5.1 Introduction
CHAPTER 5
Genesis, the Creation, and the Divine Economy:
The Intertextual Reception of Genesis 1–3 in Book 4 of Adversus Haereses 5.1
Introduction Having analyzed the performance of Gen 1–3 in the first three books, the manner and style of Irenaeus intertextual scripture reading is beginning to take shape. The Bishop of Lyons is not so concerned with the isolated and individual meaning of any singular Genesis text, but the theological integration of Genesis with the rest of divine revelation. For Irenaeus, the meaning of Gen
1–3 is bound up in the correspondence of texts as he organizes his theological polemic through a variety of reading strategies. Each new volume of Adversus haereses offers fresh aspects of Irenaeus' intertextuality that continue to reveal the resourcefulness of his textual integration.
In Haer. 4 his exegetical focus shifts from the writings of the apostles in the previous book to the "words of the Lord."1 His purpose is to prove the existence of one God who is active throughout all salvation history, which also builds upon the Christological defense he offered in Haer. 3. In general, the contents of Haer. 4 are organized into four larger sections. Following a short introduction, Haer. 4.1–19 argues there is one God who is both Creator and Administrator throughout both testaments as expressed in the words of the Lord. Haer. 4.20–35 anticipates the prophecy of the Old Testament in the New and some writers in the post-apostolic age. Finally, in Haer. 4.36–41 he concentrates on the proof of one God who is active throughout salvation history, as evidenced in the parables of Christ. The closing section, Haer. 4.41.4, contains a short conclusion summarizing the unity of God in the Lord's words and previews the argument for the resurrection of the body in Haer. 5. This general theological structure and focus on the words of the Lord continues to expand the various aspects of Irenaeus' textual integration.
1 Bacq argues convincingly that the "words of the Lord" give unity and coherence to Haer. 4 that was heretofore unrecognized. Bacq, De l'ancienne. While he does not achieve the magnitude of his work on Haer. 5, Antonio Orbe's translation and commentary on Haer. 4 is a pivotal for understanding the nature of this book. Orbe, Teología IV.
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