By many his preaching was characterized as "foolishness." There was nothing in it to commend it to the Jews who "required a sign," or to the Greeks, "who sought after wisdom." "Very well," is his reply, "foolish it may be, but after all it has accomplished more than either Jew or Greek has been able to do for the world. 'Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?' What has it achieved? Where are its monuments? 'For after that the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of (just such) preaching (as mine) to save them that believe.' This foolishness has lifted men from vile and sinful lives into righteousness and honor. Have your own way about it, O Greeks and Jews; I will be accounted a fool if you will, and am willing to let my words be stigmatized as folly; but you will find that 'God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things that are despised hath God chosen; yea, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are.' I accept the low estimate you put upon me and my work, but I triumph over you and your work, however exalted. Results shall determine. This is glorious folly!" In writing to the Corinthians, he says of certain members of the church who thought that in spiritual things they were superior to himself, "Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, _not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power_." To those thus puffed up, he addresses himself in the following ironical strain: "Now ye are full, now ye are rich; ye have reigned as kings without us; and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last. * * * We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised." He denounces certain teachers who were sowing the seeds of discord among his churches, as "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." Such teachers as these pronounced Paul a fool and did everything to bring his work into contempt. "Very good," says Paul to the Corinthians, "receive me then as a fool," and then proceeding, with his favorite irony, "For ye suffer fools gladly, _seeing ye yourselves are wise_!"