The importance of Genesis 1-3 in the theology of Irenaeus

Abstract

The narratives of creation and fall in Genesis chapter 1-3 plays a determining role in the theology of Irenaeus. In these narratives he founds his positive evaluation of the material reality which he sets up against the gnostics' negative evaluation of the material existence. In the theology of Irenaeus creation and consummation, anthropology and soteriology is closely connected. The central aim of his theological work is to make it clear what Man was meant to be, what He was and is, and what He will be. Man was never what God had thought Him to be, because He sinned. According to Irenaeus Man will be perfect when He some times in the future will be what God in the beginning had meant Him to be. The Fall of Man made history the history of salvation: God will make Man perfect through a process of healing. In the light of this, it is understandable that the stories of creation and fall play a very important role in the theology of Irenaeus. The idea of Man's creation in the image and likeness of God is especially important to Irenaeus: Through the process of creation and salvation God tries to impress his picture on Man. © Walter de Gruyter 2005.