عنوان

Theological Speculation in Irenaeus:

LA129085

انگلیسی

Theological Speculation in Irenaeus:

[Article]

Perils and Possibilities

Anthony Briggman

Leiden

Brill

For over seventy years scholars have accepted the reading advanced by T.-A. Audet, R.M. Grant, and W.R. Schoedel that Irenaeus of Lyons was strictly opposed to causal speculation. This article challenges their reading and offers one of its own. I contend that Irenaeus argues for a differentiated knowledge of terrestrial and celestial matters, such that some things are known while others are not. This differentiation of knowledge encompasses questions of causation. Irenaeus, I argue, was not just concerned about the perils of theological speculation but also its possibilities. For over seventy years scholars have accepted the reading advanced by T.-A. Audet, R.M. Grant, and W.R. Schoedel that Irenaeus of Lyons was strictly opposed to causal speculation. This article challenges their reading and offers one of its own. I contend that Irenaeus argues for a differentiated knowledge of terrestrial and celestial matters, such that some things are known while others are not. This differentiation of knowledge encompasses questions of causation. Irenaeus, I argue, was not just concerned about the perils of theological speculation but also its possibilities.

2017

175-198

Vigiliae Christianae

71/2

1570-0720

economic theology

Empiricism

Irenaeus of Lyons

Scepticism

theological speculation

Trinitarian theology

Anthony Briggman

10.1163/15700720-12341293

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y