One might say that Irenaeus employed a “below the belt” tactic in exposing the folly of Gnosticism. The Gnostics taught, among other things, that it was from the tears of Achamoth that “the seas and fountains and rivers, and every liquid substance” flowed. Against this, Irenaeus pointed out that because tears are saline it doesnt make sense to think of fresh water coming from her tears.
But it was his continuing reflection that strikes ‘where it hurts most’:
And since there are also in the world certain waters which are hot and acrid in nature, thou must be left to guess their origin, how and whence. Such are some of the results of their hypothesis.
Source: “How to deal with heretics” in The Briefing (Sept 2002) 16. Citation from Irenaeus’ Against Heresies.
Posted April 6, 2011
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