for he whose garments raised the dead and whose shadow expelled diseases,33 much more was his soul capable of receiving eloquence. For this is a thing which may be taught: but the former transcendeth all art. He then who knows things beyond the reach of art, much more must he have had strength for lesser things. But Christ permitted not; for it was not expedient. Rightly therefore he saith, “For I determined not to know any thing: “for I, too, for my part have just the same will as Christ.” And to me it seems that he speaks to them in a lower tone even than to any others, in order to repress their pride. Thus, the expression, “I determined to know nothing,” was spoken in contradistinction to the wisdom which is without. “For I came not weaving syllo- gisms nor sophisms, nor saying unto you anything else than “Christ was crucified.” They indeed have ten thousand things to say, and concerning ten thousand things they speak, winding out long courses of words, framing arguments and syllogisms, compounding sophisms without end. But I came unto you saying no other thing than “Christ was crucified,” and all of them I out-stripped: which is a sign such as no words can express of the power of Him whom I preach.” 30 [2.] Ver. 3. “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” This again is another topic: for not only are the believers unlearned persons; not only is he that speaketh unlearned; not only is the manner of the teaching of an unlearned cast throughout; not only was the thing preached of itself enough to stagger people; (for the cross and death were the message brought;) but together with these there were also other hindrances, the dangers, and the plots, and the daily fear, and the being hunted about. For the word “weakness,” with him in many places stands for the persecutions: as also elsewhere. “My weakness which I had in my flesh ye did not set at nought:” (Gal. iv. 13, 14.) and again, “If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my weakness.” (2 Cor. xi. 30.) What [weakness]?  “The governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Dam- ascenes, desirous to apprehend me.” (2 Cor. v. 32.) And again, “Wherefore I take pleasure in weakness:” (2 Cor. xii. 10.) then, saying in what, he added, “In injuries, in necessities, in distresses.” And here he makes the same statement; for having said, “And I was in weakness,” etc. he did not stop at this point, but explaining the word “weakness” makes mention of his dangers. He adds again, “and in fear, and in much trembling, I was with you.” “How sayest thou? Did Paul also fear dangers?” He did fear, and dreaded them excess- ively; for though he was Paul, yet he was a man. But this is no charge against Paul, but in- firmity of human nature; and it is to the praise of his fixed purpose of mind that when he even dreaded death and stripes, he did nothing wrong because of this fear. So that they who assert that he feared not stripes, not only do not honor him, but rather abridge greatly his praises. For if he feared not, what endurance or what self-restraint was there in bearing the 33 Here again what is written of St. Peter is taken as if written of St. Paul: see Acts xix. 12; v. 5. 55 Homily VI