Irenaeus of Lyons on Spiritual warfare
Through those means, and also by commanding evil spirits to leave, or exorcising them, in Christ's name
"For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe in Christ, and join themselves to the Church."
THE POSITION
Christ fought the devil as man and won: in recapitulating Adam he waged war on the enemy and trampled his head, answering him with Scripture. In Irenaeus's own day the church still drives out evil spirits in Jesus' name, freely, and those cleansed often come to faith and join the church.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
6 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
Bishop of Lyons, author of Against Heresies. Argued against Gnosticism from the apostolic rule of faith, and framed salvation as Christ recapitulating human life.
Cite this page
"Irenaeus of Lyons on Spiritual warfare", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/irenaeus/spiritual-warfare (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/irenaeus/spiritual-warfare).