ABSTRACT
Irenaeus places the passion and crucifixion of Christ in its particular historical context – but here there are displayed some of his idiosyncratic interpretations. What lies behind his assertion that Pontius Pilate was 'the governor of Claudius Caesar' is that claim of his in Adversus Haereses that our Lord died at the age of nearly fifty years. Whatever the thinking behind the content of the tradition on which Irenaeus leans, his main interest is in the recapitulation of all ages by the Word made flesh, and that the obedience of the Word is that which sanctifies from conception and birth, through infancy and youth, to maturity and old age. Irenaeus completes his comments on the crucifixion with references in Demontration'ssections 80, 81 and 82 to the garment of Christ and the money paid to Judas and the drink offered to our Lord on the cross.
