The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 3: The Beginning of Time • 99

rightly told, 24 many believed that our world of physical matter, humans included, was the creation of an evil demi-god . The Gnostic heretics taught that the immaterial soul 25 alone had value, and that the spiritual man was one who denied his flesh entirely and who strove to free his immaterial soul from the prison of his body. Our brother’s task,” Mentor indicated Irenaeus, “was to teach a biblical view of man that could defeat the gnostic spirituality of our day.” “We note first of all,” began Irenaeus, “that contrary to Gnostic teaching, the flesh is God’s handiwork, possessing the image of God in its formation. 26 The heretics therefore blaspheme God whenever they teach that the flesh—which truly is God’s workmanship— cannot be saved. 27 Next, we point out that, in addition to the immaterial soul, man has a second immaterial faculty—a spirit, which is the special endowment of God to all believers. For as we read in the Apostle’s first letter to the Thessalonians (5:23),” he recited… Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was a stir among the seated witnesses suggesting a disagreement on this view—that humans are comprised of a body, a soul, and a spirit. Irenaeus quickly added,

24 Also known as the Great Tradition, these were the teachings and practices from the first five centuries of the early Church.

25 “Immaterial (without material) soul”means the soul is entirely distinct from the material body.

26 Irenaeus, Against Heresies, V.VI.1-2. (ANF 1, 531-532).

27 Irenaeus, Against Heresies IV. Preface. 4. (ANF 1, 463 paraphrased).