GakuseiDon

I've been trying to track down all references to the idea of "diabolical mimicry", where it was claimed that the devil used "plagiarism by anticipation" to create pagan copies of Jesus. A typical statement found repeated on the net goes like this:

"Various early church writers, such as Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyons; circa 120 CE to ?) Justin Martyr (Christian apologist; 100 to 165), Tertullian (Christian theologian; circa 160 to 220 +) concluded that the Pagan/Christian similarities were a Satanic attempt at "diabolical mimicry." Satan was said to have use "plagiarism by anticipation." That is, the Devil made a pre-emptive strike against the gospel stories centuries before Jesus was born. The reason was to confuse the public into thinking that Jesus was merely a copy of previous god-men. The goal was to demolish the credibility of Christianity in the people's eyes."

I've got references from Justin Martyr, and found one quote in Tertullian (though I'm not sure it really fits), but what I can't find is anything by Irenaeus on the topic.

I found one thread on IIDB (that I actually started almost two years ago!) here: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=154345

Does anyone know where Irenaeus refers to "diabolical mimicry"?

GakuseiDon

Well, unless my eyes are glancing over it, or the English translation available on earlychristianwritings is inaccurate, I can't see where Irenaeus is claiming "diabolical mimicry" anywhere. There are lots of links claiming that Irenaeus did so, but none actually give any references that I can see. The closest passages I can find relate to how the devil inspired heresies, though it wasn't through imitation.

dog-on

I didn't see it in Irenaeus either...

DCHindley

I did the same in the Bibleworks edition of the ANF. Nothing at all.

I think you will find it in the various "Apologies," where the authors felt they have to explain how it can be that pagan poets and philosophers can say things that resemble things said in the Jewish scriptures.

They actually used a couple tacts, if I recall correctly: The Hebrew prophets or other wise men like Moses said it first and the Greeks copied it, or that they were planted in anipation of the coming of the Christ as a means to derail its impact on hearers.

Justin has it, I'm pretty sure. I'll bet money that the subject, and other specific authors, get broached in the intro to the sction on Justin in volume 1 of the ANF.

DCH

Roger Pearse

The general argument is that God may have had a special plan for the Jews, but He did not withhold enlightenment from those of the gentiles who sought Him out. In consequence amid the nonsense of pagan religion there may be gleams of sense, which prefigure the Christian gospel. On the basis that there is truly one God, the argument seems reasonable.