ABSTRACT
The phrase 'the rule of faith' is paralleled in much of Irenaeus's works by the related phrase 'the rule of truth'. The author suggests that these are, in fundamental meaning, essentially and inseparably forged together, because for Irenaeus, faith rests on truth. The 'rule of faith' is to be held in its integrity, the commandments of God are to be obeyed, and belief in God means acknowledgement of Him in fear as Lord and in love as Father. The truth of God as He is in Himself produces faith. The way in which Irenaeus sets out the whole question of arriving at the knowledge of God involves many issues – the Word as the Self-revelation of God; the relation of that Self-revelation to scripture and tradition; the resultant nature of scripture and tradition and their relation; the relation between faith and understanding and truth dependent on scripture and tradition.
