Teacher 2, Irenaeus: Irenaeus was born about 125. He was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, which is now Lyons, France. Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, where he studied under Bishop Polycarp, who in turn had been a disciple of the Apostle John. Leaving Smyrna for Rome, he joined the school of Justin Martyr before being made bishop of Lyons in Southern Gaul in about 178. Irenaeus is primarily known for his actions of arguing against early Gnosticism. He wrote his major works “Against Heresies” and “Proof of the Apostolic Preaching”. His point was to …show more content…
Gnosticism derives its meaning from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge, and knowledge plays a very important role in this faith. There were many groups that were Gnostic, but generally speaking, Gnosticism taught that salvation is achieved through special knowledge. This special knowledge usually dealt with a person’s relationship with God. According to the Gnostics, matter is evil, deliverance from the material world was attainable only through the special knowledge revealed by Gnostic teachers. Christ was the ultimate redeemer who descended from the spiritual pure realm to reveal the knowledge necessary for this