The Testimony of Irenaeus

Irenaeus was a contemporary of Justin Martyr. He lived from A.D.
120-202. Polycarp had sent Ponthius into Celtic Gaul at an early date
as an evangelist. Irenaeus joined him and served as an elder, having
been his fellow-pupil under Polycarp.

Irenaeus also understood the nature of the Godhead, and the origin of
the Logos of God. He speaks very clearly of the difference between the
Father and the Son. He also alludes clearly to the supreme plan of God
which He is working out with human beings. Notice some of his
remarkable statements, which the modern churches have lost sight of and
no longer teach, showing how far they have drifted from the original
teachings of the early believers in Christ.

Irenaeus states:

"Since, therefore, the Father is truly Lord, and the Son truly Lord,
the Holy Spirit has fitly designated them by the title of Lord. ..And
this [text following] does declare the same truth: 'Thy throne, O God,
is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy
God, hath anointed thee.' For the Spirit designates both [of them] by
the name of God --both Him who is anointed as Son, and Him who does
anoint, that is, the Father. And again: 'God stood in the congregation
of the gods,He judges among the gods.' He [here] refers to the Father
and the Son, and those who have received the adoption; but these are
the Church. . . . But of what gods [does he speak]? [Of those] to whom
He says, 'I have said, Ye are gods, and all sons of the Most High"'
(Irenaeus Against Heresies, Ante-Nicene Fathers, book 3, chapter 6,
vol.1, pages 418-419).

Irenaeus then goes on to show how he understood the relationship
between the Father and the Son. He exclaimed:

"Wherefore I do also call upon thee, LORD God of Abraham, and God of
Isaac,
and God of Jacob and Israel, who art the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the
God who, through the abundance of Thy mercy, hast had a favour towards
us,
that we should know Thee, who has made heaven and earth, who rulest
over all,
who art the only and the true God, above whom there is none other God;
grant,
by our Lord Jesus Christ, the governing power of the Holy Spirit; give
to every
reader of this book to know Thee, that Thou art God alone, to be
strengthened in Thee, and to avoid every heretical, and godless, and
impious doctrine" (p419).

Irenaeus then quotes the apostle Paul in I Corinthians, chapter 8,
where Paul himself discusses the nature of the Godhead, saying:

"'For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in
earth; yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all
things, and we through