Irenaeus: Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

54. For this cause then is He Saviour. Now Emmanuel is, being interpreted, With you God; ^[1] or as a yearning cry ^[2] uttered by the prophet, such as this: With us shall be God; according to which it is the explanation and manifestation of the good tidings proclaimed. For Behold, He saith, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son; and He, being God, is to be with us. And, as if altogether astonished ^[3] at these things, he proclaims in regard to these future events that With us shall be God. And yet again concerning His birth the same. prophet says in another place: Before she that travailed gave birth, and before the pains of travail came on, she escaped and was delivered of a man-child. Thus he showed that His birth from the virgin was unforeseen and unexpected. ^[4] And again the same prophet says: Unto us a son is born, and unto us a child is given: ^[5] and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God. ^[6]