| 1 Corinthians – Chapter Two |
Chapter summary – [Dr. Wiersbe’s] wife was at the wheel of [their] car as [they] drove to Chicago, and [Dr. Wiersbe] was in the copilot’s seat reading the page proofs of another author’s book that a publisher had asked [him] to review. Occasionally [Dr. Wiersbe] would utter a grunt, and then a groan, and finally [he] shook [his] head and said, “Oh, no! I can’t believe it!”
“I take it you don’t like the book,” [Mrs. Wiersbe] said. “Something wrong with it?”
“You bet there is!” [he] replied. “Just about everything is wrong with it, because this man does not know what the message of the Gospel really is!”
There was a time, however, when that author had been faithful to the Gospel. But over the years, he had begun to take a philosophical (and, I fear, political) approach to the Gospel, [Dr. Wiersbe continued]. The result is a hybrid message that was no Gospel at all.
It is worth noting that when Paul ministered in Corinth, he obeyed our Lord’s commission and preached the Gospel. There is a beautiful parallel between Matthew 28:18–20 and Acts 18:1–11.
| Christ’s Commission (Matt. 28:18–20) | Paul’s Ministry (Acts 18:1–11) |
| “Go ye therefore” (v. 19) | Paul came to Corinth (v. 1) |
| “make disciples” [teach] (v. 19) | many heard and believed (v. 8) |
| “baptizing them” (v. 19) | and were baptized (v. 8) |
| “teaching them” (v. 20) | for a year and six month she taught the Word (v. 11) |
| “Lo, I am with you” (v. 20) | “For I am with thee” (v. 10) |
What had happened at Corinth is happening in churches today: men are mixing philosophy (man’s wisdom) with God’s revealed message, and this is causing confusion and division. Different preachers have their own “interpretation” to God’s message, and some even invent their own vocabulary! [1]
In this chapter, Paul is going to show the advantage of using God’s wisdom over man’s.
I. introduction, (1:1-9)
2. the causes of Conflict, (1:14-2:16)
1) An Infatuation with Human Wisdom (1:14-31)
2) A Lack of Appreciation for Divine Wisdom (2:1-16),
(1) A Lack of Appreciation for Divine Wisdom in Evangelism, (1-5)
1a Paul’s example of its methodology
Interpretation:
1 And I (as an evangelist and example of God’s wisdom), brethren, when I (alone), came to you (on my 2nd missionary journey and for the entire 18 months I was there, I), did not come with excellence of speech (I did not use eloquent speeches), or of (human), wisdom (clever schemes or techniques), declaring to you the testimony (message), of God, (meaning he came with simple words and merely proclaimed God’s truth).
2a Paul’s example of its message
2 For (the reason being), I determined (I chose, I purposed [cp., Dan. 1:8]),[2] not to know anything (to teach anything), among you except (or beyond), Jesus Christ and (in particular), Him crucified, (his work on and through the cross—Paul chose to talk about nothing but the simple and yet profound, truths of Christ and in particular His death, burial and resurrection).[3]
Application:
Paul was telling the Corinth believers that they have it all backwards in this area of wisdom! It’s the message that is powerful, not the messenger. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to convict individuals of sin, not the messenger and how ever endowed or clever he may be.
Paul’s example offers two valuable lessons as we share the gospel. (1) Feelings of confidence [in our gospel presentation] should not be the motivation to communicate. Personal gratitude and obedience to Christ as well as compassion for others must drive our witnessing. (2) The power of the gospel does not depend on the skill or charisma of the speaker; it flows from God’s Spirit, convincing persons of the truth. Share what you know about Christ with others and let the [rest] take care of [itself]. [4]
3a Paul’s example of its manner
3 I was with you (well aware of my human insufficiencies, not my so called human strengths, but teaching), in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling,
Application:
Paul knew that there was nothing in and of himself that was going to change anyone. He knew he was helpless to divert sinners from the terrible consequences of their sin. The thought of people rejecting the gospel message terrified him as he knew the eternity they faced, but there was nothing he could do about it but preach the truth and pray for them. Accepting the gospel is a choice only the individual can make. No amount of clever words, theatrics or schemes was going to change that.
