Word made flesh; barren Church outnumbers the Synagogue
It is through the Word of God incarnate and dwelling among human beings that the calling of the Gentiles and the change of their heart have been worked, according to this word of the disciple John: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ (Jn 1:14)
Therefore the Church bears many elect; it is no longer only an intercessor, Moses, or a messenger, Elijah, but the Lord himself who has saved us and who gives his Church children more numerous than those of the Synagogue, according to Isaiah: ‘Rejoice, barren one who has not given birth… For the children of the deserted one are more numerous than the children of her who has a husband.’ (Isa 54:1; Gal 4:27)
For the ancient Synagogue had a husband, the law.
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About this text
Irenaeus’s short handbook of the apostolic preaching (Epideixis), preserved in Armenian. English here is a densified reading translation for study. Prior English exists (Robinson / Wilson) — this is not an Original English Translation.
English follows the Armenian of Patrologia Orientalis XII.5. Barthoulot’s French was used as a sense-check only. Robinson (1920) and Wilson’s prior English exist and were checked for independence — this page is densified English, not Original English Translation / no-previous-English.
Witnesses
- Copy-text PO XII.5 Epideixis (Armenian, Matenadaran M3710) (Armenian · §§1–10)
- Checked print Barthoulot French (PD) (French · §§1–10)
- Prior English Check Robinson 1920 / Wilson English (English · full work (prior complete English exists))
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.