4. St. Irenaeus.

Writing not later than 190, he makes constant reference to the
Virgin-Birth as an integral portion of the Faith of Christendom.
He says: "The Church, though scattered over the whole world to
the ends of the earth, yet having received from the Apostles and
their disciples the Faith--

In one God the Father Almighty...
and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of
God, who was incarnate for our
salvation: and in the Holy Ghost, who
by the Prophets announced His
dispensations and His comings; and the
birth of the Virgin (kai tên ek Parthenou
gennêsin), and the Passion, and
Resurrection from the dead, and the bodily
assumption into heaven of the beloved
Jesus Christ our Lord, and His appearance
from heaven in the glory of the
Father . . .

having received, as we said, this preaching and this Faith, the
Church, though scattered over the whole world, guards it
diligently, as inhabiting one house, and believes in accordance
with these words as having one soul and the same heart; and with
one voice preaches and teaches and hands on these things, as if
possessing one mouth. For the languages of the world are unlike,
but the force of the tradition is one and the same."*