4a Paul’s example of its means
4 And (thus), my speech and my preaching were not with (impressive or), persuasive words of human wisdom, but in (contrast they were so simple that they mandated a), demonstration of the (Holy), Spirit and of power (if any conversion was going to happen),
Application:
Some have said that the great preacher Jonathan Edwards read his sermons so that he would not be guilty of using human persuasive techniques to gain a response. He wanted only the message to bring the results.
John Stott has written, “It seems that the only preaching God honors through which His wisdom and power are expressed is the preaching of a man who is willing in himself to be both the weakling and the fool.”
Charles Spurgeon said:
The power that is in the Gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher, otherwise men would be the converters of souls, nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning, otherwise it would consist in the wisdom of men. We might preach until our tongues rotted, till we would exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit be with the Word of God to give it the power to convert the soul. [5]
5a Paul’s example of its motivation
5 that (I’m going into detail about human wisdom verses God’s wisdom in order that), your faith (your trust, your confidence), should not be in the (human), wisdom of men but in the power of God, (believers are servants of the King, Jesus. The King holds and exercises power and authority, not His subjects. Any power or authority we may have is delegated to us by our King, as we are but administrators of it.
Application:
The Corinthian believers prized the eloquent and charismatic speakers and teachers. They were everything Paul fought from being. Not only was their method different from Paul’s but so was their motivation. Paul was not out to impress anyone, nor was he out to gain a congregation through superficial or emotional decisions. Paul purposely kept himself out of the way for God to do His work. Paul wanted to see the genuine work of the Holy Spirit as Christ built His church by saving and changing people.
(2) A Lack of Appreciation for Divine Wisdom As Being Without Equal, (6-16)
1a The beneficiary of divine wisdom, (6)
6 However (in contrast to the human wisdom that those in the Corinth Church are following), we speak (Paul and his associates, proclaim or teach godly), wisdom among those who are mature (meaning here, the saved who have the capability of understanding and appreciating it—of which all the believers at Corinth are fully capable of), yet not the wisdom of this age (it is wisdom beyond this world), nor of the rulers of this age (it is wisdom that is beyond the reaches of the modern worlds greatest minds), who are coming to nothing, (with their human wisdom—who are frustrated by those who seek and apply God’s wisdom).
2a The source of divine wisdom, (7a)
7 But we speak the (timeless, matchless, measureless), wisdom of God, (which is a stumbling block to the unsaved—but ought never be to the saved).
3a The influence of divine wisdom, (7b, 8)
in a mystery (i.e., divine truths once hidden and beyond human grasp and benefit, are now revealed and offered to believers), the hidden wisdom which God ordained (purposed), before the ages (before this world was thrown into existence), for our glory (for the conforming of our thoughts, attitudes and actions to Christ’s),
Application:
Human wisdom will never lead one into the realm of God’s unique divine wisdom. When human wisdom is confronted with God’s wisdom it says things like:
That is impossible.
I’d rather trust in what I can see and touch.
I want to be in control.
That doesn’t make sense. It’s even dumb.
I can’t believe God would want me to…
I can’t believe God would do that.
The glory of a believer who seeks and follows God’s wisdom increases while the glory of the carnal believer and unbeliever diminishes as they follow human wisdom, and that is not the direction that the Christians want to go.[6]
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew (e.g., Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, or Herod Antipas); for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, (God incarnate. Annas and Caiaphas thought they were carrying out God’s will!)[7]
4a The wonder of divine wisdom, (9)
9 But as it is written:[8] “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him,” (here on earth, but especially in glory. It is utterly beyond mans capability to comprehend or even imagine what God has in store for those who love Him.)[9]
5a The Revelator of divine wisdom, (10, 11)
10 But (even though the believer has not seen, heard or originated any divine truths of God’s wisdom)[10] God has revealed them to us (believers), through His Spirit, (who is God).[11] For the Spirit searches (fathoms, interprets, measures, understands, penetrates, plumbs), all things (which is omniscience), yes (even), the deep things of God, (even the most profound and intimate things).[12]
11 For what man knows the (inner, intimate), things of a (another), man except the spirit of the man which is in him, (in the man himself)? Even so (in the same way), no one knows the things of God except the (Holy), Spirit of God.
