The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1-3 in Irenaeus of Lyons

318 Pages·2015·3.684 MB·English

by  Stephen O. Presley

The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Irenaeus of Lyons
The Bible in Ancient Christianity
General Editor
D. Jeffrey Bingham
Editorial Board
Brian E. Daley
Robin M. Jensen
Christoph Markschies
Peter Martens
David G.K. Taylor
Maureen A. Tilley
Robert L. Wilken
VOLUME 8
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/bac
The Intertextual Reception of
Genesis 1–3 in Irenaeus of Lyons
By
Stephen O. Presley
LEIDEN | BOSTON
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Presley, Stephen O.
 The intertextual reception of Genesis 1–3 in Irenaeus of Lyons / by Stephen O. Presley.
  pages cm. — (The Bible in ancient Christianity, ISSN 1542-1295 ; volume 8)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 ISBN 978-90-04-28990-1 (hardback : acid-free paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-29452-3 (e-book) 1. Bible.
Genesis, I–III—Criticism, interpretation, etc.—History—Early church, ca. 30–600. 2. Irenaeus, Saint,
Bishop of Lyon. I. Title.
 BS1235.52.P74 2015
 222’.1106092—dc23
2015008938
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issn 1542-1295
isbn 978-90-04-28990-1 (hardback)
isbn 978-90-04-29452-3 (e-book)
Copyright 2015 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill nv incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Hes & De Graaf, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Rodopi and
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For Haley, with love
Haer 5.35.2
∵

Contents
List of Abbreviations x
Acknowledgments xii
1 Introduction: Toward an Appreciation for Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading
of Genesis 1–3 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Intertextuality in Modern Biblical Studies and the Ancient World 7
1.3 The Intertextual Nature of Irenaeus’ Scripture Reading 12
1.4 Framing the Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Irenaeus 27
1.5 Methodology and Qualifications 39
2 Reading Gnostic Creation: The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in
Book 1 of Adversus Haereses 46
2.1 Introduction 46
2.2 The Valentinian Reading of Creation: Haer. 1.5.1–6 49
2.3 Irenaeus on Creation and Incarnation: Haer. 1.9.3 52
2.4 The Marcosian Reading of Creation: Haer. 1.14.6 and
Haer. 1.18.1–4 53
2.5 Irenaeus on Creation and the regula veritatis: Haer. 1.22.1 57
2.6 Other Gnostic Readings of Creation: Haer. 1.24.1–2, Haer. 1.28.1, and
Haer. 1.30.1–9 59
2.7 Conclusion: Irenaeus and the Gnostics’ Intertextual Reading of
Gen 1–3 in Haer. 1 68
3 Refuting Gnostic Creation: The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in
Book 2 of Adversus Haereses 73
3.1 Introduction 73
3.2 Reading Moses with the Apostles: Haer. 2.2.5 74
3.3 The Knowledge of God and the Growth of Humankind in Creation:
Haer. 2.26.1 and Haer. 2.28.1 77
3.4 Refuting Valentinian Anthropology: Haer. 2.30.7 and
Haer. 2.30.9 80
3.5 Creation of the Body and Soul: Haer. 2.34.3–4 83
3.6 Conclusion: Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading of Gen 1–3 in
Haer. 2 85
viii Contents
4 Reading Genesis from Creation to Incarnation: The Intertextual
Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Book 3 of Adversus Haereses 88
4.1 Introduction 88
4.2 Creation and the Narrative of the Apostolic Tradition:
Haer. 3.3.3 89
4.3 Son of God in Creation and Covenant: Haer. 3.11.5, 8 91
4.4 Salvation from Creation to Incarnation: Haer. 3.18.1,7 96
4.5 Creation, Incarnation, and Resurrection: Haer. 3.19.3–20.1 98
4.6 Adam, Christ, and Recapitulation: Haer. 3.21.10 103
4.7 Adam’s Formation and Christ’s Incarnation: Haer. 3.22.1–4 106
4.8 The Serpent’s Deception and the Hope of Adam’s Salvation:
Haer. 3.23.1–8 115
4.9 The Church, the Spirit, and the Knowledge of God:
Haer. 3.24.1–2 126
4.10 Conclusion: Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading of Gen 1–3 in
Haer. 3 129
5 Genesis, the Creation, and the Divine Economy: The Intertextual
Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Book 4 of Adversus Haereses 134
5.1 Introduction 134
5.2 The Heretics and Gen 1-3: Haer. 4.pf.3–4 135
5.3 The Framer, Maker, and Nourisher of Creation: Haer. 4.6.2 137
5.4 The Son of God Conversing with Adam: Haer. 4.10.1 139
5.5 The Divine Economy and the Growth of Humankind:
Haer. 4.11.1–2 139
5.6 Why God Created Humankind: Haer. 4.14.1 142
5.7 The Sign of Sabbath Rest: Haer. 4.16.1 143
5.8 Creation and the Supremacy of God Over All Things:
Haer. 4.20.1–4 144
5.9 Word of God and the Unity of Scripture: Haer. 4.32.1 149
5.10 The Spiritual Disciple and the Heretics: Haer. 4.33.4 and
Haer. 4.34.4 151
5.11 Adam in the Parables of Christ: Haer. 4.36.2–6 154
5.12 Image, Likeness, and Freedom: Haer. 4.37.4 157
5.13 Perfection in the Image and Likeness of God: Haer. 4.38.1–4 158
5.14 God Makes and Humankind is Made: Haer. 4.39.2 164
5.15 The Prophecy of Eschatological Judgment in Creation:
Haer. 4.40.3 166
5.16 Conclusion: Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading of Gen 1–3 in
Haer. 4 167
Contents ix
6 From Creation to the Resurrection of the Body: The Intertextual
Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Book 5 of Adversus Haereses 172
6.1 Introduction 172
6.2 Refuting Valentinians, Ebionites, and Marcion:
Haer. 5.1.1–5.2.1 173
6.3 The Resurrection of the Body: Haer. 5.3.1 and Haer. 5.5.2 181
6.4 Perfection in the Image and Likeness: Haer. 5.6.1 185
6.5 The Narrative of Resurrection: Haer. 5.7.1–2 188
6.6 The Spirit and the Image and Likeness: Haer. 5.8.1 190
6.7 Flesh, Blood, and the Kingdom of God: Haer. 5.10.1, Haer. 5.12.1–6,
Haer. 5.14.1–2 191
6.8 Creation, Resurrection, and the Healing of the Blind Man:
Haer. 5:15.2–16.2 197
6.9 Christ, Adam, and Restoration at the Tree: Haer. 5.16.3, Haer. 5.17.1–4,
Haer. 5.19.1, Haer. 5.20.2 207
6.10 The Temptations of Adam and Christ: Haer. 5.21.1–3 and
Haer. 5.23.1–2 215
6.11 Creation and Eschatology in Irenaeus: Haer. 5.26.2, Haer. 5.28.3–4,
Haer. 5.30.4, Haer. 5.33.1–4, Haer. 5.34.2, and Haer. 5.36.3 223
6.12 Conclusion: Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading of Gen 1-3 in
Haer. 5 232
7 Conclusion: Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in
Adversus Haereses 240
7.1 Introduction 240
7.2 Irenaeus on the Gnostic Reading of Gen 1–3 241
7.3 Irenaeus’ Intertextual Reading of Gen 1–3 245
7.4 Conclusion 262
Appendix 263
Bibliography 268
Index of Scriptures 285
Index of Modern Authors 296
Index of Subjects 298