ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 1 v20a

THE CROSS A STUMBLING BLOCK. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH: My spirit has become an offscouring of the cross, which is a stumbling block to those who are unbelievers, but to us it is salvation and life eternal. Where is the wise man? Where is the debater? Where is the boasting of those who are called prudent? EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 18.1

THE HUMBLING OF GREEK WISDOM AND JEWISH LAW. AMBROSIASTER: Here Paul attacks the Jews as much as the Gentiles, because their scribes and doctors of the law think that it is foolish to believe that God has a Son. Gentiles also laugh at this, but the Jews’ unbelief is based on the fact that the matter is not openly stated in the law, whereas the Gentiles think it is silly because the reasoning of the world does not accept it, claiming that nothing can be made without sexual union. The debater of this age is a man who thinks that the world is governed by the conjunction of the stars and that births and deaths are brought about by the twelve signs of the zodiac. Is there anything more foolish than the belief that the Creator does not care about the world he has made? What would be the point of making it in that case? It is because they see some people enjoying life and others not, because they see the righteous suffering while the wicked boast, that they have come to believe that God does not care. But to say this is to say that God is malevolent and unjust. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.2

THE WISE AND THE PRUDENT. HILARY OF POITIERS: In this matter the wise and the prudent are silent, for they have rejected the wisdom of God. ON THE TRINITY 2.12.3

SEVERIAN OF GABALA: The wise man is the Greek, the scribe is the Jew. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.4

1 Cor