Application:
Every believer has access to the all-pervading infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit! Even in eternity one could not plumb all the depths of all there is to know about and learn from God. He is too infinite, too inconceivable. So:
to say, “I don’t need to study like I use to, or at all because I know all about God and His Word,” is incredibly small minded.
to say, “I can’t trust God, or I doubt He has my best interests in mind,” is equally small minded.
to say, “I would rather live according to my wisdom than God’s. God’s leaves out too many of the things I want to have a part of my life,” is not wise at all.
6a The purpose of divine wisdom, (12)
12 Now we (gospel believers—at the time of salvation), have received, not the spirit of the world (a special understanding of worldly wisdom—the very thing that God brings to nothing),[13] but (we received), the Spirit who is (a gift), from God, that (with the intent that), we might know (realize, rejoice in, share and apply), the things (the doctrines and principles), that have been freely given to us by God, (not by men gifted in human wisdom).[14]
Scripture says that to unbelievers spiritual things are foolishness. Lost people make fun of the things of the Spirit because they can’t comprehend them. An unsaved person just doesn’t have the antenna to pick up the signal.
But what about Christians? A believer has the antenna, but he may still have technical problems receiving the signal. If he doesn’t know what the problem is, he may waste a lot of time fiddling with the wrong thing trying to fix it.
Tony Evans says it’s like the problem he had with his television not long ago. He kept adjusting the knobs on the set, but nothing seemed to help the reception. He even got out the directions that came with the set, but he still couldn’t get a good picture. It turned out that the problem wasn’t with the set, but with the antenna. A storm had blown it out of place, and it needed to be redirected toward the signal.
When he did that, it helped a lot, but the picture still wasn’t clear. The repairman Tony called told him that he had a second problem. Their house was located in a low spot, and there were lots of trees around. So the repairman added an extension to the antenna to get it up above the trees. Once he did that, the picture cleared up.
Dr. Evans makes this application: “It’s easy to fiddle with the buttons in our lives, trying to get a clear picture of this thing called life. But that’s starting in the wrong place. Until the antenna of your mind is turned toward the divine signal, messing with the other stuff in your life won’t help. That signal is coming from a King who has a kingdom agenda for you, and when you get that signal straight life’s picture will clear up.”
If you have your antenna directed properly but you’re still not getting the signal very clearly, maybe you have too many trees in the way. Everyday problems like family conflicts, job stress, money woes, and car repairs may be crowding God out. The answer is not to cut down the trees but to raise your antenna above them.
[What a Way to Live! by Tony Evans. Word Publishing, 1997. Pages 149-151.]
7a The methodology of divine wisdom, (13)
13 These things (these doctrines and principles), we also speak (we share with you), not in words which man’s wisdom teaches (they are not derived from man’s human resources), but which the Holy Spirit teaches (these truths are spiritual and intimate truths about God and His work that the Holy Spirit revealed to us), comparing (combining or interpreting), spiritual things with spiritual, (looking to the Spirit of God, to find the mind of God, in order to think and act like the children of God. These things are beyond man’s abilities).
