[PhilipFreneau]

>>>>As stated earlier...Even if Irenaeus believed Revelation was written before 70 AD does it make a difference of 20 or so years for a document to be deemed ancient? The same use of “ancient” can mean the oldest known copies of a document. The importance of his writings is he was convinced the prophecies of Matthew 24, Paul and Revelation were yet future to his time.<<<<

I’ll agree that Irenaeus did not understand the scriptures. He was far removed from the time period (a century or more,) and he did not have the benefit of any Christian writings from after the destruction: from after 70AD; to assist in his interpretation.

Philip

[redleghunter]

I’ll agree that Irenaeus did not understand the scriptures. He was far removed from the time period (a century or more,) and he did not have the benefit of any Christian writings from after the destruction: from after 70AD; to assist in his interpretation.

On the contrary, observation shows he clearly had a large portion of what became known as the NT canon available to him. What Christian writings after 70AD would have swayed Irenaeus to a different interpretation?