ABSTRACT
The prophetic scriptures and the apostolic epistles are read in harmony with the fourfold gospel of Christ. For Irenaeus, this harmony consists precisely in the one God's self-revelation to his people. In contrast, Irenaeus confesses a church that grows because it is rooted in the ongoing formation of humanity toward a divine destiny. The new covenant does not constitute the beginning of the church any more than it constitutes the beginning of human existence. For Irenaeus, this distinction between the form and substance of creation is not merely a philosophical argument or a clever rhetorical strategy that proves useful against his opponents. Abraham's joy reveals the dynamic and perichoretic relationship between the two testaments. His joy is prophetic, inspiring his descendants with a firm hope in the advent of Christ and a fervent desire to see his day. Irenaeus, of course, does not use the language of hypostasis as it will be defined by later ecumenical councils.
