Tag: recapitulation

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

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