Chapter IV.—The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church,
the sole depository of apostolical doctrine. Heresies are of recent formation, and
cannot trace their origin up to the apostles.
1. Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others
which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing
his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth:
417
so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life.670 For she is the
entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account are we bound to avoid
them, but to make choice of the thing pertaining to the Church with the utmost diligence,
and to lay hold of the tradition of the truth. For how stands the case? Suppose there arise a
dispute relative to some important question671 among us, should we not have recourse to
the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn
from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be
if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary, [in that case,]
to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did
commit the Churches?
2. To which course many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ do assent,
having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink, and, carefully
preserving the ancient tradition,672 believing in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth,
and all things therein, by means of Christ Jesus, the Son of God; who, because of His sur-
passing love towards His creation, condescended to be born of the virgin, He Himself
uniting man through Himself to God, and having suffered under Pontius Pilate, and rising
again, and having been received up in splendour, shall come in glory, the Saviour of those
who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those
who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent. Those who, in the absence
of written documents,673 have believed this faith, are barbarians, so far as regards our lan-
guage; but as regards doctrine, manner, and tenor of life, they are, because of faith, very
wise indeed; and they do please God, ordering their conversation in all righteousness,
chastity, and wisdom. If any one were to preach to these men the inventions of the heretics,
speaking to them in their own language, they would at once stop their ears, and flee as far
off as possible, not enduring even to listen to the blasphemous address. Thus, by means of
670 Rev. xxii. 17.
671 Latin, “modica quæstione.”
672 [The uneducated barbarians must receive the Gospel on testimony. Irenæus puts apostolic traditions,
genuine and uncorrupt, in this relation to the primary authority of the written word. 2 Thess. ii. 15, 2 Thess. iii.
6.]
673 Literally, “without letters;” equivalent to, “without paper and ink,” a few lines previously.
Chapter IV.—The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church, the sole depository of apostolical doctrine. Heresies are of recent formation, and cannot trace their origin up to the apostles.
1064
Chapter IV.—The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church,…