PAUL AND THE RHETORIC OF REVERSAL: KERYGMATIC ...

The most fundamental of these “contraries” is undoubtedly the pursuit of death and the
cross.
He calls one to become dead to the world; and this deadness does not harm, but
rather benefits, becoming the cause of life. 89
The cross, although appearing to be disgraceful, has become the cause of
innumerable blessings, and the basis and root of unspeakable glory. 90
Having said, “Without us you have begun to reign”, and “God has demonstrated
us as last, as those condemned to death”, he now shows the ways in which they
have been condemned to death, saying “We are fools and weak and dishonoured,
and we hunger and thirst and go naked and are beaten and are homeless, and
labour, working with our own hands” – which are the signs of genuine teachers
and apostles. But the others prided themselves on the contraries of these [ἐπὶ τοῖς
ἐναντίοις μέγα ἐφρόνουν], on wisdom, glory, wealth, and honour. 91
Indeed, in his exposition of the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians, the gospel itself may be
summed up as the message of death:
For he went about proclaiming death. 92
For the cross and death were the proclamation. 93
And [true] “wisdom” is what he calls the gospel, and the manner of salvation,
being saved through the cross. 94
89 Homily 10; PG 61.81-2.
90 Homily 10; PG 61.82.
91 Homily 13; PG 61.107.
92 Homily 6; PG 61.48.
93 Homily 6; PG 61.49.
94 Homily 7; PG 61.55. Other comments in the same homily emphasise that the gospel, as
far as Paul is concerned here, is synonymous with the cross: PG 61.57: Οὐ γὰρ ᾔδεσαν, ὅτι
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