Deep in History

Having concluded their study of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson look at some other fragments and writings of St. Irenaeus. They focus on St. Irenaeus' role as peacemaker, looking to resolve conflicts in the Church. From his letters and notes, we learn more about the kind of leader St. Irenaeus was: a man who deeply sought after Christ. They also look at how successive generations of Christians interpreted the writings of St. Irenaeus in the years following his death. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

In their 50th episode of Deep in History, Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson conclude their discussion of the important early work "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Irenaeus covers a lot of ground in the close of his book: from the authority of the Church, to the necessity of guarding the deposit of faith, to death, judgment, heaven and hell. And as Msgr. Steenson points out, some scholars wonder if the abruptness of its ending is an indication that St. Ireneaus left the book unfinished. And we're not quite done with St. Irenaeus! In the next episode, Marcus and Msgr. Steenson look at some other aspects of the life and writing of St. Irenaeus, who could soon be declared a Doctor of the Church. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies, the important early Christian work by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Among other things, they look at how St. Irenaeus speculated about the identity and plan of the Antichrist. Just as in our present day, there were many differing opinions among the early Christians about how the end times might play out. Marcus and Msgr. Steenson look not just at what St. Irenaeus has to say about the Antichrist, but at why it's important for us to always be ready for Christ's ultimate return, because we don't know if it will happen today, or a thousand years from now. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue to work their way through Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, one of the most important witnesses from the earliest days of Christianity. St. Irenaeus reminds us that theological opinions that appeal to our pride put us in the same camp as Lucifer himself, who fell from heaven because he thought he knew better than what he had been taught. It can be easy to fall into philosophies that stoke our egos, but St. Irenaeus emphasizes the need for humility, and to serve God rather than our own interests when seeking after the truth. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their journey through the 2nd century Christian work Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. St. Irenaeus reflects on Original Sin, and its implications for salvation history, all the way up to the temptation of Christ himself. Satan has always sought to disrupt God's plan, and especially to ruin humanity, the crown of God's creation. But that old original enmity between God and Satan, even though it appears to be a conflict in progress to us who are alive, is a victory that no one but God can possibly win in the end. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue to unpack Book V of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. St. Irenaeus points out some of the key errors of the popular heresies of his day. Underlying all of them is an ignorance, sometimes unintentional and sometimes willful, of the importance of the deposit of faith passed down by the apostles. The proponents of these wrong ideas are certainly people of intelligence; but because they've become infatuated with their intelligence, they've fallen into the trap of preferring new ideas to the carefully preserved teaching of the Church. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies," written by St. Irenaeus of Lyons in the 2nd century. Continuing through Book V, they look at what St. Irenaeus has to say about the necessity of the Church, the nature of the Godhead, and the role of Mary in the plan of salvation. Though St. Irenaeus is writing long before the word "Trinity" is adopted by the Church, he looks at the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit, and the implications of that relationship for salvation history and the life of the Church. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of “Against Heresies,” the important early Christian work by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. From the beginning, the early Christians carried forth the teaching that Jesus Christ, who is truly God, really did take on flesh and blood, and the apostles who witnessed this testify to that reality. St. Irenaeus, only a few generations removed from those apostles, reminds us that all of Christianity rests upon this truth of the incarnation of Jesus. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by early Church father St. Irenaeus of Lyons. St. Irenaeus is firm on the Christian conviction that we do not merely hope for eternal life in a spiritual sense; we believe in the resurrection of the body. God comes to save both our souls and our bodies together, and we must bring both into union with God now so as to enjoy communion with Him, body and soul, for all eternity. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies," the important early Christian work by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies," the important early Christian work by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In this episode, they get into a bit of what St. Irenaeus has to say about Christian anthropology. St. Irenaeus discusses how free will is essential to understanding our humanity, as well as the reality that all of us must face death. God has created human beings in His image for union with Him, and ultimately, we can embrace that full human purpose and join Him in heaven, or reject God and be separated from Him for eternity. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their series through "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by looking more at Book V of this important Christian work. They talk about how St. Irenaeus discusses the Eucharist as the essential focus of Christian worship, and how Irenaeus asserts that this has been the case from the beginning. Marcus and Msgr. Steenson also look at St. Irenaeus' thoughts on how the Eucharist is our means of spiritual growth and communion with God. Writing in the 2nd century AD, St. Irenaeus shows us that from the beginning, Christians understood that God intended to communicate spiritual truths through physical signs in the sacraments. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by early Church father St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In this episode, they look at the difficulties that St. Irenaeus faced in regard to teaching the Gospel in an era plagued with heresies and confusion about the person of Jesus Christ. St. Irenaeus says that we had to see and hear Jesus in order to know Him more perfectly and therefore have more perfect communion with God. His perfect offering of Himself was the only thing that could save us. And the incarnate Jesus shows us the Father in ways that we were never able to conceive of before. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their exploration of St. Irenaeus of Lyons' classic work Against Heresies, written in the 2nd century AD. They continue to look at what St. Irenaeus has to say about the gift of free will, and the incredible responsibility that comes along with it. We can talk about the way that we are tempted, and we can point to the ways we are influenced, but ultimately, we each are responsible for how we respond to God, whether by obeying Him, or by rejecting Him. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by St. Ireneaus of Lyons, looking more into Book IV of this important early Christian work.In his opposition to Gnostics, Marcionites, and other heretical groups, St. Irenaeus mentions a number of reasons why the apostolic deposit of faith should be trusted rather than innovations and new interpretations by leaders who impose their own opinions on the Gospel. He also emphasizes the importance of free will in allowing us to respond to God's love with our own love, and why that matters from a theological and philosophical perspective.For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue through Book IV of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. What does it mean to be a truly spiritual disciple of Jesus Christ? Marcus and Msgr. Steenson explore what St. Irenaeus has to say about conforming our will to Christ, to see as He sees, and to go where He asks us to go, living in communion with the Church that He himself established. They also look at the way that St. Paul's dialogue with the Corinthians serves as the backdrop for St. Irenaeus as he explores these questions.For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. St. Irenaeus focuses in this section on the importance of trusting the apostolic deposit of faith. He refers to how the interpretation of the Scriptures was passed to him by his own mentors, who themselves learned it at the feet of the apostles. Irenaeus is not merely passing on some ideas that he has personally found compelling; he is guarding a deposit of teachings that was entrusted to him by apostolic teachers who gave their lives to preserve them. For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by continuing through Book IV. They look at the way that God speaks to us through His created order, through the lives of our ancestors, and through His gift of the Church. And ultimately, it is through the ministry of the Church that God has given us the lens to properly understand both creation and history. For more episodes, visit www.deepinhistory.com

