Man’s Intellect versus God’s Wisdom

SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 1.18-25 

Lesson for 01/20/2008

INTRODUCTION:Many believe that the preaching of the cross will only benefit non-Christians, but as we read through the New Testament we find that the “Gospel” or the preaching of the cross is for Christians as well.  Faith in the gospel is not only how those that who are lost are brought to salvation, but also those who are saved are brought into sanctification.  The gospel is how we, as Christians, overcome disagreements, sexual immorality, selfishness, gossip…the list of sins could be endless.

All of the issues we find in 1 Corinthians stems from the churches belief in man’s intellect over God’s wisdom.  If we were honest with ourselves we would have to admit that ALL of our sins and conflicts originate from the belief that we like the Corinthian church, know better than God how to manage our lives.    

The Greeks were the great philosophers.  In Greece there may have been as many as fifty different philosophies floating around.  The Greeks would be split into groups that held different viewpoints about man’s meaning and destiny in life. 

The word philosophy simply means “man’s wisdom.”  In the Greek, the word literally means “the love of wisdom” (sophia and phileo= to love wisdom).

When the church in Corinth was planted and the Corinthians became saved they still held on to the different philosophies that they had originally held to instead of identifying with the cross.

The point Paul is making is, “Look, since you have become Christians and you are united around God’s revelation as it comes to a peak at the cross, forget your former philosophies.  Forget what YOU thought was right and wrong and center yourself on the cross.”

COMMENTARY

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Notice the wording of this verse carefully.  “…the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing (meaning, those who are without God, those who are dying in sin, those who will spend eternity in hell, those who do not know God, those for whom God’s heart is grieved).”  It is folly to them because they have elevated their own philosophies above the cross.  They have such complex philosophies, that to come along and say, “I want to give you a simple message: God in human flesh died on a cross, paid the penalty for our sin, and by faith in that act and His resurrection you can be saved and your eternal destiny be secured in heaven forever,” will get a negative response.  The world will say, “How stupid to believe that the death of one man in one hill on one piece of wood at one moment in history is the determining factor of destiny for every man who ever lived! Ridiculous!”  The word folly is the Greek root word for moron.  The message of the cross is moronic to those who are perishing.

Look at the contrast in this verse “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.“  The phrase “the word of the cross” means “all that is involved in the cross.”  Paul is contrasting man’s word, which reflects man’s wisdom, and God’s Word, which reflects God’s wisdom.  The word of the cross includes the entire gospel message and work, God’s plan and provision for man’s redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:19-20 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  (20)  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Paul introduces a quote from Isaiah 29.14.  Assyria, a superpower of the Old Testament had embarked on a course of expansion.  Judah lay in its path.  Isaiah urged the people to trust God.  The king’s counselors and wise men advised an alliance with Egypt (Isaiah 30.1-3).  Isaiah advised such a plan of action.  The king went along with the politicians so the prophet declared this verse.  Sennacherib’s army advanced south and it was not too long till Egypt was broken.  Most of Judah was over run by the Assyrians and Jerusalem was besieged.  God simply turned the counsel of the clever politicians into foolishness and brought Judah to its knees and Jerusalem to the point where it had no place to go but to God. 

Paul applies this incident here to the cross.  It is not until we come to an end of ourselves, of our own ideas, our own cleverness, our own efforts, and our own self-will and see our own folly and futility that we can experience the might power of God to save. 

Paul asks fours questions in verse 20.  The first three deal with the wisdom of the world and the fourth deals with the wisdom of the Word.  Paul writes, “Where is the wise person, the scribe and the debater?”  Paul challenges the world to produce its scholars, its scribes, and its skeptics.  “Where are they?” he wants to know.  Paul was willing to tangle with any of these.  The logic behind the cross is infinite, infallible, and indisputable.  Paul was willing to pit that logic against all the scholarship, sophistication and skepticism of the world. 

The fourth question is rhetorical.  Of course God made the wisdom of the world foolish.  Think about this.  The wisdom of the world would tell us that salvation must either be worked for or earned.  The religions of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism…all false religions are built on this concept.  The whole emphasis is on works.  God makes this seeming wisdom to be folly by making His “so great salvation” available as a free gift to be accepted by faith.  As the old country preacher would say, “Man says ‘do’!  God’s Word says ‘Done!’ 

