Typology: some guiding words by Irenaeus

[Mary8]

Irenaeus, circa 178 A.D., Bishop of Lyons, from his work known as Five Books Against the Heresies. The original Greek version was lost, but during the third century a Latin version was published. The Gnostics had decided that the Old Testament was not to be regarded as canonical Scripture, among their heresies.

If any one, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a foreshadowing of the new calling. For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field, that is, in this world (for "the field is the world"); but the treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ, since He was pointed out by means of types and parables. Hence His human nature could not be understood, prior to the consummation of these things which had been predicted, that is, the advent of Christ.   And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet: "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed. For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities. But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. And for this reason, indeed, when at this present time the law is read to the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not possess the explanation of all things pertaining to the advent of the Son of God, which took place in human nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed in a field, but brought to light by the cross of Christ, and explained, both enriching the understanding of men, and showing forth the wisdom of God and declaring His dispensations with regard to man, and forming the kingdom of Christ beforehand, and preaching by anticipation the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaiming beforehand that the man who loves God shall arrive at such excellency as even to see God, and hear His word, and from the hearing of His discourse be glorified to such an extent, that others cannot behold the glory of his countenance, as was said by Daniel: "Those who do understand, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous as the stars for ever and ever." Thus, then, I have shown it to be, if any one read the Scriptures. For thus it was that the Lord discoursed with the disciples after His resurrection from the dead, proving to them from the Scriptures themselves "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world." And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old." I found the foregoing quote at an online site of bible researcher

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Edited February 12, 2018 by Mary8

[Dennis1209]

1 hour ago, Mary8 said:

Irenaeus, circa 178 A.D., Bishop of Lyons, from his work known as Five Books Against the Heresies. The original Greek version was lost, but during the third century a Latin version was published. The Gnostics had decided that the Old Testament was not to be regarded as canonical Scripture, among their heresies.

If any one, therefore, reads the Scriptures with attention, he will find in them an account of Christ, and a foreshadowing of the new calling. For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field, that is, in this world (for "the field is the world"); but the treasure hid in the Scriptures is Christ, since He was pointed out by means of types and parables. Hence His human nature could not be understood, prior to the consummation of these things which had been predicted, that is, the advent of Christ.   And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet: "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed. For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities. But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. And for this reason, indeed, when at this present time the law is read to the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not possess the explanation of all things pertaining to the advent of the Son of God, which took place in human nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed in a field, but brought to light by the cross of Christ, and explained, both enriching the understanding of men, and showing forth the wisdom of God and declaring His dispensations with regard to man, and forming the kingdom of Christ beforehand, and preaching by anticipation the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaiming beforehand that the man who loves God shall arrive at such excellency as even to see God, and hear His word, and from the hearing of His discourse be glorified to such an extent, that others cannot behold the glory of his countenance, as was said by Daniel: "Those who do understand, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous as the stars for ever and ever." Thus, then, I have shown it to be, if any one read the Scriptures. For thus it was that the Lord discoursed with the disciples after His resurrection from the dead, proving to them from the Scriptures themselves "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world." And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old." I found the foregoing quote at an online site of bible researcher

.

I've done some study on both Polycarp and Irenaeus also. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John and Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp. Polycarp was a personal friend of the Apostle John and we know Irenaeus at least had met John. 

Reading and studying their writings in hopes of discovering something new, maybe some inside information John told them that wasn't recorded in the Bible. If I was a friend of the Apostle John, I probably wouldn't be able to stop from asking him all kinds of questions and his experiences.

But I came to the conclusion, and it makes perfect sense, that John would not have reveled anything more than he recorded in scripture. Not speaking of our Bible, but generally speaking of human records, the closer you get to the source, the more detailed and accurate it is, but it's not inspired and only their fallible interpretations and views. 

I've learned to be careful because some of our founding fathers after the Apostles had some radical views and ideas of scripture and the church.