St. Irenaeus of Lyons on “Salvation History”
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
God therefore has borne all these things for our sake, in order that, having been instructed through all things, henceforth we may be scrupulous in all things and, having been taught how to love God rationally [logikos], remain in His love: God exhibiting patience in regard to the human apostasy of human beings, and human beings being taught by it, as the prophet says: “Your own apostasy shall educate you” [Jerimiah 2:19]. God, thus determining all things beforehand for the perfection of human beings, and towards the realiziation and manifestation of his economies, that goodness may be displayed and righteousness accomplished, and that the Church may be “conformed to the image of His Son” [Romans 8:29], and that , finally, the human being may be brought to such maturity as to see and comprehend God.
*Taken from Against the Heresies.
