian Irenaeus of Lyons (around 180 A.D.) shows us very clearly the Christian belief, already at this period, in both the full humanity and full divinity of Christ, and in his virgin birth. (Not that any of this should come as a surprise to those who are familiar

A question of identity: Can a person change his or her religion?

On Friday the implication was made by Rugby Union referee Nigel Owens that a person is free to change their religion. But is this true? His comments were made in relation to Rugby Australia’s recent sacking of Israel Folau following his social media comments. Owens praised the action of Rugby Australia, saying that it sent

Irenaeus of Lyons’ doctrine of recapitulation (2nd century)

Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons was one of the great theologians of the Christian Church in its first two centuries. He asked the question, “How was it that the Lord Jesus Christ saved the human race?” and came up with the idea (prompted by Paul in Romans chapter 5) that Christ relived obediently every stage of

Is John’s Gospel anti-Jewish?

As Christians, when we read John’s Gospel, we do come across some passages in which the language about “the Jews” does, and should, make us uncomfortable. And there is no question that the history of European ‘Christendom’ down the centuries is littered with horrific examples of hostility towards, and persecution of, Europe’s Jews. This unsavoury