Man’s wisdom differs greatly from God’s wisdom! In this study we examine the entire 2nd chapter of 1 Corinthians to discover Paul’s preaching of God’s Wisdom, the rulers’ blindness to God’s wisdom, Paul’s revelation of God’s wisdom, and man’s response to God’s wisdom. In so doing, we discover some very important lessons about how God would have us seek to win people for Christ.
Teaching Notes:
The Wisdom Of God
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Intro: It is obvious that this chapter is dealing with wisdom. The word occurs 9 times! Part of the time, it refers to the wisdom of men, and part of the time to the wisdom of God.
1. Paul’s Preaching of God’s Wisdom: 2-1-5
A. What Did NOT Characterize Paul’s Preaching?
1) Superiority of Speech: 2:1. This takes us back to 1:17 (cleverness of speech), and to 2:4 (persuasive words of wisdom). Paul did not rely on his eloquence, rhetoric, or natural speaking abilities to accomplish God’s will among the Corinthians.
2) Superiority of Wisdom: 2:1. Neither did Paul rely on human wisdom or learning. These were the two things that impressed the people of Paul’s day: eloquence and philosophy. Paul deliberately decided not to use these 2 avenues as a way to win people to Jesus Christ. Why not? 2:5 “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” If Paul had won converts by his eloquence or human wisdom, he would have lost those converts just as quickly as soon as someone else came around with greater eloquence, or a more brilliant sounding argument.
B. What DID Characterize Paul’s Preaching?
1) Paul’s preaching focused on Jesus Christ and Him Crucified Alone: 2:2. In 2:1 Paul refers to the content of his preaching as “the testimony of God.” In 1:17 he refers to it as “the gospel”, in 1:18 as “the word of the cross”, and in 1:23 as “Christ crucified.” Now, it’s interesting that Paul would focus on the crucifixion of Christ – that which speaks of the shame, humiliation, and weakness of Christ. Surely, if Paul wanted to impress his hearers, he would focus on Christ’s power and glory. Why? Well, let’s keep reading.
2) Paul’s preaching was in weakness, fear and much trembling: 2:3.
Weakness: What did Paul have in mind here? In 1:25 Paul’s message of Christ crucified is called “the weakness of God.” Paul was with them in weakness, because he was preaching Christ crucified – the weakness of God! Further in 1:27 Paul has stated that God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong. If Paul had wanted to appear strong among them, he certainly would not have deliberately focused on Christ crucified. Further, among the Jews Paul could always argue from the Scriptures to prove that Jesus was their promised Messiah. However, he was among Gentiles in Corinth who had no knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. For Him to deliberately decide not to utilize human wisdom or eloquence put him in a decidedly unfavorable situation – a weak situation.
Fear and Much Trembling: These words could mean that Paul was afraid for his own safety, afraid of his persecutors and what they would do to him. However, I think another explanation is preferable. In the other NT instances in which these words are used the idea is of deep concern over an important or urgent issue (Phil.2:12; Eph.6:5). Paul had just come to Corinth which was well known for its moral depravity. Paul was deeply concerned that his gospel would convert his hearers and lead them out of a lifestyle of debauchery.
3) Paul’s preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 2:4. What does “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” refer to? Some have thought it refers to miracles, signs and wonders. However, this is exactly what the Jews asked for (1:22). Jesus even did miracles, signs and wonders among them, and they still did not believe (Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead). Would Paul advocate miracles as the way to produce immovable faith in his hearers? Rather, I believe Paul is talking about the demonstration of the Spirit and power when the Spirit so powerfully convicts people of their sin, and inclines their will to embrace Jesus Christ as their only hope and Savior, that their entire life changes and they become a new creation. Thus, their faith rests now on the power of God, in convicting, converting, and regenerating them.
Application: Paul did not appeal to the fleshly appetites of his hearers. They wanted eloquence and philosophy. He was not going down that road. Instead he gave them a crucified Savior. Even though he knew that a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God (2:14), he also knew that to the called, Christ would become the Power and Wisdom of God (1:24). So, he just preached the truth without watering it down, compromising it, or appealing to the sinner’s fleshly appetites. His only weapon was the truth and the Spirit. Paul knew that God would use that truth preached to call His elect. The church doesn’t need to copy the world in order to reach people for Christ. We don’t need worship services that look like rock concerts, replete with screaming guitars and drums and smoke bombs. We don’t need “Christian” heavy metal screaming rock bands wearing sleezy looking clothes, multiple piercings and tattoos to attract God’s elect. God’s elect will be reached with the truth of Christ crucified. We don’t need to look like the world, sound like the world, in order to see people saved. God is quite capable of saving His people through the purity of the preached gospel. What we need are people who will humbly but fearlessly preach the Truth of Christ Crucified!
2. Rulers’ Blindness to God’s Wisdom: 2:6-9
At first it would seem that Paul never spoke about anything but Christ crucified. To eliminate that mistake he tells us here that He speaks wisdom, but not to the lost but to the “mature.” This is a word that speaks of spiritual maturity among God’s people. There were some in Corinth that were spiritually immature (infants in Christ – 3:1) to whom he would not speak this wisdom.
What Characterized This Wisdom that Paul Spoke?
