New "Deep Dive" Podcast Episode 2: Irenaeus's Adversus Haereses was Written against Clement's Stromateis and the Alexandrian Tradition of the Apostle Mark

Podcast 2

Summary 

Stephan Huller argues that Irenaeus's Adversus Haereses was a targeted attack on Clement of Alexandria and his community. He uses three specific examples from Irenaeus's work to show that Irenaeus was directly responding to Clement's writings and teachings. Huller argues that Irenaeus deliberately misrepresented Clement's work as heretical in order to undermine the authority of the Alexandrian church and promote the authority of Rome. 

Key Points of Contention Between Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria 

The key points of contention between Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria stem from Irenaeus's belief that Clement's teachings were dangerously aligned with those he considered heretical. Irenaeus saw Clement’s work as representative of an influential but erroneous interpretation of scripture within Alexandrian Christianity, and he used his writing, Adversus Haereses, to refute Clement's influence. Let's examine three specific areas of disagreement: 

● Mystical Significance of Numbers and Letters: Clement explored the mystical significance of numbers and letters, particularly the concept of the Hexaemeron (related to the number six). Irenaeus criticized similar teachings by the Marcosians, suggesting that Clement's teachings were aligned with this sect that Irenaeus deemed heretical. 

● Chronology of Jesus's Ministry: Clement and Irenaeus disagreed on the interpretation of Luke's Gospel regarding the timeline of Jesus's ministry. Irenaeus directly challenged Clement's exegesis of the relevant passages in Luke, believing Clement's interpretation to be a dangerous misreading. This debate over biblical interpretation illustrates the broader theological divide between the two figures. 

● Nature of Grace and Apostolic Authority: Clement's concept of grace, as presented in Protrepticus, is interpreted by Irenaeus through the lens of the Marcosian heresy. Irenaeus appears to equate Clement's language about imparting grace with the manipulative rhetoric he attributed to Marcus, a Gnostic teacher. Additionally, Irenaeus seems to connect Clement’s positive portrayal of practices like prophetic dancing and harmony with the accusations he levels against the Marcosians. Ultimately, the heart of the conflict lies in Irenaeus's belief that Clement's teachings threatened the apostolic authority of the early Church, particularly as it related to the Alexandrian community. Irenaeus aimed to centralize apostolic authority in Rome and viewed Clement’s interpretation of Christian tradition as a direct challenge to that authority. 

Huller's Argument for Irenaeus's View of Clement's Teachings as Heretical 

Huller argues that Irenaeus perceived Clement of Alexandria's teachings as heretical and strategically aimed his work, Adversus Haereses, to counter Clement's influence, particularly within the Alexandrian Christian community. Huller outlines three key pieces of evidence from Irenaeus's writings that point to this conclusion: 

● Connecting Clement's Numerical Mysticism with Marcosian Heresy: Huller highlights Irenaeus’s critique of the Marcosians for their teachings on the mystical significance of numbers and letters, particularly their focus on the concept of Hexaemeron. Huller argues that Irenaeus directly connects this with Clement's exploration of similar themes in Stromata 6.16.140.2–6.16.141.7, suggesting that Clement's teachings were dangerously aligned with the Marcosian sect, which Irenaeus considered heretical. 

● Contrasting Interpretations of Luke's Gospel: Huller points to the close similarities between Clement’s interpretation of Luke's Gospel regarding the chronology of Jesus's ministry (Stromata 1.21.145.2–5) and Irenaeus's critique of the same passages in Adversus Haereses 2.22.5. The near-identical language and structure of these passages, according to Huller, indicate that Irenaeus was directly addressing and refuting Clement's exegesis, which he viewed as a "dangerous misreading". 

● Interpreting Clement's Concept of Grace as Marcosian Manipulation: Huller examines the parallel between Clement's discussion of grace in Protrepticus 12.120.2–5 and Irenaeus's depiction of Marcus's deceptive rhetoric in Adversus Haereses 1.13.3. Huller argues that Irenaeus deliberately conflates Clement's genuine teachings on grace with the manipulative tactics he attributed to the Gnostic teacher Marcus. By doing so, Huller suggests that Irenaeus sought to discredit Clement's teachings and undermine his authority. 

Huller concludes that Irenaeus’s meticulous efforts in Adversus Haereses were not just a general critique of heresy but a targeted attack on the Alexandrian community and its leading figure, Clement. Huller argues that Irenaeus aimed to present Clement’s teachings as heretical deviations from true Christian orthodoxy, thereby consolidating apostolic authority in Rome