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies" by early Church father St. Irenaeus of Lyons.Christians are called to build a civilization of God's love on the earth. But it is impossible to live this love of God and love of neighbor on our own; we must live it in the unity of the Church that Christ established and continues to sustain.St. Irenaeus of Lyons reminds us that God's vision for His people was given through families in the Old Covenant, and that God's family continues today in the Church.For more episodes, visit www.deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their series on Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Prior to the coming of Jesus, no one could see the face of God and live. But by taking on human flesh, Jesus shows us who God is in a new and startling way, and what we know about who God is becomes radically expanded by the incarnation. Marcus and Msgr. Steenson look at what St. Irenaeus has to say about what it means to "see" God. For more episodes, visit www.deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue through Book IV of Against Heresies by St. Ireneaus of Lyons with a discussion of the question of sacrifice in Christianity.Some of the interlocutors of St. Irenaeus believed that Christ did away with the very idea of sacrifices. But as St. Irenaeus points out, those sacrifices were not negated by Christ, but fulfilled in him. And when He gave us His body and blood, saying "do this in remembrance of me," He showed us what all those sacrifices of the old covenant were building toward.For more episodes, visit www.deepinhistory.com

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their discussion of "Against Heresies" by St Irenaeus of Lyons, this time digging into chapters 12-16 of Book IV.When it comes to doctrinal disputes among Christian denominations, or even debates within the Catholic Church, it can be tempting to fixate on one passage and isolate it from the whole of Scripture. But St. Irenaeus reminds us that each verse is both applicable to the argument or topic at hand, but also part of a larger story that has to be taken into account in order to understand its proper meaning.Find more episodes at www.deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson resume their discussion of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by continuing through Book 12.They look at what St. Irenaeus had to say about natural law, and the order with which God established His creation. The incarnation of Jesus does not contradict either the natural law that is common to all humanity, nor the revealed law given through Moses; rather, it fulfills both the natural and reveal law and shows God's plan for His people.Discover more episodes at deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaus of Lyons with a discussion of the true meaning of Christian tradition. Jesus and St. Paul warn against following the empty traditions of man, but they also encourage us to hold fast to the traditions that have been passed on to us. So how are we to distinguish between which kinds of traditions are empty and dead, and which are the preservation and authentic development of the true deposit of faith entrusted to the apostles?For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their studies of St. Irenaeus of Lyons by digging into Chapter 9 of Book IV of Against Heresies.St. Irenaeus reminds his readers that the God of faith is also the God of reason, the God who created the dust and the stars is the same God who created humans in His image, and that the God of ancient times is the God who is living and active in the world today.God is one, and the truth He reveals in reason and revelation are one. Marcus and Msgr. Steenson explore how St. Irenaeus makes that case to those who would say that there are competing divinities who oversee of different parts of creation and salvation history.For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of “Against Heresies” by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by looking at the relationship between Jesus and the Father.Jesus does not merely teach us about the Father; He is one with the Father. He does not reveal to us a different God than is testified to by the law and the prophets; He reveals through Himself the fulfillment of what God the Father was teaching us all along through the law and the prophets.For more episodes, visit deepinhistory.com

