Podcast Summary: Catholic Saints – Episode: St. Irenaeus on Unity

Podcast Information:

• Title: Catholic Saints
• Host/Author: Augustine Institute
• Description: Delve into the lives of officially recognized Catholic saints with scripture scholars from the Augustine Institute. Gain deeper insights into heroic men and women transformed by God's love, including figures like St. Augustine, St. Monica, St. Philip Neri, and St. Catherine of Siena.
• Episode: St. Irenaeus on Unity
• Release Date: June 28, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "St. Irenaeus on Unity," hosted by Dr. Ben Akers, the Chief Content Officer of the Augustine Institute, listeners are introduced to St. Irenaeus, a pivotal figure in early Christian theology. Dr. Akers welcomes Dr. John Seehorn, Dean and Professor of Theology at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, to explore the life, teachings, and enduring impact of St. Irenaeus.

[00:22] Dr. Ben Akers:
"Pope Francis just named him the Doctor of Unity, so he's going to name him a Doctor of the Church."

Historical Context

Dr. Seehorn provides a comprehensive background on St. Irenaeus, highlighting his origins and the era in which he lived.

[01:15] Dr. John Seehorn:
"Irenaeus lived during the second century. Right. So he was born probably about 100 years after our Lord's passion, around the year 130."

St. Irenaeus hailed from Smyrna in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and was deeply influenced by Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna and a direct disciple of John the Apostle. This close connection to apostolic teachings underscores the authenticity and depth of Irenaeus' theological insights.

[02:48] Dr. Ben Akers:
"Polycarp may have heard from him, met him, and then Irenaeus learns from Polycarp. So we're like, we're in touch with the apostles who know Christ."

Migration to Gaul and the Spread of Faith

Despite his origins in Asia Minor, St. Irenaeus is recognized as Saint Irenaeus of Lyon in Gaul (modern-day France). Dr. Seehorn explains the likely connections and movements within the Roman Empire that facilitated his relocation.

[03:48] Dr. Ben Akers:
"So how do. What happens there? How does he get over there?"

[04:25] Dr. John Seehorn:
"There was a community of Greek speaking Christians in Gaul, in Lyon and in nearby Vienne. They had connections with Rome, a cosmopolitan city where people from all over the empire would settle."

This migration reflects the interconnectedness of early Christian communities, bridging Eastern and Western traditions within the expansive Roman Empire.

St. Irenaeus: Father and Doctor of the Church

A significant portion of the discussion centers on recent honors bestowed upon St. Irenaeus, particularly his designation as the Doctor of Unity by Pope Francis. This title emphasizes his role in bridging theological divides between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity.

[04:55] Dr. John Seehorn:
"In the declaration whereby Pope Francis made Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church, he actually says that he's giving him this title, at least in part, because he's a kind of bridge between the east and the West."

Understanding Church Titles:

Dr. Seehorn delineates the distinction between a Father of the Church and a Doctor of the Church.

[05:12] Dr. John Seehorn:
"A father of the Church ... is someone who's distinguished by his antiquity, holiness of life, orthodoxy of teaching... A doctor of the Church is sort of one step further, specifically with respect to teaching. A teacher of the Church."

St. Irenaeus, already revered as a Father of the Church, is elevated to Doctor of the Church due to his substantial contributions to theological education and his role in fostering unity.

Irenaeus' Contributions to Theology

Key Works:

1. "Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching" – A concise text affirming apostolic teachings.
2. "Against Heresies" – A comprehensive work combating various early Christian heresies, showcasing systematic theology.

[06:11] Dr. John Seehorn:
"Irenaeus did leave us... 'Against Heresies'... so well developed that a lot of the things that Irenaeus puts in systematic theology."

Despite being an opponent to heretical views, Irenaeus exhibited profound understanding of these opposing philosophies, often accurately depicting their doctrines.

[07:24] Dr. John Seehorn:
"Irenaeus actually says that... the false gnosis. And so Irenaeus kind of refers to these groups under the blanket term of the false gnosis... we often call them Gnostics."

Combating Heresies: Gnosticism and Marcionism

St. Irenaeus was instrumental in countering early heresies that distorted Christian doctrine.

1. Gnosticism: Characterized by esoteric knowledge (gnosis) and dualistic views separating the material and spiritual worlds.
2. Marcionism: Founded by Marcion, who posited that the Old Testament God was a different, more wrathful deity than the benevolent God of the New Testament.