John Phillips shares this story about D.L. Moody:

D.L. Moody was just an uneducated shoe salesman.  Notwithstanding his humble status in life, this Spirit filled man dared to challenge the atheists, agnostics, and free-thinkers of London.  He convened a meeting just for them and they came by the hundreds.  Moody had more sense than to engage the battle on the level of the intellect.  He went after their hearts.  He told stories out of his own experience of the deathbeds of believers and the deathbeds of agnostics.  He kept up this running broadside at their most vulnerable point until, at last, some five hundred men sttod to their feet to accept Christ.  To all their clever arguments he brought to bear onge single word from God: “Their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemis themselves being judges” (Deut. 32.31).  The Word of God, in the anointed hands of this untutored evangelist, “made foolish the wisdom of the world.” 

1 Corinthians 1:21-25 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  (22)  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Paul writes in verse 21 that the world, with all of its wisdom, never knew God.  It never reached the ultimate goal of man-to know God.  Since man’s wisdom could not reach God, God reached man-through the cross. 

Think about this: we have had philosophers for ages.  What do they know?  What have they offered?  Wars have increased.  Crime and injustice continue to rise.  We still have hate, cruelty, mental breakdowns, drugs, alcohol, and many other problems, all of which will never change.  Human philosophy has not solved any problems.  The only way to solve ALL of the ills of society is the CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST!

The Jews wanted signs or miracles to convince them.  As we read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we find that Jesus walked throughout Israel.  He healed the sick and raised the dead.  He cleansed the lepers and delivered those possessed with demons.  He walked on the water and quieted the storm.  He fed thousands with a few fishes and a little bit of bread, and yet the Jews demanded more signs. 

The Greeks wanted to be convinced mentally.  They would say, “All we need is reasoning and logic and we can figure a way out of any problem.” 

The preaching of Christ being crucified was scandalous (the root word for “stumbling block” is skandalon where we get the word scandal).  Jesus had died under the curse of the Mosaic Law (Deut. 21.23).  The ignored or actively denied His resurrection, inventing a phony theory to explain the empty tomb.  To the Gentiles (or better, heathens) the cross was senseless.  They thought, “How could anyone accept as Lord and savior someone who did not have enough sense to avoid the disgrace of death by crucifixion?  If He could not save Himself, how could He save anyone else!”

The word “power” found in verse 24 is “dunamis“.  It suggests unrestricted and unequaled power. 

There is an old proverb that goes, “The worst day fishing is better the best day working.”  Most of us can understand the cliché.  That is all that Paul is saying in verses 24-25.  God at His weakest and most foolish will be better than man at his strongest and most wise.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER (These questions are in the Bridge Notes insert)

1. What is the Gospel and why is it important for us to communicate it?
2. Compare 1 Corinthians 1.17 with 1 Corinthians 2.4-5.  What is the best way to communicate the Gospel?
3. In what ways have you tried to communicate the Gospel?
4. Compare 1 Corinthians 1.20 and 1 Corinthians 2.14.  What are the two kinds of foolishness in these verses?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 1.20, 30-31.  What is true wisdom?
6. Read Numbers 21.4-9.  Describe what you imagine the serpent on a pole looked like.
7. Read the following verses: John 3.14-15, 8.28, 12.30-34 and 19.17-18.  Read 2 Corinthians 5.21.  Explain the earlier comparison of Jesus on the cross to a serpent on a pole.
8. Read John 3.15-16 and 1 Corinthians 1.18.  Does the idea that those who are not saved are presently perishing give you a different perspective?  How would you describe it?
9. What is the world’s reaction to the idea that there are two groups of people-those who are saved and those who are not?  Compare that with the churches reaction (and yours) can you see any difference?
10. Read Isaiah 29.13-14 and 1 Corinthians 1.19.  What are some evidences in our generation that human wisdom has failed?
11. Read Romans 1.21-22.  Do you know anyone who professes to be wise?  What is the danger in that?
12. Why do you think it is so difficult for some people to believe that God created the heavens and the earth?
13. Do you know anyone who has problems accepting the Good News of Christ because the solution seems too simple?
14. Read Mark 9.14-24.  How easy is it for you to believe in the grace of God?  In the faithfulness of God?  In the promises of God?
15. How can you make sure your presentation of the gospel message is simple enough for even the young to understand?

