Indeed, the cross itself, as it appears throughout Paul’s theology, is the central symbol of all that Paul was doing in transforming both Judaism and paganism. He lived by it himself, making his own life a walking, breathing symbol of the gospel: ‘I am crucified with the Messiah; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but the Messiah lives in me.’ That sharp and pregnant statement, which summarizes not only Paul’s personal spiritual experience but also Paul’s whole theological, cultural and political stance, could serve as a heading over all his life-work, and over all genuinely Christian cultural transformation. And at the heart of that transformation, as far as Paul is concerned, are cross-shaped communities, little true-Israel cells, little families of people who are learning to think straight with the true wisdom, little outposts of a counter-empire, giving allegiance to Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar.
Transforming the Culture by N.T. Wright