[08:56] Dr. Ben Akers:
"... people mistakenly say the Old Testament portrays God as angry and mean."

[09:15] Dr. Ben Akers:
"The Church teaches unequivocally... the Old Testament is truly the word of God."

Irenaeus emphasized the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, affirming that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of the Father who authored both Testaments.

The Pillars of Irenaeus' Arguments Against Heresies

Dr. Seehorn outlines the foundational elements of Irenaeus' theological defense:

1. In-Depth Understanding of Opponents: Irenaeus showcased a profound comprehension of heretical doctrines, allowing him to effectively dismantle their arguments.

   [11:14] Dr. John Seehorn:
   "One of the things he does is he tries to show the internal incoherence of these sort of belief systems that the Gnostics were proposing."

2. Positive Theology: Beyond refuting heresies, Irenaeus articulated a cohesive and unified Christian theology based on Scripture.

   [12:30] Dr. Ben Akers:
   "If you're going to engage with people that don't share the same beliefs, understand their position... to give the correct response."

3. Apostolic Succession and Unity: Irenaeus emphasized the uniformity and consistency of Christian faith across diverse regions, reinforcing the concept of apostolic succession—the transmission of authority from the apostles to their successors.

   [14:29] Dr. John Seehorn:
   "One of the arguments he makes for the trustworthiness of the Catholic faith is the fact that you can find it anywhere you go."

St. Irenaeus' Emphasis on Unity

The theme of unity is central to Irenaeus' theology, aligning with his designation as the Doctor of Unity.

[15:48] Dr. Ben Akers:
"Saint Irenaeus of Lyon... declared... one single house, believing, have but one soul, one single heart with a unanimous voice."

Irenaeus articulated that the global Christian community, though geographically dispersed, maintains doctrinal unity through a shared apostolic foundation.

Doctrine of Deification (Divinization)

One of the profound theological contributions of Irenaeus is the concept of deification, the process by which humans participate in the divine life of God.

[16:07] Dr. John Seehorn:
"We're created not just to... but actually to share in the very life of God."

Understanding Deification:

• Not Polytheism: Irenaeus did not suggest humans become gods in a pagan sense but partake in God's divine nature through grace.
• Trinitarian Communion: Reflects the intimacy and unity within the Holy Trinity, inviting believers into a similar communion.

[17:12] Dr. Ben Akers:
"How am I supposed to understand that deification? So, like, am I supposed to be... Do I become a God?"

[17:34] Dr. John Seehorn:
"It should be more as being embraced into the trinitarian communion that Jesus has always shared with His Father in the Holy Spirit."

This doctrine underscores the ultimate goal of human existence in Christian theology—to unite intimately with God.

Enduring Impact and Recognition

St. Irenaeus' teachings have left a lasting legacy within the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church references his work extensively, emphasizing themes of unity and apostolic tradition.

[14:29] Dr. Ben Akers:
"Saint Irenaeus is quoted 28 times in the Catechism, under the heading of 'only one faith, about the unity.'"

Conclusion

The episode concludes with reflections on the relevance of St. Irenaeus' teachings today and an invitation for listeners to further their theological education through the Augustine Institute's Graduate School of Theology.

[18:38] Dr. Ben Akers:
"Thank you for joining us on this discussion about Catholic saints, especially Saint Irenaeus today."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Dr. Ben Akers [00:22]:
   "Pope Francis just named him the Doctor of Unity, so he's going to name him a Doctor of the Church."

2. Dr. John Seehorn [04:55]:
   "In the declaration whereby Pope Francis made Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church, he actually says that he's giving him this title, at least in part, because he's a kind of bridge between the east and the West."

3. Dr. John Seehorn [11:14]:
   "One of the things he does is he tries to show the internal incoherence of these sort of belief systems that the Gnostics were proposing."

4. Dr. Ben Akers [12:30]:
   "If you're going to engage with people that don't share the same beliefs, understand their position... to give the correct response."

5. Dr. John Seehorn [17:12]:
   "We're created not just to... but actually to share in the very life of God."

Additional Resources:

• To explore more about St. Irenaeus and other saints, visit formed.org, the online Catholic streaming service by the Augustine Institute.
• For those interested in pursuing graduate theology, contact Rachel Gilmore, the admissions director at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology.