Recapitulation

Who taught Recapitulation?

Irenaeus

Irenaeus was likely born in Asia Minor ca. ad 140.

Irenaeus was a student of Polycarp, who was said to have been tutored by John the Apostle.

Irenaeus was a bishop of Lyons. As an early church father an an apologist, his writing were formative in the early development of Christian theology. Also: “Irenaeus of Lyons” and “Saint Irenaeus.”

Because of persecution in Lyons and Vienne, he was sent as an emissary to Rome in ad 177,

When the previous Bishop of Lyons, Pothinus, was killed as a result of this persecution, Irenaeus took his place as bishop

his best-known work is Against Heresies, often cited as Adversus Haereses, a refutation of gnosticism,

To counter his Gnostic opponents, Irenaeus significantly develops Paul's presentation of Christ as the Last Adam.

To counter the doctrines of the gnostic sects claiming secret wisdom, he offered three pillars of orthodoxy: the scriptures, the tradition handed down from the apostles, and the teaching of the apostles' successors

What is Recapitulation?

The idea has to do with headship.

Irenaeus believed that humans are born into the house of bondage and shackled with the chains of Adam’s sin.

Adam was the head of humanity and therefore could act for good or for ill for all humanity. Of course with the fall, Adam’s act was for ill. The head sinned therefore all humans are born into the house of bondage know as sin.

Jesus came to recapitulate as the head of humanity.

For example, who is the head of Apple? You, of course, would say Tim Cook. Tim and we think of him as spokesperson for Apple. As CEO, he is the head of the company. When he says, “We here at Apple value...” We believe that every person from him, as the head of the company, to the person working at the Apple store at Jordan Creek Mall believe that value. Why? Because Tim is the head and speaks for the whole.

The same is true for humanity. When in the Garden of Eden, Adam represented each one of us because he was the “head” of the human race. Therefore, Jesus came to earth to become the new “head” of the human race. He lived as Adam was suppose to have lived.

Why is it important to us today?

Who Are You? - When I Ask that question most people what they do or what they did if they are retired.

Biblically speaking who you are has more to do with your identity.

Your Identity

We are born identifying with Adam and if we stay in Adam each person will receive the punishment that Adam should have received. But, when we are born again and we identify with Christ Jesus then we are put under His headship and we receive everything that He has promised to us.

Guilt & Shame

Guilt is dealt with by making amends for wrong doing through punishment. Guilt tells us that we have done wrong.

Shame on the other had tells us that we ARE wrong. We are worthless, awful, terrible person. Shame requires a more pervasive cure.

The Foundation

This idea of being in Christ or in Adam is the foundation for our salvation. This is where it all beings. We are either in Christ and represented by Him or we are in Adam and represented by him. Being represented by Christ leads to life and being represented by Adam leads to death. Why? Because one has overcome sin and one gave into sin. And the wages for sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Here is the thing though, we must believe that Jesus is the new head of humanity and we must ask him to be our new representative in other words we must be saved.

Are you in Christ