4.1 Introduction
CHAPTER 4
Reading Genesis from Creation to Incarnation:
The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Book 3 of Adversus Haereses 4.1
Introduction Having examined the use of Gen 1–3 in Haer. 1–2, Irenaeus' third book presents a pivotal turning point in his overall refutation of the Gnostics. He shifts his polemical tactics from exposing and refuting doctrines of the Gnostics in Haer. 1–2 to defending and explaining the apostolic faith in light of scripture and tradition in Haer. 3–5. Haer. 3 makes a case for the continuity of the activity of one God from creation to incarnation, and the general thrust of the book discusses the uniqueness of God the Father, Creator of the heaven and earth, and the person and work of Christ, the Son of God.1 These claims impose a theological pressure upon Irenaeus' interpretation of scripture and contribute to the performance of Gen 1–3 in the context of his intertextual exegesis.
The contents of the book comprise four major sections: Haer. 3.1–5, Haer.
3.6–15, Haer. 3.16–23, and Haer. 3.24–25.2 In Haer. 3.1–5 he contrasts the teaching of the heretics with the authoritative teaching of the apostles, which is supported by a theory of apostolic succession in the church. In Haer. 3.6–15 he argues for the existence of one God, who is both Creator of all things and Father of Jesus Christ. In Haer. 3.16–23 he contends, against the Valentinians,
Ebionites, and Tatian, that there is only one incarnate Son of God who recapitulates all things. Finally, in Haer. 3.24–25 he closes the book with a plea for the heretics to return to the teaching of the church, which is the true locus of the Spirit.
Within this structure only a few references to Gen 1–3 surface in the early part of the work, while the latter chapters contain a high concentration of echoes, allusions, and citations of Gen 1–3.3 This is not surprising given the emphasis on incarnation and recapitulation is related to a Pauline Adam-Christ typology
1 Haer. 3.1.2.
2 SC 210: 171–205.
3 The sections that contain an echo or allusion to Gen 1–3 include: Haer. 3.3.3, Haer. 3.11.5, 8,
Haer. 3.18.1, 7, Haer. 3.19.3, Haer. 3.20.1, Haer. 3.21.10, Haer. 3.22.1–4, Haer. 3.23.1–8, and Haer.
3.24.1–2. There are several allusions listed in BP that I could not confirm including: Gen 1:1 in © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 5 | doi .63/9789004294523_005