FOCUSING ON THE FACTS (or more questions if the first set doesn’t float your boat)

• 1. What is the first problem that Paul deals with in the book of 1 Corinthians?
• 2. What was the cause of division in the Corinthian church?
• 3. What does “the gospel” refer to in 1 Corinthians 1:17? What is it that Paul contrasts to the gospel?
• 4. What does human philosophy do, according to Romans 1:25?
• 5. “. . . the preaching of the cross” is better translated, “the word of the cross. ” What is the definition of “the word of the cross”? What does it mean to the world? What does it mean to the saved?
• 6. First Corinthians 1:19 is quoted from Isaiah 29:14. What is the future fulfillment of this prophetic passage? What was its immediate fulfillment?
• 7. What was Paul trying to tell the Corinthians by quoting Isaiah 29:14?
• 8. According to James 3:15, where does man’s wisdom not come from? What does James 3:15 describe human wisdom as?
• 9. What three questions does Paul ask in 1 Corinthians 1:20a, and what do they mean?
• 10. Has human wisdom ever solved any problems? Has man ever changed? What has man really done about his sin?
• 11. None of man’s philosophies get to the real issue in life; they are superficial. What is the real issue?
• 12. Could man in his own wisdom reach God? Why or why not? How did God reach man?
• 13. What is the only thing one needs to do to become saved? Is salvation in any way related to one’s intellect? Why or why not?

Pondering the Principles

• 1. The division in the Corinthian church was caused by those within the church holding on to varying philosophies they had adhered to prior to their salvation. There are churches today hurt by division, often caused by such things as misinterpretations of the Bible and differences of opinion. Such division, however, is unbiblical. To see the importance of oneness in the church, read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. How does verse 12 describe the body of Christ? According the verse 13, how were we brought into the body of Christ? Does it matter what our background is? Compare verse 14 with verses 4-11 of this chapter. What are the differences that will exist in the body? Verse 7 tells us that the different spiritual gifts of the body are for the common good of everyone. In verses 4, 5, 6, and 11, note the common denominators that work in all of us. With that in mind, can you see now how the source of all disunity is man himself? Read Philippians 2:1-4, and ask yourself if what it says is true in your life. Are there problems that are dividing the people in your church or fellow Christian friends that you know? Ask God for the opportunity to share these verses with those who need to hear them.
• 2. Paul preached Christ “not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Cor. 1:17b). Paul’s point here is that the revelation of God does not need human wisdom added to it. Have you ever heard someone say, “I agree with what the Bible says, but I also believe such-and-such a philosophy to be true,” or, “God said this, and I’d like to add. . . “? Read Psalm 19:7-10; 119:160; Proverbs 30:5a; and Matthew 24:35. How is the Word of God described in those verses? Read Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19. What happens to the person who adds to the Word of God? Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. For what is the Word of God profitable? According to verse 17, what was God’s purpose in giving man the Scriptures? Knowing this, why can we be confident that the Bible need not be supplemented with man’s wisdom?

How to Split the Church (Lesson for 01/13/2008)

Hey Gang,

INTRODUCTION TO THIS WEEKS LESSON

A recent poll suggested that many non-churched people have a fear about church because of either perceived or real squabbles that took place among Christians.  I will admit this was a totally unscientific survey carried out in the City Brew coffee house on King’s Ave. West. 

Quarrels are a part of life.  We grow up in them and around them.  Infants are quick to express displeasure when they are not given something they want or when something they like is taken away.  Little children cry, fight, and throw tantrums because they cannot have their own ways.  We argue and fight over a rattle, then a toy, then a football, then in business, the PTA, or politics.  Friends fight, husbands and wives fight, businesses fight, cities fight, even nations fight-sometimes to the point of war.  And the source of all the fighting is the same: man’s depraved, egoistic, selfish nature.

