The Wisdom and Foolishness of God: First Corinthians 1-2 in Theological Exploration

The first two chapters of Pauls first epistle to the Christians of Corinth, written in the fifth decade of the first century, have played a significant role in the history of Christian theology. Interpreting the central event in Christianity, namely the crucifixion of Jesus, Paul reflects on the wisdom and foolishness of God, which he opposes to the worlds wisdom. According to Paul, the word of the cross, which is foolishness to some and scandal to others, leads to an upheaval in ones way of thinking. For two millennia, theology has often turned to these passages in order to sustain its reflection.

Many central questions emerge from Pauls text on the meaning of a crucified Messiah, on Gods omnipotence, weakness, and suffering. This volume hopes to achieve two things by seeking to place exegetes, historians, philosophers, and theologians in conversation: to better understand Pauls text and its reception, and also to examine the ways in which it can nourish our theological reflection today.