1 Corinthians - Division, Gifts, Marriage, Love, & Resurrection
Session 2 – Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
(1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
What happens in Corinth…stays in Corinth!
It was an ancient day “Hollywood, Las Vegas, and New York” with all the immorality and debauchery of today.
Map of Greece / Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey):
Corinth
Olympia
Athens
Thessalonica
Philippi
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamos
Sardis
Laodicea
(Halley’s Bible Handbook)
Corinth lies 56 miles west of Athens, on the narrow strip of land (isthmus) between the Peloponnesus and the Greek mainland. Ever since the Golden Age of Greece, Athens had been the leading cultural center, but under Roman rule, Corinth had been made the capital of the Roman province called Achaia (which also included Athens) and was the most important city in the country. Land traffic between the north and south had to pass the city, and much of the commerce between Rome and the East was brought to its harbors.
In Roman times Corinth was a city of wealth, luxury, and immorality – with a growing population that reached more than 300,000 free citizens and 460,000 slaves in the 2nd century A.D. The theater in Paul’s day seated 14,000 spectators. In the past, more than 1,000 hierodouloi – temple prostitutes – had been active in pagan worship rites, but these practices probably had ceased by Paul’s time, although the memory of that era was still fresh. “To live like a Corinthian” meant to live a life of sexual immorality and drunkenness. The Isthmian games, held every two years, made Corinth a great center of Hellenic life. (The Olympian Games were held every four years at Olympia, some 100 miles west of Corinth).
Paul visited Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey (Acts 18). He became acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Christians and, like himself, tentmakers. During his stay of 1 ½ years he lived at their home. Paul later wrote two New Testament letters to that church and at least two other letters, now lost (1 Cor 5:9) and the severe letter (2 Cor 7:8). Paul also wrote the letter to the Romans while in Corinth (Romans 16:23).
(Chuck Missler – 1&2 Corinthians Commentary 1995)
Occasion of 1 Corinthians
Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church, a letter which apparently perished (1 Cor 5:9). (Some scholars believe it is preserved as 2 Cor 6:14-7:1.) This letter had been misunderstood (1 Cor 5:9-10) and Paul mentions it to clear up a misconception. [Remember: The chapters were not divided up until the 13th century; the verses not until the 16th.] The household of Chloe brought him news of cliques in the church (1 Cor 1:11) and the church wrote him a letter (re: 1 Cor 7:1), presumably brought to Ephesus by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17) who probably added their own comments. The situation was serious. Paul responded with the letter we know as 1 Corinthians.
The “Painful visit”
The situation worsened. Paul felt it necessary to leave his work in Ephesus and pay a hurried visit in the attempt to set things right. (This visit is implied in passages in 2 Corinthians, which speak of Paul as being ready to pay a third visit to Corinth (2 Cor 12:14; 13:1; his second visit is past, 13:2).
His references to “coming again in sorrow” (2 Cor 2:1) indicate that this visit had been an unpleasant one. It failed to clear up the situation and Paul went away profoundly disturbed.
The “Severe Letter”
Paul determined to write another letter, obviously very severe in tone, and it cost him much to write (2 Cor 2:4; 7:8). Had it not been successful it might conceivably have meant a final rupture between Paul and this church he had founded. This letter seems to have been lost. (Many scholars feel part of it is preserved in 2 Cor 10-13.) The letter was apparently taken by Titus, who was to return via Macedonia and Troas. Paul was impatient to know how it had been received. When he eventually catches up to Titus, he learns that all is well (2 Cor 2:12-17; 7:5-7, 13). Out of his great relief and joy, Paul wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians. Almost certainly he visited the church soon afterwards.
Three Visits:
1) When church was founded;
2) The “painful” visit;
3) A visit after 2 Corinthians had been sent.
Four letters:
1) The “Previous Letter”;
2) 1 Corinthians;
3) The “Severe Letter”;
4) 2 Corinthians.
Authorship
There is no doubt that Paul is the author. He is cited as the author in 1 Clement 47:1, a first century letter, and freely quoted by Ignatius and Polycarp; plus subsequent frequent references.
The church at Corinth is the “carnal church.” Spiritual babes, immature and undeveloped spiritually. Unseparated from the world. They have only a minimum of doctrine; what they have is mostly practical, conduct-related.
Paul addresses the following:
Discipline, Chapter 5;
Going to Law, Chapter 6;
Marriage and Divorce, Chapter 7;
Christian Liberty, Chapters 8, 9, 10;
Lord’s Table, Chapter 11;
Tongues, Chapters 12-14;
Resurrection, Chapter 15.
Contrast:
1) Exciting speech of men vs. the Spirit filled preaching of Paul.
2) Wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God.
3) The spirit of the world vs. the Spirit of God.
4) The natural man vs. the spiritual man.
READ (All) 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The power of the cross and the wisdom of men.
1) (1 Corinthians 1:18) There only two kinds of people, the perishing and the saved.
