5.4.1
IV. Οἱ δ’ αὐτοὶ μάρτυρες καὶ τὸν Εἰρήναιον, πρεσβύτερον ἤδη τότ’ ὄντα τῆς ἐν Λουγδούνῳ παροικίας, τῷ δηλωθέντι κατὰ Ῥώμην ἐπισκόπῳ συνίστων, πλεῖστα τῷ ἀνδρὶ μαρτυροῦντες, ὡς αἱ τοῦτον ἔχουσαι τὸν τρόπον δηλοῦσι φωναί· “χαίρειν ἐν θεῷ ἄε πάλιν εὐχόμεθα καὶ ἀεί, πάτερ Ἐλεύθερε. ταῦτά ἀοῖ τὰ γράμματα προετρεψάμεθα τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν καὶ κοινωνὸν Εἰρήναιον διακομίσαι, καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἔχειν ἄε αὐτὸν ἐν παραθέσει ζηλωτὴν ὄντα τῆς διαθήκης Χριστοῦ. εἰ γὰρ ᾔδειμεν τόπον τινὶ δικαιοσύνην περιποιεῖσθαι, ὡς πρεσβύτερον ἐκκλησίας, ὅπερ ἐστὶν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ, ἐν πρώτοις ἂν παρεθέμεθα.”
IV. The same martyrs also commended Irenaeus, who was at that time already a presbyter of the diocese at Lyons, to the afore-mentioned bishop of Rome, giving him much good testimony, as the words that follow show: “Once more, and always, we wish you greeting in God, Father Eleutherus. We have asked our brother and companion, Irenaeus, to bring this letter to you, and we beg you to hold him in esteem, for he is zealous for the covenant of Christ. For had we known that rank could confer righteousness on anyone, as a presbyter of the church, which is his position, we should first of all have commended him.”