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Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

St Irenaeus of Lyons, tr. Robinson, 1920

Chapter 64

And again David says that of his race Christ is to be born, (speaking) after this manner: For¹ David my² servant’s sake turn not away the face of thy Christ. The Lord sware truth unto David, and he will not disappoint him: Of the fruit of thy body will I set on thy throne: if thy children shall keep my covenant and my testimonies, which I covenanted with them, their sons for evermore (shall sit upon thy throne).³ But none of the sons of David reigned for evermore, nor was their kingdom for evermore; for it was brought to nought. But the king that was born of David, He is Christ. All these testimonies declare in plain terms His descent according to the flesh, and the race and place where He was to be born; so that no man should seek among the Gentiles or elsewhere for the birth of the Son of God, but in Bethlehem of Judaea from Abraham and from David’s race.

Notes

Ps. cxxxii. 10 ff.
“My” for “thy” (LXX σου) by oversight. Part of the text is quoted in III, ix. 2. See also above, c. 36.
The Arm. has “and their son for evermore,” and nothing further.