> “Bold assertion. How would you know this?”
.
Because Irenaeus was not the kind of lost soul that would write such pagan drivel. He studied under Polycarp who was educated and ordained by John. It took centuries for the kind of deceit and error in that piece to develop.
Please cite one reputable source that makes such an assinine claim.
He is taking what Irenaeus out of context to try to prove a point. Irenaeus was very adamant about the fact that all of what the Church should teach has been written down in Scripture. The Catholics have a problem with that because they claim Irenaeus as a Church leader but still want to have us believe things like the ascension of Mary and other things which are not in Scripture. Irenaeus would have considered that Gnostic.
In other words, because it is not consistent with what you believe to accept that he actually wrote these words.
Actually, the only pagan drivel is held by groups such as Mormons, Unitarians, your group, etc. who believe in worshipping multiple gods, nothing and Melek-Taus (respectively) and are not Christian. Why would your group consider Melek-Taus to worship and relegate God to an uncaring robot creator?