*Irenaeus by Simonetta Carr

Simonetta Carr continues her outstanding series of Christian-History biographies with Irenaeus of Lyon, a hero of the early church.  Ages 8-12

Irenaeus (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr.  Reformation Heritage, 2017, 62 pages including appendix

Reading level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10

Recommended for: ages 8-up

 Irenaeus’s story actually begins with the twelve apostles commissioned by Jesus to “go into all the world” preaching the good news of salvation.  One of those apostles was John, who later in life settled in the city of Ephesus.  There he met and taught a young disciple names Polycarp.  Polycarp became an evangelist in turn, eventually settling in Smyrna (present-day Izmir, Turkey) as a revered church leader and teacher.  Sitting at his feet was a brilliant, eager young man named Irenaeus.  Just two generations removed from Christ himself, Irenaeus became a vital link in the chain forged by the Holy Spirit to protect the church in her infancy and provide solid food for her to grow.

His life was not as dramatic as the Apostles’, or even that of his teacher Polycarp, who was famously martyred at the stake. Irenaeus lived through two great periods of persecution and saw many brothers and sisters meet their end, during which he encouraged and comforted believers.  But his calling was to confront the other great threat to the church, namely heresy. The challenges of his day were Marcion (who taught that the God of the Old and New Testaments were separate beings), Valentinian (who taught of version of Gnosticism), and Marcus (who was basically a con man).  Against Heresy, Irenaeus’s signature work, served not only to expose false teaching but also to crystalize true doctrine.  He formulated the first “Apostles’ Creed,” a version of which is recited by Christians worldwide to this day.  Excerpts from his works are included in the appendix, and like all Christian biographies from Reformation Heritage, this one is beautifully produced and illustrated.

Cautions: None

Overall Rating: 5 (out of 5)

  • Worldview/moral value: 5
  • Artistic Value: 5

 

Stay Up to Date!

Get the information you need to make wise choices about books for your children and teens.

Our weekly newsletter includes our latest reviews, related links from around the web, a featured book list, book trivia, and more. We never sell your information. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Support our writers and help keep Redeemed Reader ad-free by joining the Redeemed Reader Fellowship.

Stay Up to Date!

Get the information you need to make wise choices about books for your children and teens.

Our weekly newsletter includes our latest reviews, related links from around the web, a featured book list, book trivia, and more. We never sell your information. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

FREE Bible Guide!

Get a guide to the Best Bibles for Children and Teens. Perfect for an Easter gift.

Janie Cheaney

Janie is the VERY senior staff writer for Redeemed Reader, as well as a long-time contributor to WORLD Magazine and an author of nine books for children. The rest of the time she's long-distance smooching on her four grandchildren (not an easy task). She lives with her equally senior husband of almost-fifty years in the Ozarks of Missouri.

We'd love to hear from you!

Our comments are now limited to our members (both Silver and Golden Key). Members, you just need to log in with your normal log-in credentials!

Not a member yet? You can join the Silver Key ($2.99/month) for a free 2-week trial. Cancel at any time. Find out more about membership here.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.