""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 Göttingen, 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's rhetorical strategy in the 'fool's speech' of 2 Corinthians 11.1-12.10, and elsewhere in the Corinthian correspondance" Paul Foster, Expository Times Vol. 118, No. 11.

August 2007" --Paul Foster, Expository Times.