|
|
Article: Irenaeus and the baptism of Jesus.
- Article from:
- Theological Studies
- Article date:
- December 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Theological Studies, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Irenaeus of Lyons in Book 3 of his Adversus Haereses (c. 180) displays a remarkable interest in Jesus' baptism and the accompanying anointing by the Spirit. He uses Jesus' baptism primarily to demonstrate that it is the Spirit of God and not some other entity that descends upon Jesus at the Jordan. "Christ did not at that time descend upon Jesus, neither was Christ one and Jesus another; but the Word of God--who is the Savior of all, and the ruler of heaven and earth, who is Jesus, as I have already pointed out, who did also take upon him flesh, and was anointed by the Spirit from the Father--was made Jesus Christ . . ." (Adu. haer. 3.9.3).(1) Irenaeus's concern is to ...