Kitchen Table Theology
Where Coffee, Conversation, and Theology Meet. During my 40 years in ministry, I’ve developed an increasing burden for what I sense to be an increase in biblical illiteracy, not only among those in our churches, but also in the young men and women entering the ministry. Conversely, I am hopeful, because I also sense a hunger from people to learn and know biblical truth and the things of God has revealed to us in Scripture. Our Kitchen Table Theology team has developed a list of over 150 doctrinal topics which I, along with one of my cohosts, Jen Denton or Tiffany Coker, examine weekly. Our goal is to educate and share biblical truth on the same level as if we were sitting at your kitchen table with a Bible and a pot of southern pecan coffee in front of us. Welcome to the table!
Kitchen Table Theology
288 The Patristic Period | Irenaeus: Guarding the Gospel
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Irenaeus lived at a time when the church was being attacked from the outside by persecution and from the inside by false teaching.
In this episode of Kitchen Table Theology, Pastor Jeff and Tiffany look at the life of Irenaeus, one of the early church’s most important defenders of the gospel. Connected closely to the apostles through Polycarp, Irenaeus helped preserve apostolic teaching, confront the rise of Gnosticism, and guide the church with both truth and grace.
Chapters:
01:00 Who Was Irenaeus?
Irenaeus was one of the most important Christian leaders of the second century. Closely connected to the apostles through Polycarp, his life is bridge between the New Testament church and the generations that followed.
02:00 Asia Minor and the Early Church
Asia Minor, located in what is now modern-day Turkey, played a major role in early church history
03:30 Irenaeus’ Connection to the Apostle John
The Apostle John taught Polycarp, Polycarp taught Irenaeus, placing Irenaeus only one generation removed from an eyewitness of Jesus Christ.
05:00 Irenaeus in Lyon
After studying briefly in Rome, Irenaeus moved to Lyon in Gaul, modern-day France. There, he joined the leadership of a growing Christian congregation in one of the most important cities in Western Europe.
07:30 Persecution in Lyon
While Irenaeus was away in Rome, severe persecution broke out against the Christians in Lyon. Nearly 50 believers were martyred, including Blandina, Sanctus, and the elderly bishop Pothinus.
11:00 Irenaeus Becomes Bishop of Lyon
After returning from Rome, Irenaeus was chosen to replace Pothinus as bishop of Lyon. For the next 25 years, he shepherded the church, trained leaders, sent missionaries, and strengthened scattered congregations throughout the region.
12:30 What Was Gnosticism?
Gnosticism was one of the greatest challenges facing the early church. Many Gnostics believed that physical matter was evil, denied that Jesus truly became human, and claimed to possess secret knowledge unavailable to ordinary Christians.
16:30 Irenaeus and Against Heresies
Irenaeus’ most famous work, Against Heresies, exposed the errors of Gnostic teaching and defended the faith handed down from the apostles. His writings helped explain Christian doctrine clearly and earned him the title “the father of Christian theology.”
18:30 The Quartodeciman Controversy
Another major issue during Irenaeus’ lifetime involved the timing of Easter. Rather than allowing a calendar disagreement to divide the church, Irenaeus urged believers to maintain fellowship where the gospel itself was not at stake.
22:30 What Irenaeus Teaches Christians Today
Stay rooted in apostolic truth, guard the gospel carefully, and pursue unity whenever possible.
“Irenaeus fought fiercely for essential doctrines while showing remarkable charity to others in secondary matters.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston
👉 Visit Pastor Jeff Cranston on Amazon or his website to explore his books and booklets written to support believers in their walk with Christ.
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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!