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of "Against Heresies" by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by diving further into Book 4 of this important early Christian work.Christ came to establish a new covenant in His blood, but in doing so, he was not abolishing the law, but fulfilling it. St. Irenaeus reminds us that what Jesus reveals about the Father in the Gospels is not in contradiction to the witness of the Old Testament, but rather in continuity with the revelation of God to His people.For more episodes, visit www.deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by beginning Book 4 of one of the most famous and important works of early Christian literature.Here, St. Irenaeus deals with the Marcionite heresy, which pitted the New Testament against the Old Testament, and Jesus against the traditional Jewish concept of God. Irenaeus defends the orthodox Christian teaching that Jesus Christ is co-eternal with the Father as the second person of the Trinity, and who became flesh and dwelt among us, as St. John testifies in his Gospel.Find more episodes at www.deepinhistory.com.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Book 3 of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In part two of their conversation, they look at how...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Book 3 of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by looking at the meaning and effect of the work of Jesus Christ. St. Irenaeus looks at the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve, and what Christ accomplishes in his passion and resurrection to break the power of death. St. Irenaeus wants us to understand not only the reality that Christ came to save sinners, but also why He chose to do so in the way that He did.

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue to make their way through Book 3 of Against Heresies by the 2nd century Christian writer St. Irenaeus of Lyons. They look at...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons looking at the legitimacy of the Gospel accounts that appear in all Christian versions of...

As Marcus and JonMarc Grodi continue their study of St. Cyprian of Carthage’s remarks on the Lord’s Prayer, they look at what he has to say about clinging to God’s...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of “Against Heresies” by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by looking at what kind of knowledge the Christian is called to have...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue through Book 3 of Against Heresies by discussing what St. Irenaeus of Lyons had to say about the importance of preserving the deposit...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of St. Irenaeus of Lyons by looking at how St. Irenaeus was impacted by the witness of his mentor, St. Polycarp...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue on to Book 3, Section 3 of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, and talk more about the importance of listening to...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons by diving deeper into Book 3 of this early Christian work. They look at how...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In this episode, they look at a number of fascinating arguments from St....

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of St. Irenaeus of Lyons by digging into Book 3 of “Against Heresies.” Msgr. Steenson explains how reading the arguments of...

As Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of “Against Heresies” by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, they look at how St. Irenaeus engaged the Gnostics in regard to...

Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Steenson continue their discussion of St. Irenaeus of Lyons and his defense of orthodox Christianity against the Gnosticism of his day. St. Irenaeus again reminds his...

When it comes to the study of theology, it can be tempting to reduce the things of God to mere intellectual exercises, arguing fine points of doctrine and speaking about...

The Gnosticism that St. Irenaeus of Lyons challenged in his classic work Against Heresies was confusing for a number of reasons. Among other things, the Gnostics had complicated formulas for...

As Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue through Book II of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons, they continue to engage the arguments that St. Irenaeus made against the Gnosticism...

In his 2nd century work “Against Heresies,” St. Irenaeus of Lyons spends quite a bit of time talking about the problematic ideas of his time. But what were the underlying...

In his early Christian work Against Heresies, one of the tactics of St. Irenaeus of Lyons uses is to take the logic of the Gnostic worldview he’s critiquing, and turns...

In this episode, Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson begin to dig into Book II of Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus of Lyons.  St. Irenaeus addresses the Gnostic idea that God is...

Written around 175AD, “Against Heresies” by St. Irenaeus of Lyons addresses a number of questions that are still controversial in the philosophical movements of the present day. Part of the...

As Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson continue their study of Against Heresies, they look at St. Irenaeus’ treatment of the legacy of Simon Magus, a sorcerer who tried to...

On the latest episode of Deep in History, Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson dig into Book 1 of “Against Heresies” by St. Irenaeus of Lyons. One of the reasons...

As Marcus Grodi and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson begin a series on St. Irenaeus and his work Against Heresies, they start by taking a look at the state of Christianity in the 2nd...