Claims that "Jesus was a Celt" (more precisely, that the holy father—in reference to Irenaeus, the author of an anti-Gnostic work—is considered Celtic) did not arise from reliable historical evidence, but from a misreading of the author’s own words.

Debunking the Celtic Misinterpretation

Claims that "Jesus was a Celt" (more precisely, that the holy father—in reference to Irenaeus, the author of an anti-Gnostic work—is considered Celtic) did not arise from reliable historical evidence, but from a misreading of the author’s own words. In the preface to his first book, Contra haereses, he writes, "I live among the Celts," which some, notably Ecumenius, took literally as confirmation of his Celtic origin. However, as the analysis of quotations clearly shows, this assertion is based solely on a misunderstanding.

The author of the text points out that when Ecumenius calls him a Celt, he merely intended to describe his circumstances—he lived among the Celts while serving as the Bishop of Lyons in Gaul. This, however, does not in any way prove that he was Celtic by birth. Additional arguments are presented to confirm the holy father’s Greek origin: he came from a Greek family, and his addressee was also of Greek nationality, which supports the true meaning of his words rather than a literal interpretation.

Moreover, the analysis of the letter from Irenaeus to Florinus shows that his early years were spent in Asia Minor, with no indication of him having immigrated from another country. The St. Petersburg scholar Feivardentsiy, who rejected Ecumenius’s assumption, decisively characterized him as Greek—a view that dominated historical scholarship until the mid-19th century.

Thus, the accounts of a Celtic origin are the result of a mistaken understanding of the phrase "I live among the Celts" and have no real basis.

Supporting citation(s):

"Ecumenius calls him a Celt, i.e., ascribes to him a Gallic origin. But this idea is based on a misunderstanding. Referring to the holy father, Ecumenius meant his words in the preface to his first book, Contra haereses: 'I live among the Celts'... (source: link txt)"

"The holy father came from a Greek family, which is why he expressed himself that way. But it is evident that his addressee also belonged to the Greek nationality; otherwise, he would not have understood... (source: link txt)"

"An analysis of the excerpt from Irenaeus’s letter to Florinus shows that the holy father spent his early years in Asia Minor, with no indication of having emigrated from any other country... Feivardentsiy decisively called St. Irenaeus a Greek. (source: link txt)"