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, and gave him much good testimony, as is shown by words to the following effect: “Once more and always, Father Eleutherus, we wish you greeting in God. 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 can confer righteousness on anyone, we should first of all have recommended him as being a presbyter of the church, for that is his position.”