It was clear through unlearned men that the
cross was persuasive, in fact, it persuaded the
whole world. Their discourse was not of
unimportant matters but of God and true
religion, of the Gospel way of life and future
judgement, yet it turned plain, uneducated men
into philosophers. How the foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and his weakness stronger than
men!
In what way is it stronger? It made its way
throughout the world and overcame all men;
countless men sought to eradicate the very name
of the Crucified, but that name flourished and
grew ever mightier. Its enemies lost out and
perished; the living who waged a war on a dead
man proved helpless. Therefore, when a Greek
tells me I am dead, he shows only that he is
foolish indeed, for I, whom he thinks a fool,
turn out to be wiser than those reputed wise. So
too, in calling me weak, he but shows that he is
weaker still. For the good deeds which
tax-collectors and fishermen were able to
accomplish by God’s grace, the philosophers, the
rulers, the countless multitudes cannot even
imagine.
Paul had this in mind when he said: The
weakness of God is stronger than men. That
the preaching of these men was indeed divine is
brought home to us in the same way. For how
otherwise could twelve uneducated men, who lived
on lakes and rivers and wastelands, get the idea
for such an immense enterprise? How could men
who perhaps had never been in a city or a public
square think of setting out to do battle with
the whole world? That they were fearful, timid
men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not
reject the fact or try to hide their weaknesses.
Indeed he turned these into a proof of the
truth. What did he say of them? That when Christ
was arrested, the others fled, despite all the
miracles they had seen, while he who was leader
of the others denied him!
How then account for the fact that these men,
who in Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the
attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with
the whole world once Christ was dead – if, as
you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them
and rouse their courage? Did they perhaps say to
themselves: “What is this? He could not save
himself but he will protect us? He did not help
himself when he was alive, but now that he is
dead he will extend a helping hand to us? In his
lifetime he brought no nation under his banner,
but by uttering his name we will win over the
whole world?” Would it not be wholly irrational
even to think such thoughts, much less to act
upon them?
It is evident, then, that if they had not seen
him risen and had proof of his power, they would
not have risked so much.
