We Preach Christ Crucified

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God”  (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

“Accordingly, if we make St. Paul our leader in these two understandings, we shall have the safest guide to the plain truth of what we are seeking. For he, most of all, knew what Christ is…this man knew the significance of the name of Christ for us, saying that Christ is ‘the power of God and wisdom of God.’ And he called Him ‘peace’ and ‘light inaccessible’ in whom God dwells, and ‘sanctification and redemption,’ and ‘great high priest,’ and ‘passover,’ and ‘a propitation’ of souls, ‘the brightness of glory and the image of substance,’ and ‘maker of the world,’ and ‘spiritual food’ and ‘spiritual drink and spiritual rock,’ ‘water,’ ‘foundation’ of faith,’ and ‘corner stone,’ and ‘image of the invisible God,’ and ‘great God,’ and ‘head of the body of the Church,’ and ‘the firstborn of every creature,’ and ‘first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep,’ ‘firstborn from the dead,’ ‘firstborn among many brethren,’ and ‘mediator between God and men,’ and ‘only-begotten Son,’ and ‘crowned with glory and honor,’ and ‘lord of glory,’ and ‘beginning’ of being, speaking thus of Him who is the beginning, ‘king of justice and king of peace,’ and ‘ineffable king of all, having the power of the kingdom,’ and many other such things that are not easily enumerated. (Saint Gregory of Nyssa Ascetical Works, THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH, Vol. 58. pgs 96-97)

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