Eric Osborn''s book presents a major study of Irenaeus (125-200) bishop of Lyons who attacked Gnostic theosophy with positive ideas as well as negative critiques. Irenaeus''s combination of argument and imagery logic and aesthetic was directed to a new document the Christian bible. Dominated by a Socratic love of truth and a classical love of beauty he was a founder of Western humanism. Irenaeus is renowned for his aphorisms optimism love of the created world evolutionary view of history and theology of beauty and humor.