It was not of this age or the rulers of this age: 2:6. The wisdom Paul spoke was not from man. It was not human in its origin. It did not have an earthly source.
It was God’s wisdom: 2:7. It had a supernatural, divine source, coming directly from God.
It was in a mystery: 2:7. The word “mystery” refers to something previously hidden, which has now been revealed. Well, what was it that was previously hidden, but in the NT ages was revealed? That God would bring salvation through the death of His Son by paying the penalty our sins deserved. The Jews had a vague, shadowy understanding of that truth, but it was communicated through types, shadows, sacrifices, and confusing prophecies.
It was predestined before the ages to our glory: 2:7. This “wisdom of God” is really speaking of God’s eternal plan to save His people through Jesus Christ. And this plan was something predestined by God before the ages! Before God had even created the world, He had already designed this plan: not only of how he would save but who he would save (Eph.1:4-5)! The climax of this eternal plan was the glory of a great number of sinners which no man could number. Our eternal happiness and salvation was the culmination of this eternal plan of wisdom.
It was not understood by the rulers of this age: 2:6,8. These rulers must refer to Herod, Pilate, as well as the Jewish Sanhedrin, chief priests and scribes who were directly responsible for his crucifixion. 2:9: This verse is usually quoted as referring to the fact that believers can’t possibly conceive of the glories of heaven, however in context it has nothing to do with heaven, but everything to do with God’s plan of salvation that unbelievers can’t understand now (2:8,14). Paul refers to eyes, ears, and heart. The eyes do not see, the ears do not hear, and the heart does not receive. But what is it that these rulers did not see, hear and embrace? All that God has prepared for those who love Him. God’s wisdom is all about our glory (2:7), and all He has prepared for those who love Him (2:9). But fleshly, powerful, rulers don’t get it. They are blinded to it. That was Paul’s point in 1:23 and 26. To Jews this wisdom is a stumbling block, and to Gentiles it is foolish. God does not call many might, wise, or noble.
3. Paul’s Revelation of God’s Wisdom: 2:10-13
Who did God give a revelation to? 2:10. “Us”. Notice the “we speak” passages (2:6,7,13). Primarily, this must refer to the apostles, to whom God gave a special revelation to. God’s design was that some of the apostles would write Scripture, so they must be given a special revelation in order to do so. In 2:10 Paul is speaking primarily of himself.
How would this revelation be given? 2:10-11. Through the Spirit. Only the Spirit has access to God’s hidden wisdom, so only He can give it. Just as only a person’s own spirit knows all his thoughts, so only God’s Spirit knows God’s mind.
What was the purpose of this revelation? 2:12. “so that we may know the things freely given to us by God”. This phrase is synonymous with “all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (2:9). We have a record of these things in God’s Word, especially Ephesians 1:1-14.
How did Paul communicate this revelation? 2:13. In words taught by the Spirit, spiritual words. In other words, not only would the Spirit reveal these truths to certain men, but He would even give them the words to communicate them. Hence in 2:10-12 we have Divine Revelation, in 2:13 Divine Inspiration.
4. Man’s Response To God’s Wisdom: 2:14-16
A. The Natural Man: 2:14. Who is the natural man? Well, he is contrasted with “he who is spiritual” (2:15). Jude refers to those who are “devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 19). Natural men are those who have only what comes to them naturally. There is noting supernatural about them. He is a man who has not been born of the Spirit, and does not possess the indwelling of the Spirit.
He does not accept the things of the Spirit of God: Why not? Because they are foolishness to him.
He cannot understand them: Why not? Because they are spiritually appraised. We all understand what “appraised” means. If you have ever bought or sold a home, you will have a home appraised. The appraiser will come out and determine a value for your home, based on location, size, condition, and what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood. The natural man does not accept or understand spiritual things because he has no capacity to value them. For that to happen, he must have a new heart, which only happens when the Spirit of God regenerates him.
B. The Spiritual Man: 2:15-16. He appraises all things. He is able to put a value on all things. The things of the world are valued very poorly, and the things of the Spirit are valued very highly. He himself is appraised by no one – in other words the lost people of this world don’t understand him, and can’t figure him out. 2:16 – In order to prove his point, Paul quotes from Isaiah 40:13 to show that lost men do not know the mind of the Lord and thus can’t appraise spiritual things. However, the spiritual man has the mind of Christ, because the Spirit who knows the thoughts of God, is his resident teacher. He illumines the truths of the Word of God to him.
Application:
1. If you value the things of the Spirit, this is an evidence that you are saved: What is more valuable to you – earning $100k a year, owning a new vehicle, and living in a nice home, or knowing and walking with Jesus? Would you choose to live in luxury and wealth without God, or in poverty and suffering with God? If you answered the latter, rejoice. That means you are a spiritual person indwelt by the Spirit. You are predestined to glory! God has prepared marvelous things which He freely gives to you! What could be better than that?
2. We can have the utmost confidence in the inspiration of the NT Scriptures: The very words were given to the apostles to communicate the truths that were revealed to them. It was not just the thoughts or ideas, but the very words came from God! This is why I prefer a literal word for word translation like the NAS, or NKJ that place weight on each word, rather than trying to give a paraphrased thought. Rest assured that God’s truth has been successfully transmitted to us in His Word!
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