Riemer Roukema: Christ as Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, Redemption (1Cor. 1:30): Selective reception of Pauline theology and its appropriation in early Christianity

1Cor. 1-2 was quoted and alluded to by authors like Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian, but their extant works do not contain Paul’s meaningful words about Christ Jesus, “who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). Although these authors did not write running commentaries on 1Cor., they certainly noticed this text, but they had their reasons to ignore it. This also holds for related texts like Rom. 3:24-25, 2Cor. 5:18-21, and – with one exception – Gal. 2:16-17, which deal with redemption and righteousness through faith in Christ. Origen is the first who quotes 1Cor. 1:30, both in his fragments on 1Cor. and in other works, and in the fourth century it was quoted and alluded to frequently. This paper explores the possible reasons of the initial hesitation about Paul’s concise formula which expresses an important aspect of his Christology, and the subsequent appropriation and appreciation of this text.