St. Irenaeus of Lyons: Against the Heresies Book 4&5

Scholars of early Christianity have come to understand that Irenaeus was not simply, or even primarily, a heresiologist. He is first and foremost an interpreter of the Scriptures who sought to explain the truth of Christianity by offering a comprehensive interpretation of the unifying message of the Christian Scriptures. He also makes an argument about what constitutes the Scriptures. He is the first voice of early Christianity to view the entire Christian drama, which is recounted in the old and new covenants and the continuing life of the Church.