8a The rejection of divine wisdom, (14)
14 But (in contrast), the natural man (the unsaved man, the man who is completely earthly), does not receive (embrace, accept, welcome, approve of), the things (the doctrines and principles), of the (Holy), Spirit of God, for they are foolishness (absurdities and offensive), to him;[15] nor can he (even if he wanted to), know them, because they are spiritually discerned, (through the enabling work of the Holy Spirit which he does not possess. The unsaved individual is spiritually dead).[16]
Charles Finney—The unspiritual are out of court as religious critics; they are deaf men judging music. [17]
9a The benefits of divine wisdom, (15, 16)
15 But (in contrast to the natural man), he who is spiritual (the gospel believer, who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who is filled with the Holy Spirit and thus Spirit controlled, who is no longer a servant of Satan, but is a bondservant of Christ), judges (appraises), all things (all matters), yet he himself is rightly (appropriately), judged (appraised), by no one, (who has not the Holy Spirit, as he does not, and cannot rightly evaluate the gospel believer’s faith. This is why believers are misquoted, misunderstood, disrespected, and even attacked by unbelievers).[18]
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord (who thinks God’s thoughts, who possesses God’s knowledge, who is God’s equal), that he may instruct Him, (that they may give Him counsel, that they may direct His paths, that they may enlighten His mind)?”[19] But we (gospel believers), have the mind of Christ, (being baptized into Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit).[20]
Application:
The unsaved person does not understand the Christian; they live in two different worlds. But the Christian understands the unsaved person. First Corinthians 2:15 does not suggest that unsaved people cannot point out flaws in the believer’s life (as they sometimes do), but that the unsaved man really cannot penetrate into the full understanding of what the Christian’s life is all about.[21]
The doctrine of illumination does not mean:
1. we can know and understand everything (Deut. 29:29),[22]
2. that we do not need human teachers (Eph. 4:11–12),[23]
3. or that study is not hard work (2 Tim. 2:15).[24]
It does mean that Scripture can be understood by every Christian who is diligent and obedient.[25]
To have the mind of Christ is to be obedient to God’s revelation (Phil. 2:5-8), as were the spiritual people in the Corinthian church.[26] If you are faithful in applying the knowledge and understanding that you have of the Scriptures up to this present time, you are exercising the mind of Christ.
Interpretation:
Application:
Commentary:
[1] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. “An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire ‘BE’ series”–Jkt., 1 Co 2:6. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989.
[2] Da 1:8—But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
[3] Lightfoot comments on “Him crucified” saying, “and Him too not in His glory, but in His humiliation; that the foolishness of the preaching might be doubly foolish, and the weakness doubly weak. The Incarnation was in itself a stumbling-block; the Crucifixion was much more than this.” Lightfoot, J.B., Notes on the Epistles of Paul, Mass: Hendrickson Publishers, second printing 1993, p. 171.
[4] Barton, Bruce B., and Grant R. Osborne. 1 & 2 Corinthians. Life application Bible commentary, Page 38. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1999.
[5] MacArthur, John. 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1984.
[6] Eph 4:11-14—[Jesus] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
[7] Lk 23:34a—Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do…”
[8] Is 52:15—So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.
Is 64:4—For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
Is 65:17— “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
[9] Eph 3:20-21—Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
[10] Mt 11:25—At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
Mt 11:27—All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
Mt 16:17—Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Heb 1:1-2 —God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
2 Pe 1:21—for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
[11] John 14:26—”But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
[12] Psa 139:23—”Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;”
Rom 8:27—Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
[13] Jam 4:4—”Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
[14] 2 Ti 3:16-17—All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[15] James 1:21—Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Psalm 119:18—Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
[16] Ephesians 2:1-3—And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
[17] Barton, 1 & 2 Corinthians. Life application Bible commentary .
[18] 1 Co 4:3-5—But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.
1 John 2:27—But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
[19] 1 Corinthians 8:2—And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
Galatians 6:3—For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
It is said that Saint Augustine, the father of theologians, was walking on the shore of the ocean one day pondering the mystery of the trinity. He came upon a little boy who was playing with a seashell. The youngster would scoop a hole in the sand, then go down to the waves and get his shell full of water and pour it into the hole he had made. Augustine said, “What are you doing, my little fellow?” The boy replied, “I am going to pour the sea into that hole.” “Ah,” said Augustine, “That is what I have been trying to do. Standing at the ocean of infinity, I have attempted to grasp it with my finite mind.”
[20] Luke 24:44-45—44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
[21] Wiersbe, The Bible exposition commentary.
[22] Deuteronomy 29:29— “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
[23] Ephesians 4:11-12—And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
[24] 2 Timothy 2:15—Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
[25] MacArthur, 1 Corinthians. Includes indexes.
[26] Walvoord, Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Php 2:5-8—Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
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