[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
a) The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing: For those of us today the message of the cross sounds like a noble and sacred act. But it is not the view of a first century Christian. The cross was crueler than today’s electric chair or lethal injection. The cross was degrading, relentless, and vicious mode of capital punishment. So, the idea of being saved by a man who was killed by the state on an instrument of death does sound foolish.
b) To us who are being saved it is the power of God: Salvation (being saved), in a sense, is progressive. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are saved from the penalty of sin (Rom. 6). As we live our lives in Christ, then we are being sanctified and thereby we are saved from the power of sin (Rom. 7). And when Jesus comes and takes us to heaven, then we will be saved from the presence of sin (Rom. 8)
c) The power of God: There is a true power in the gospel. When the gospel is preached and someone receives it with faith, then the power of God comes into that person’s life.
i) How have you seen the power of God at work in your life?
d) Those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved: The word for perishing (apollymi – apol-loom-mee) is in a verb tense that describes a work in progress. Both of the people described and heading one of two directions.
2) (1 Corinthians 1:19-21) The wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God.
[19-20] For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
a) For it is written: This is from Isaiah 29:14. In spiritual matters, God will “bring to nothing,” or destroy, the wisdom of men.
b) Where is the disputer of this age? This type of person wants to dispute everything and prove that it is solvable through human reasoning.
i) Do you know people that constantly want to argue? What is the best way to respond?
c) The world through wisdom did not know God: Philosophy = “love of wisdom.” In Corinth, there were fifty different philosophical movements, each with their favorite philosopher. The Christian has no need for human philosophy: where it agrees with Scripture, it is unnecessary. Where it disagrees, it is wrong and therefore misleading. It has nothing reliable to offer.
Colossians 2:8 (NKJV), “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”
“It is certain that a blind man is no judge of colours, a deaf man is no judge of sound, and a man who has never been quickened into spiritual life can have no judgment as to spiritual things.” (Spurgeon)
[21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
d) It pleased God: It is interesting that God takes pleasure in saving man through an offensive and foolish way (the Cross).
3) (1 Corinthians 1:22-25) Signs, philosophy, and still a stumbling block.
[22-23] For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom — but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
a) For Jews request a sign: The Jews were looking for their Messiah to come and deliver them and to show them Messianic miracles as proof. Their desire for deliverance was not bad, but their rejection of God’s way of deliverance was.
Matthew 12:38, (NKJV), “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want a to see a sign from You.’”
b) Greeks seek after wisdom: The Greeks high value was the pursuit of wisdom; education and philosophy. Their desire for wisdom was not bad, but their rejection of God’s wisdom was.
c) We preach Christ crucified: God gave both of them something unexpected, that is, a crucified Messiah. Christ means power, glory, and supremacy. To be crucified means defeat, weakness, and utter humiliation. This is the ultimate oxymoron.
i) How would you describe the need for the crucifixion to an unsaved friend?
[24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
a) The wisdom of God: The preaching of the Cross is too simple to people back then and today. It does seem, to them, to address dysfunctional families, drug addiction, and all the complexities of our culture. But I have personally experienced the power of God, to know that He is real and that He can positively impact all those situations.
i) How have you seen the power of God at work in you or in the people you know?
[25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
b) The foolishness of God is wiser than men: God was at His most “foolish” and very “weakest” at the cross, but it was infinitely wiser and stronger than anything man could do.
i) How are you encouraged by the wisdom and strength of God?
2) (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) Foolish choices in salvation.
[26-29] For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Lady Huntington, the rich and influential friend of Whitfield and Wesley, said she was going to heaven by an “m”: it isn’t any noble; instead, it is not many noble.
a) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world: The Corinthian Christians and we Christians today are not chosen because we are so great, but rather because God is so great.
b) To put to shame the wise: God isn’t saying that it is better to be foolish or uneducated. Rather, He is saying that the world’s wisdom and education does not bring us salvation in Jesus Christ.
c) That no flesh should glory in His presence: He is the end of it all. No one will be able to stand before God and state that, “They figured it out” or that “They knew what God was doing all along.” God’s ways are greater and higher and no one will be able to take any credit in His presence.
Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV), “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.”
i) How can you be encouraged by the knowledge that God’s way is ultimately the best for your life?
3) (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Jesus perfectly shows us wisdom.
[30-31] But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
a) Jesus, who became for us wisdom: Jesus is not only wisdom for us, He is also righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
i) Righteousness: We are legally declared not guilty.
ii) Sanctification: We are separated from the world and, as we grow in Jesus, we behave more like Him.
iii) Redemption: Is a word from the slave trade. The idea is that we have been purchased to a permanent freedom because of what Jesus did for us.
b) He who glories, let him glory in the LORD: We receive God’s glory through our crucified Christ. The evidence of God’s glory is in His choice of us lowly and unwise people.
i) How do you feel about being chose by God for glory?