When  going  to  visit  the  clever  people  at  Corinth,  all  he  previously
determined  was  that  he  would  preach  to  them  about  Christ  in
regard  to  his  crucifixion  (1  Cor.  ii.  2).  Here,  far  from  apologizing
for  it,  he  makes  it  his  one  ground  of  exultation.  This  would
appear  absolutely  paradoxical  in  the  view  of  contemporaries  who
only  thought  of  the  cross  as  a  cruel,  disgraceful  instrument  of
execution.  It  is  to  be  explained  by  what  Paul  saw  in  the  cross.
(1)  On  Christ's  side,  the  centre  of  his  supreme  act  of  love  in
sacrificing  himself  for  the  redemption  of  the  world ;  (2)  on  the
Christian's  side,  the  symbol  of  his  crucifixion  to  the  world,  and
the  influence  by  means  of  which  his  old  evil  life  was  destroyed
in  order  that  he  might  live  the  new  life  in  Christ.
the  world  .  .  .  crticified  unto  me :  ceasing  therefore  to  live
as  a  power  to  fascinate,  terrify,  or  hurt.
X  unto  the  world :  no  longer  concerning  myself  with  it.
The  scope  of  this  verse  must  be  determined  by  its  context.
Paul  is  not  here  repudiating  any  interest  in  politics,  business,
society,  nature,  art,  or  literature.  He  is  contrasting  his  position
with  that  of  the  proselytizers  who  are  trimming  their  sails
C9)  Z


338  TO  THE  GALATIANS  6.  16

16  anything,  nor  uncircumcision,  but  a  new  creature.  And
as  many  as  shall  walk  by  this  rule,  peace  be  upon  them,
and  mercy,  and  upon  the  Israel  of  God.
to  catch  the  breeze  of  popular  favour.  He  is  perfectly  indifferent
to  this.  It  cannot  really  hurt  him — for  the  world  is  crucified
as  far  as  he  is  concerned  ;  he  will  not  consider  it — for  he  is
crucified  as  far  as  the  world  is  concerned.
