The Ancient Witnesses

134 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“What makes a theologian a systematic theologian?” I asked. “They discover patterns within and connections

between biblical passages,” he explained. “Can you give me an example?” I asked.

“Have you noticed,” said Father Greg, “that events in the lives of the patriarchs often foreshadow later events in the life of Israel as a nation?” “I’m not sure,” I admitted. “Do you remember where Abraham traveled after following God’s call to Canaan?” he asked. I could not remember, so we opened Joseph’s Bible to Genesis 12, and he asked me to read verses 10-20. “I remember this story now,” I said. “Abraham hides Sarah’s true identity from Pharaoh to protect himself.” “True,” he agreed, “but look at the plot: notice that Abraham goes to Egypt in the first place because of a famine. Then Abraham and Sarah are ‘oppressed’ by The Word of God , the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to the prophets according to their way of prophesying, and according to the dispensation of the Father. Through him all things were created. Furthermore, in the fullness of time, in order to gather all things to himself, he became a human being amongst human beings, capable of being seen and touched, to destroy death, bring life, and restore fellowship between God and humanity. And the third article is: The Holy Spirit , through whom the prophets prophesied, and our forebears learned of God and the righteous were led in the paths of justice, and who, in the fullness of time, was poured out in a new way on our human nature in order to renew humanity throughout the entire world in the sight of God.” Quoted in Alister E. McGrath, The Christian Theology Reader (Oxford: Blackwell, 1995), 93. Irenaeus, therefore, was Trinitarian in his theology and thereby recognized the unity of the Old and New Testaments.