Paul, the Fool of Christ: A Study of 1 Corinthians 1-4 in the Comic-Philosophic Tradition

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Welborn argues that Paul's acceptance of the role of a 'fool', and his evaluation of the message of the cross as 'foolishness', are best understood against the background of the popular theatre and the fool's role in the mime. Welborn's investigation demonstrates that the term 'folly' (moria) was generally understood as a designation of the attitude and behaviour of a particular social type - the lower class buffoon. As a source of amusement, these lower class types were widely represented on the stage in the vulgar and realistic comedy known as the mime. Paul's acceptance of the role of the fool mirrors the strategy of a number of intellectuals in the early Empire who exploited the paradoxical freedom that the role permitted for the utterance of a dangerous truth. Welborn locates Paul's exposition of the 'folly' of the message about the cross in a submerged intellectual tradition that connects Cynic philosophy, satire, and the mime. In this tradition, the world is viewed from the perspective of the poor, the dishonoured, the outsiders. The hero of this tradition is the 'wise fool,' who, in grotesque disguise, is allowed to utter critical truths about authority. The book demonstrates that Paul participates fully in this tradition in his discourse about the folly of the word of the cross. The major components of Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 1-4 find their closest analogies in the tradition that valorizes Socrates, Aesop, and the mimic fool. JSNTS 293 and ECC

Reviews

"Very impressive...Professor Welborn demonstrates that the theatre of mime provided a sounding board for Paul's talk of himself as a "fool" and of his preaching as "folly"... He enables the 21st century reader to recognize more of the resonances which would immediately have struck many of the first recipients of the letter." James Dunn, University of Durham, UK -- James Dunn, University of Durham, UK
"The book is an outstanding piece of scholarship, solid, innovative, convincing, and a real contribution to the field." Dale Martin, Yale University, New Haven, CT * Blurb from reviewer *
'This is a terrific book. It will add much to our appreciation of what Paul is saying. Larry Welborn's grasp of the sources is superb.' Mark Harding, Australian Association of Theological Schools * Blurb from reviewer *
'Professor Welborn suggests that Paul's discourse about the "folly" of the "word of the cross" employs the language of jest and mime. Therefore he seeks the meaning of "foolishness" in the Greek world, and consistently applies it to Paul's discourse in 1 Corinthians 1-4. Yet it is noteworthy that not until the Corinthian correspondence were the terms "fool" and "folly" applied by certain members of the Corinthian community (the Apollos party) against Paul to describe their impression of the Apostle and his gospel. Combining a meticulous background study with incisive historical analysis, Professor Welborn sheds light on four crucial chapters of the Pauline literature that illuminate Paul's roots in the Greco-Roman world. This work demonstrates both a general erudition and a grasp of Greco-Roman literature that have become rare among current New Testament scholars. Professor Welborn shows himself master of an incredible number of classical texts and scholarly works while at the same time displaying an intimate knowledge of Paul's theology. He is relentless in the pursuit of Paul's theological agenda and demonstrates that because of a general disinclination to fill the streets with crucified slaves Paul was governed by a social constraint in his discourse about the cross. This book is also fascinating to read. The illustrations of mimic fools included in the texts enhance the reader's understanding almost as much as does the author's impressive ability to reach the reader. I recommend this book with the utmost enthusiasm.' Gerd Lindemann, Professor of New Testament, University of Gttingen, Germany. * Blurb from reviewer *
"Both innovative and controversial. It will be interesting to see if other scholars see the comic tradition as providing an interpretative framework for Paul'srhetorical strategy in the 'fool's speech' of 2 Corinthians 11.1-12.10, and elsewherein the Corinthian correspondance" PaulFoster, ExpositoryTimes Vol. 118, No. 11. August 2007 -- Paul Foster * Expository Times *

Author Bio

L. L. Welborn isProfessor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Fordham University, New York, USA.He is the author of Politics and Rhetoric in the Corinthian Epistles (1997) and editor (with Cilliers Breytenbach) of Encounters with Hellenism: Studies in First Clement (2003) and Paul, the Fool of Christ (2005).