Irenaeus

Irenaeus, bishop of Lugdunum (Lyon, France), born in Asia Minor between 120 and 140 AD, was a leading theologian in the 2nd century church who had probably been raised in the faith, having seen and heard Polycarp in his youth. He served as a mediator among the churches in Asia Minor, a missionary to Gaul (southern France), and an apologist against the Gnostic heresy. In his labours against heresy, he helped develop the canonicity of the Old and New Testaments while rejecting many extra-biblical writings that had come to the church during the first two centuries of the church. He died between 200 and 203 AD, probably in Lyon.