First Corinthians

First corinthians

I Corinthians 2:1-5 1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

From these verses we can see that… v.2 Paul was on a specific mission in Corinth. Paul did not want to know anything of the Corinthians except “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” v.4-5 Paul is also determined that the Corinthians experience with the truth of the “Cross of Christ” WOULD BE convincing through the “demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God”, and NOT through the conventional wisdom of man.

From these verses we can see that… v.1, 3, 4 In order to avoid any confusion in his mission Paul had no qualms about… • v.1 his lack of “lofty speech or wisdom” • v.3 his appearance of “weakness, fear, and trembling.” • v.4 his lack of “plausible words of wisdom”

I Corinthians 2:6-9 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

From these verses we can see that… v.6 There is a provision of “wisdom” provided for the “mature”. What is meant by “mature” are those who clearly understand the “folly” of the message and the “folly” of their calling. A heavenly “wisdom” emerges from this foundation. v.7 This wisdom imparted to the “mature”… • is a “secret and hidden wisdom of God” • was established before the creation • is provided for the saints in order to honor the saints

From these verses we can see that… v.9 The prophets spoke of and longed for this “hidden and secret wisdom” that would be revealed through the message of the cross.

I Corinthians 2:10-13 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The wisdom Paul is referring to… v.10 is “revealed to us through the Spirit” v.13 is not taught through conventional forms of learning.

The reason that this wisdom is taught through the Spirit is because… v.10 the Spirit searches the depths of God. v.11 the wisdom being referred to are the thoughts of God, and God wants to speak for himself. v.12 we have been given the Spirit of God through the Cross of Christ.

The reason that this wisdom is taught through the Spirit is because… v.12 God has freely given us the Scriptures and will freely teach us from them. v.13 spiritual truths should be interpreted directly from spiritual origins, not human origins.

The reason that this wisdom is taught through the Spirit is because… v.12 God has freely given us the Scriptures and will freely teach us from them. v.13 spiritual truths should be interpreted directly from spiritual origins, not human origins.

Matthew 13:10-11, 13-14, 16-17 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given… 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive…

Matthew 13:10-11, 13-14, 16-17 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION • That our experience with God not be limited to a mere educational experience, but an encounter with the “demonstration of the Spirit and power of God”. • That all who believe the “foolish” message of the cross are filled with the Spirit of God who lives inside of us. • That the Spirit of God will miraculously teach us by revealing Himself to us and even helping us understand what we read in the scriptures.