Miracles in Irenaeus’s Day

These things Irenaeus set down, in agreement with the accounts we have already given, in the work of five books that he titled A Refutation and Overthrow of Knowledge Falsely So Called. In the second book of the same treatise he shows that examples of divine and wonderful power had remained in some churches down to his own time. He points to it in these words: [a]

“But they fall so far short of raising the dead, as the Lord raised them, and the apostles through prayer, and as has often happened in the brotherhood: when, because of some necessity, the whole church of the place has made its request with fasting and much supplication, the spirit of the dead person has returned, and the man has been granted to the prayers of the saints.” [b]

And again, after other remarks, he says: “If they say that the Lord too did such things only in appearance, we will take them back to the prophetic writings, and show from them that everything about him was both foretold in this way and surely came to pass, and that he alone is the Son of God. That is why his true disciples, receiving grace from him, do such works in his name for the benefit of the rest of mankind, each according to the gift he has received from him. [c] For some drive out demons surely and truly, so that often those very people who were cleansed from the evil spirits believe and are in the church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come, and visions, and prophetic sayings. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands on them and restore them to health. And, as we have said, even the dead have been raised and have remained with us for many years. But why say more? It is impossible to tell the number of the gifts which the church throughout the whole world has received from God in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which it carries out every day for the benefit of the nations, deceiving no one and making no money from it. For as it has received freely from God, so it also serves freely.” [d]

And in another place the same writer says: “Just as we also hear of many brothers in the church who have prophetic gifts, and speak in all kinds of tongues through the Spirit, and bring to light the hidden things of people for their good, and set out the mysteries of God.” So much, then, to show that a variety of gifts remained among those who were worthy down to the times we are speaking of. [e]