IRENAEUS

For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us the Scriptures? Would it not be necessary,to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the Churches? To which course many nations of those barbarians who believe in Christ do assent, having salvation written in their hearts by the Spirit, without paper or ink, and, carefully preserving the ancient tradition, believing in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and all things therein, by means of Christ Jesus, the Son of God; who, because of His surpassing love towards His creation, condescended to be born of the virgin, He Himself uniting man through Himself to God, and having suffered under Pontius Pilate, and rising again, and having been received up in splendor, shall come in glory, the Savior of those who are saved, and the Judge of those who are judged, and sending into eternal fire those who transform the truth, and despise His Father and His advent.

Quid autem si neque Apostoli quidem Scripturas reliquissent nobis, nonne oportebat ordinem, sequi traditionis, quam tradiderunt iis quibus committebant ecclesias? Cui ordinationi assentiunt multae gentes barbarorum, eorum qui in Christum credunt, sine charta et atramento scriptam habentes per Spiritum in cordibus suis salutem, et veterem traditionem diligenter custodientes, In unum Deum credentes, Fabricatorem caeli et tarrae, et omnium quae in eis sunt, Per Christum Jesum Dei Filium; Qui, propter eminentissimam erga figmentum suum dilectionem, eam quae esset ex Virgine generationem sustinuit, ipse per se hominem adunans Deo, et passus sub Pontio Pilato, et resurgens, et in claritate receptus, in gloria venturus, Salvator eorum qui salvantur, et Judex eorum qui judicantur; et mittens in ignem aeternum transfiguratores veritatis et contemptores Patris sui et adventus ejus.