Was St. Paul a Poor Speaker?

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Paul Preaches in Damascus, as depicted in the AD 1140s Norman mosaics in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. Note that the apostle is depicted as bald, with a large forehead but not especially short; this could be because he was the most important figure in the scene. Size indicated importance, not historical biographical information.



I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ–I who admittedly am humble when face to face among you but, when absent, bold to you…. I do not want to seem as if I were frightening you with letters. For someone says, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, indeed, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech amounts to nothing.’ Let this person realize that we will be the same person in action when we are present there with you as we are in letters when we are absent. (2 Cor. 10:1, 9-11)

Paul’s enemies in Corinth accused him of writing harsh, demanding letters that were full of fire and arrogance but that when he was actually present among them, his attitude was completely different. His enemies said that, in person, he was a weak and sniveling coward who could only beg them to do what his letters demanded they do in his absence.

Early Christian records indicate that St. Paul was not physically impressive. Early records suggest that St. Paul was short and bald and that his voice was high-pitched, difficult to listen to for very long. His face might have been ruddy and flushed. In traditional icons, St. Paul is generally depicted as a bald man with a large forehead holding a book (his letters in the New Testament) and a sword (because he was beheaded). We know that he was longwinded because he preached long past midnight and a young man (Eutychus), sitting on a windowsill, fell asleep and then fell out the window and broke his neck; Paul was able to raise him from the dead but that doesn’t stop us from realizing that the apostle liked to talk and talk and talk and talk (Acts 20:7-12).

(Some contemporary records indicate that St. John Chrysostom, another famous preacher, also had a high-pitched, whiney voice that was difficult to hear or listen to. That might be one reason that St. John moved the place the bishop preached from in Constantinople closer to the people: so that they could hear him more easily.)

Whether St. Paul was tall and handsome or short and difficult to listen to, his words were inspired and inspiring. He must have had a significant impact when he preached in person or we would not have the records of the many parishes he founded in his missionary journeys. But is it interesting to know more about him personally and how God could use him to accomplish his divine purposes.

Even if we think we are not impressive or important, God can still use us as well. Maybe we aren’t good speakers but we can pray for people. We can invite them to church or church events with us. Maybe we are good at writing on Facebook and sharing our theological musings. We must never “sell ourselves short” because God certainly doesn’t.

Even if we aren’t very tall. šŸ˜‰

Reap What You Sow

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ā€œChrist Accused by the Phariseesā€ by Duccio di Buoninsegna, c. 1308-11. On display at the Museo dellā€™Opera Metropolitana del Duomo, Sienna.

The slender spiral columns of white marble and the decoration carved along the top of the walls seem to refer to classical architecture. Pilate too, portrayed with the solemnity of a Roman emperor and crowned with a laurel wreath, evoking classical antiquity.

As in the gospel, the group of Pharisees, animated by lively gestures (again the hand with pointing finger), is depicted outside the building: the Jews avoid going inside in order not to be defiled and to be able to eat the Passover meal.


You should keep this in mind: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but the one who sows generously will also reap generously. Let each give what has been decided in his or her heart, not reluctantly or with grumbling, for “God loves a cheerful giver” (Proverbs 22:8).

St. Paul is writing about the special collection he is making to buy food for the parish in Jerusalem that is suffering because of a famine. He is promising the people in Corinth that if they are generous to the hungry in Jerusalem, God will be generous to them … here and now, but especially on Judgement Day.

Although St. Paul was writing about money and a special collection in a specific time and place, his words apply to all times and all places whether money is involved or not. If we give our time, our attention, our energy–if we offer a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen–God will notice that gift and if we gave that gift without grumbling, God will be generous with what he gives to us.

During Holy Week, the importance of cheerful giving in a variety of circumstances appears many times in the hymns, prayers, and readings. Peter refuses to give Christ the opportunity to serve when he refuses to let Christ wash his feet; then he wants too much service, offering–demanding?–that Christ wash his head and face as well. A woman washes Christ’s feet and another woman anoints his head with very expensive perfume and other people complain loudly. Pharisees grumble about the attention Christ insists they give him and his importance in the life of Israel. Romans are furious at being asked to give reconsideration to their political ideas. Apostles are afraid to give any public allegiance to Christ because they might be arrested or executed together with him.

Giving time and attention to prayer or church services this week? Doesn’t seem that much to ask now, does it? Coming to church cheerfully, without grumbling about it? Even better!

Read more about Holy Week and Judas’ complaints about a woman’s generosity in a previous post here.

Rich By His Poverty

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One of the greatest existent examples of Norman architecture, the cathedral in Monreale, Sicily was begun in 1174 by William II of Sicily. In 1182 the church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was complete. The stunning mosaics were added one hundred years later.


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though he was rich, he became poor for your sake, so that you might become rich by his poverty …. For if that desire is present, the gift will be acceptable according to what one may have, not according to what one does not. (2 Cor. 8:9, 12)

St. Paul is raising money to aid the parish in Jerusalem because there is a famine there, adding to the political troubles facing the area which would soon boil over into open revolt against Rome and cause the Romans to tear down the Temple. He’s saying that the Corinthians will get “credit” from God based on what they want to give, even if their actual financial situation does not allow them to be as generous as they would like to be.

It’s always tricky to talk about God giving “credit” to humans. But we understand that impulse because we honor the intention if the person is unable to follow through, through no fault of their own. It’s a different situation if the person promises what they know they cannot deliver, raising hopes that can never be achieved.

God acknowledges–gives “credit”–our faith, our hopes and trust in him, and in our brothers and sisters. So this passage of 2 Corinthians is about more than fundraising. St. Paul is also talking about how we become rich through Christ’s poverty even if we don’t always follow through on being poor in spirit, forgiving as we have been forgiven, sharing our resources with those who have less–less time, less cash, less emotional bandwidth to bear whatever their current situation is. If we WANT to be as forgiving and as poor in spirit, etc. that’s at least a start. It’s something. Even if we don’t always live up to our intentions. But as the famous Easter sermon says,

… the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Paschal Homily, attributed to St. John Chrysostom

Christ takes off all his clothes in order to wear a towel and wash our feet. He hangs naked on the Cross. Holy Week makes us rich. The point of wealth is to share it. How can we share some of what we are given during Holy Week? Even if we can’t do everything we want to make those riches accessible to ourselves or others, we can at least do something. We can do a little bit more than we did last year. We can be present. We can at least begin to want to intend to receive those riches and then share them with someone else.

What human being could know all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ and concealed under the poverty of his humanity? … When he assumed our mortality and overcame death, he manifested himself in poverty but he promised riches–though they might be deferred; he did not lose them as if they were taken away from him. How great is the multitude of his sweetness which he hides from those who fear him but which he reveals to those who hope in him!

St. Augustine of Hippo, On the Nativity 194.3