The depositing of everything belonging to the truth by apostles to the church like rich men depositing man in the bank
A simile is used by Bishop Irenaeus in presenting how the apostles did not hold back anything related to the truth, and how, “like a rich man (depositing money) in a bank placed in the church fully everything that belongs to truth : so that everyone, whoever will, can draw from her the water of life.” The simile enhances understanding of the apostle’s selflessness and generosity.
You shall become like gods
A simile is used in the work to present how the ability to recognize good and evil as a result of having “inner eyes” would make the individuals “become like gods.” In this regard, the simile facilitates an understanding of the importance that will be accorded to these group.
The danger of the heresy “like poison disguised as milk”
The dangerous nature of the heresy that was made explicit as a result of the similarities between orthodox teachings is brought out through the use of a simile. The writer says that this similarity made the heresy much more dangerous “like poison disguised as milk.” The brutality of this is thus made apparent through the comparison.
The yielding in of the people beyond the bishop’s authority “like a little sheep”
The direct comparison of the way the people beyond the bishop’s authority, as brought out through the satire, would yield in “like little sheep” enables the reader develop an understanding of their weak stupor as well as Irenaeus’s satire of their seductive and tantalizing style.
The slow-wittedness of the persecutors and the ignorance “like dumb animals”
The persecutors and the ignorant people who had the idea of advancing the name of Christ’s name even though unaware of their empty selves as well as who they were is brought out through the particular use of a simile. Through their comparison to dumb animals, the reader understands the extent of the dumbness and emptiness of this specific group.
