Forster, P.

English

Chapter One considers the shape of Irenaeus' doctrine of the one God, paying
particular attention to the various attributes which are ascribed to Him :
power, goodness, richness, patience, mercy, justice, holiness, wisdom, omniscience,
omnipresence, incomprehensibility. It is concluded that Irenaeus
had a fuller doctrine of God than has often been appreciated, but that he
departs somewhat from the New Testament in not fully integrating the mercy and
justice of God, and in reflecting, to a limited degree, Middle Platonic teaching
upon His essential incomprehensibility.

Chapter Two treats aspects of Irenaeus' doctrine of the Trinity, notably the
relation between the Father and Word/Son, and the pre-existence of Jesus Christ.
It is argued that Irenaeus severely modifies the 'Logos model' of Justin and other
Apologists, and, consequently, that he moves towards a reconceptualisation of time
around the incarnation, rather than seeing a disincarnate Logos pre-existing in
time.

Chapter Three examines certain fundamental features of Irenaeus, doctrine of
creation : the purpose of God in creating, the question of creation out of nothing,
and the balance between freedom and necessity in God. It is argued that the
particular emphasis given to the will of God compromises the created and independent
rationality of creation.

Chapter Four focuses upon the Irenaean account of providence and created freedom.
An element of rationalism is demonstrated in the former, and tensions which were
later to erupt in the Pelagian controversy are identified in the latter area.
Chapter Five explores Irenaeus' treatment of the place of man in creation, and the
fundamental nature of man as body, soul and Spirit (or spirit). It is argued that
the relation between God and creation, and especially between God and man, is drawn
too tightly, and the chapter illustrates and further explicates this underlying
feature of Irenaeus' doctrines of God and creation, by examining his approaches to
theodicy.

Throughout the thesis the theology of St. Irenaeus is discussed in relation to the
context of Gnostic and Apologetic theology against which he wrote, the New Testament
and, on occasions, modern theology, particularly as exemplified by Karl Barth. The
greatness of St. Irenaeus is not diminished, but the tensions and problems, incipier
and more obvious, in his theology of creation, are emphasised rather more than has 
been customary in previous studies

God and the world in Saint Irenaeus : Theological reflections.

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