Antonio Pitta, «Il “discorso del pazzo” o periautologia immoderata? Analisi retorico-letteraria di 2 Cor 11,1–12,18», Vol. 87 (2006) 493-510
Forced to defend himself from the slanders spread by his adversaries in Corinth Paul accepts in 2 Cor 11,1–12,18 their challenge and draws a comparison situated on the razor’s edge of the periautologia or of self-praise. More than being a fool’s speech his discourse is an immoderate one and it stands up only because Paul’s competitors lack measure and moderation. The main thesis of the section (2 Cor 11,5-6) announces an apology of Paul’s superiority which will be proved not by means of verbose or empty elocution but by the facts: gratuity in evangelization, ministerial relationships with Christ, visions and revelations, all of them balanced by means of a paradoxical boasting in one’s own weakness.