Naturally - I believe we agree. My point was that although St. Irenaeus was the first to write about the "New Eve", it seems natural to believe that others were teaching it BEFORE he wrote about it.
Yes, we do mention the Virgin Mary at EVERY Mass. We ask her and the rest of the saints to pray for us on several occasions.
St. Irenaeus actually did bring in a novelty (c. 180 AD) when he for the first time actually identified authors of the Gospels as the Apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Up to that time, Gospels were quoted giving reference only to Christ "Our Lord said" etc. or as anonymous "memoirs" of the Apsotles (cf St. Justin the Martyr).
It is hard to make that claim, because he certainly could have been relating a "tradition" of whom the author was. Calling the Gospels the "memoirs" does not rule out that the authors were known, or at least many had a strong opinion...
Regards
Joe,you said
“My point was that although St. Irenaeus was the first to write about the “New Eve”, it seems natural to believe that others were teaching it BEFORE he wrote about it.”
I believe that we see Mary replacing Eve in writings's Earlier then Irenaueus.
Even though they don,t actually say “NEW EVE”,you can clearly see this is what they thought in the following Writings
“There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible, even Jesus Christ our Lord.” Ignatius, To the Ephesians, 7 (c. A.D. 110).
“[T]hey blessed her, saying: O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give her an everlasting name to be named in all generations. And all the people said: So be it, so be it, amen. And he brought her to the chief priests; and they blessed her, saying: O God most high, look upon this child, and bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be for ever.” Protoevangelium of John, 6:2 (A.D. 150).
“He became man by the Virgin, in order that the disobedience which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same manner in which it derived its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, having conceived the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God; and she replied, ‘Be it unto me according to thy word.’ And by her has He been born, to whom we have proved so many Scriptures refer, and by whom God destroys both the serpent and those angels and men who are like him; but works deliverance from death to those who repent of their wickedness and believe upon Him.” Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 100 (A.D. 155).
Of course we also have a mountain of scripture typology that also clearly supports this as well
I wish you both a Blessed day!
Yes, of course, we cannot with any certainty claim to the contrary anything that is not written, or for that matter with equal certainty, claim that it was. We can perhaps presume and not much more than that.
Yes, we do mention the Virgin Mary at EVERY Mass
I couldn't imagine otherwise, but wasn't sure. Thank you for educating me.
It is hard to make that claim, because he certainly could have been relating a "tradition" of whom the author was
Actually 1 Clement quotes from vatrious Gospel verses but never mentions any of the authors. It simply says "lord Jesus Christ said..."
Whatever the custom was, +Ireanaeus found it necessary to credit the authors. Others before him apparently didn't.