Abstract

The concept of the divine Logos was a central topic not only in the Church, but also among the philosophers and theologians of the first centuries of our era. Irenaeus of Lyon, the most significant apologist of that time, focused on human participation in the divine Logos, especially in his main work Adversus haereses. Based on the Holy Tradition and the Scriptures, he offered an orthodox view of the Logos as equal with God, the Creator of the universe. Irenaeus explained that the Logos is inherent in all creatures, but more so in humans and spiritual beings. Because of the divine Logos, rational beings are able to recognize the inner life of God. As a contrast, Irenaeus also outlined false Gnostic ideas about and misunderstandings of the Logos. In sum, he followed the official teaching of the Church and apostolic doctrine about the origin of the divine Logos as the Only-begotten Son of God, the intermediary and co-creator of the cosmos.