I am new to patristic studies and so my question may be answered in Patristics 101. I was reading in Irenaeus that Jesus was over 50 years old when He died. From my Protestant background I had learned that He was 33 years old.

Here is the text that started me to think about this:

“CHAP. XXII.–THE THIRTY AEONS ARE NOT TYPIFIED BY THE FACT THAT CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED IN HIS THIRTIETH YEAR: HE DID NOT SUFFER IN THE TWELFTH MONTH AFTER HIS BAPTISM, BUT WAS MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED.

5. … For how could He have had disciples, if He did not teach? And how could He have taught, unless He had reached the age of a Master? For when He came to be baptized, He had not yet completed His thirtieth year, but was beginning to be about thirty years of age (for thus Luke, who has mentioned His years, has expressed it: "Now Jesus was, as it were, beginning to be thirty years old,"(13) when He came to receive baptism); and, [according to these men,] He preached only one year reckoning from His baptism. On completing His thirtieth year He suffered, being in fact still a young man, and who had by no means attained to advanced age. Now, that the first stage of early life embraces thirty years,(1) and that this extends onwards to the fortieth year, every one will admit; but from the fortieth and fiftieth year a man begins to decline towards old age, which our Lord possessed while He still fulfilled the office of a Teacher, even as the Gospel and all the elders testify…”

Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book II, Chapter XXII, section 5

Here are my questions:

1. Was Irenaeus saying that Jesus was over 50 when He died?
2. Do other church fathers support this view?
3. Do other church fathers support other ages for Christ at His death?
4. What age is accepted today as being authoritative?

For more discussion about Jesus’ age at death:

http://www.jesuspolice.com/common_error.php?id=18