The Visible Word

Tunc autem hoc Verum ostensum est quando homo Verbum Dei factum est, semetipsum homini, et hominem sibimetipsi assimilans, et per eam quae est ad Filium similitudinem, pretiosus homo fiat Patri. In praeteritis enim temporibus, dicebatur quidem secundum imaginem Dei factum esse hominem, non autem ostendebatur. Adhuc enim invisibile erat Verbum, cujus secundum imaginem homo factus fuerat. Propter hoc autem et similitudinem facile amisit. Quando autem caro Verbum factum est, utraque confirmavit; et imaginem enim ostendit veram, ipse hoc fiens, quod erat imago ejus; et similitudinem firmans restituit, consimilem faciens hominem invisibili Patri per visibile Verbum. Sanctus Ireneaus Lugdunensis, Adversus Haereses, Liber V, Caput XVI Source: Migne PG 7.1167b-1168a

And then this Word was manifested when the Word of God was made man, assimilating Himself to man and man to Himself, so that by means of his likeness to the Son, man might become precious to the Father. For in times past it was said that man was created after the image of God, 1 but it was not shown, for the Word was yet invisible, according to whose image man was created. On account of which he easily lost the likeness. When, however, the Word of God became flesh, He confirmed both of these, for He both showed forth the true image, since He Himself became what was His image, and He firmly restored the likeness, by making man similar to the invisible Father by the visible Word. Saint Ireneaus of Lyons, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 16 1 Gen 1.26