begotten. But the fact referred to simply Implies this, that one may [more accurately than another] bring out the meaning of those things which have been spoken in parables, and accommodate them to the general scheme of the faith; and explain [with special clearness] the operation and dispensation of God connected with human salvation; and show that God manifested longsuffering in regard to the apostasy of the angels who transgressed, as also with respect to the disobedience of men; and set forth why it is that one and the same God has made some things temporal and some eternal, some heavenly and others earthly; and understand for what reason God, though invisible, manifested Himself to the prophets not under one form, but differently to different individuals; and show why it was that more covenants than one were given to mankind; and teach what was the special character of each of these covenants; and search out for what reason "God[1] hath concluded every man[2] in unbelief, that He may have mercy upon all;" and gratefully[3] describe on what account the Word of God became flesh and suffered; and relate why the advent of the Son of God took place in these last times, that is, in the end, rather than in the beginning [of the world]; and unfold what is contained in the Scriptures concerning the end [itself], and things to come; and not be silent as to how it is that God has made the Gentiles, whose salvation was despaired of, fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers with the saints; and discourse how it is that "this mortal body shall put on immortality, and this corruptible shall put on incorruption;"[4] and proclaim in what sense [God] says, "That is a people who was not a people; and she is beloved who was not beloved;"[5] and in what sense
- ↑ Rom. xi. 32.
- ↑ Irenæus here reads πάντα instead of πάντας as in Text. Rec. of New Testament.
- ↑ εὐχαριστεῖν—this word has been deemed corrupt, as it certainly appears out of keeping with the other verbs; but it may be rendered as above.
- ↑ 1 Cor. xv. 54.
- ↑ Hos. ii. 23; Rom. ix. 25.
Various emendations have been proposed: we prefer reading ἀρκούμενος τούτοις, and have translated accordingly.