Scripture teaches nothing more clearly than the truth that man is basically and naturally sinful, and that the heart of his sinfulness is self-will.  From birth to death the natural inclination of every person is to look out for “number one”-to be, to do and to have what he or she wants.  At the heart of sin is ego, the “I.”  Self-centeredness is the root of man’s depravity, the depravity into which every person since Adam and Eve.  Even Christians are still sinners-justified, but still sinful in themselves.  And when that sin is allowed to have its way in our flesh, conflict is inevitable. 

Tragically-though it is forbidden by God, is totally out of character with our redeemed natures, and is in complete opposition to everything our Lord prayed for and intended for His church-fighting does occur among believers, among those who are called to be one in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John MacArthur writes, “What the Lord laments and opposes, Satan applauds and fosters.  Few things demoralize, discourage, and weaken a church as much as bickering, backbiting, and fighting among its members.  And few things so effectively undermine its testimony before the world.”  MacArthur continues to write, “Quarreling is a reality in the church because selfishness and other sins are realities in the church.  Because of quarreling the Father is dishonored, the Son is disgraced, His people are demoralized and discredited, and the world is turned off and confirmed in unbelief.  Fractured fellowship robs Christians of joy and effectiveness, robs God of glory, and robs the world of the true testimony of the gospel.”

COMMENTARY

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Appeal: has a basic meaning of coming alongside someone in order to help.  Paul wanted to come alongside his Corinthian brothers and sisters in order to help correct their sins. 

by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Their relationship to Christ was the only unifying factor of the church.  There is no other name big enough, great enough, glorious enough and powerful enough to gather everybody together. 

that there be no division among you: The ancient Greek word for divisions is schismata.  This means to “tear or rend.”  Paul’s pleas is that they stop ripping each other apart, tearing up the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

Here we begin to see the real trouble at Corinth.  These were not full-blown schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregation, but there were four factions within the congregation.  There were the loyalists or the “Paul Party.”  They declared “We are following in the footsteps of the man who founded our church, the apostle Paul.  We are the ones really right with God!”  There were the stylists, or the “Apollos Party.” who declared “We are following in the footsteps of a man who is great in power and spiritual gifts, and an impressive man.  We are the ones really right with God!”  Then there were the traditionalist, or the “Peter Party.” These folks declared “We are following in the footsteps of a man who is the first among all the apostles.  Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and he’s our man.  We are the ones really right with God!”  Last but probably the most damning was the “Jesus Party.”  They declared “You are all so carnal, following after mere men.  We are following in the footsteps of no one less than Jesus Himself.  We are the ones really right with God!”

The Corinthians who were boasting about their “party leaders” were really boasting about themselves.  It wasn’t so much that they thought that Apollos, Cephas, or even Paul were all that great, but that they were great for following one of these men.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Is Christ divided?  Jesus does not belong to any one individual, church, political party, nation or denomination.  There was an old and contentious Quaker who went from one meeting to another, never finding the “true” church.  Someone once said to him, “Well, what church are you in now?”  He replied, “I am in the true church at last.”  His friend asked, “How many belong to it?”  The Quaker responded, “Just my wife and myself, and I am not sure about her sometimes.”

Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  Even more foolish than “dividing Jesus” is to center parties in the church around men.  When Paul asked these rhetorical questions it shows how foolish it is to focus on anyone but Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:14-17  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,  (15)  so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.  (16)  (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)  (17)  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

In these verses Paul asserts that he is glad that he only baptized a few in Corinth.  His main mission was not to baptize but to preach the gospel.  The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are.  When Christians are called back to an understanding of the meaning of the cross, the church will find all divisions disappearing.

QUESTIONS FOUND IN THIS WEEK’S BRIDGE NOTES

1. Read 1 Corinthians 1.10-11.  Do you know of any churches that have been torn apart?
2. What were the reasons for their divisions?
3. What were the results of these divisions?
4. One word for division in the Greek is “schisma,” from which we get our English word schism.  Read the following verses: Matthew 9.16; 1 Corinthians 1.10.  What happens when a seamless cloth is torn apart?  How easy is it to repair
5. What characteristics are people showing when they cause divisions in the church.
6. Read Romans 1.28-32.  Look for the word “debate” (KJV) or “strife” (ESV).  What kind of company does this one word keep in the long list?
7. Read Galatians 5.19-21.  What words do you see that describe an atmosphere of division?
8. Read Philippians 2.1-4.  Can you think of a situation in a church in which people were not unified?  How could they have become likeminded?
9. Read Ephesians 4.1-4.  According to these verses, how can you walk worthy of your calling?
10. Read 1 Corinthians 1.12.  How many times is the word “I” used?
11. Do you see a problem with pride in this verse?
12. How are you doing in the area of pride?
13. Read Philippians 3.12-16.  What type of attitude did Paul have?
14. Read Colossians 3.12-15.  What does Paul tell us to do?

Just something to think about:  Is there someone in the church with whom you have strife?  How can this be resolved?

Intro to 1 Corinthians

Hey Gang,

Last week we began a study on the book of 1 Corinthians.  I believe this epistle to be one of the most important and appropriate books of the Bible for the evangelical church today. 

It is my desire to provide a resource to facilitate a better understanding about this missive from Paul to the believers in Corinth and also to make available to you a study guide and commentary if you wish to study this letter further. 

Paul is acknowledged as the author both by the letter itself (1:1–2; 16:21) and by the early church fathers. His authorship was attested by Clement of Rome as early as a.d. 96, and today practically all NT interpreters concur. The letter was written c. 55 toward the close of Paul’s three-year residency in Ephesus (see 16:5–9; Ac 20:31). It is clear from his reference to staying at Ephesus until Pentecost (16: that he intended to remain there somewhat less than a year when he wrote 1 Corinthians.

Paul had received information from several sources concerning the conditions existing in the church at Corinth. Some members of the household of Chloe had informed him of the factions that had developed in the church (1:11). There were three individuals—Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus—who had come to Paul in Ephesus to make some contribution to his ministry (16:17), but whether these were the ones from Chloe’s household we do not know.

Some of those who had come had brought disturbing information concerning moral irregularities in the church (chs. 5–6). Immorality had plagued the Corinthian assembly almost from the beginning. From 5:9–10 it is apparent that Paul had written previously concerning moral laxness. He had urged believers “not to associate with sexually immoral people” (5:9). Because of misunderstanding he now finds it necessary to clarify his instruction (5:10–11) and to urge immediate and drastic action (5:3–5,13).

Other Corinthian visitors had brought a letter from the church that requested counsel on several subjects (see 7:1 and note; cf. 8:1; 12:1; 16:1).

This letter continues to be timely for the church today, both to instruct and to inspire. Christians are still powerfully influenced by their cultural environment, and most of the questions and problems that confronted the church at Corinth are still very much with us—problems like immaturity, instability, divisions, jealousy and envy, lawsuits, marital difficulties, sexual immorality and misuse of spiritual gifts. Yet in spite of this concentration on problems, Paul’s letter contains some of the most familiar and beloved chapters in the entire Bible—e.g., ch. 13 (on love) and ch. 15 (on resurrection). 

Corinth Historically

The city of Corinth had been an important city since the days of Homer.  The original Greek city took its name from Corinthus, supposedly the son of Jupiter.  That city survived until 146 B.C.  when a Roman legion destroyed it.  At that time the metro area of Corinth contained a population of about 600,000 people.  Most of the people escaped.  Those who did not were killed.

In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar came to power in Rome.  He recognized the strategic location of Corinth, for both commercial and military purposes, and ordered his soldiers to rebuild it. 

 Corinth Geographically

Corinth was located on a narrow isthmus which connects central Greece with the Peloponnesus.  Because of the isthmus, Corinth was a strategic port and a wealthy commercial city and a gathering place for people from all over the world. 

Outside the city was the Acrocorinthus, a mountain rising 2,000 feet.  Two or three soldiers could easily guard the mountain so on one could come to the top. 

The center of the city was the Agora.  The marketplace was encircled by colonnades and monuments with ships opening out on the Agora like an outdoor shopping center.  An elevated platform served as an outdoor speaker’s platform.

Corinth had two harbors.  Ships from all over the world docked at those harbors, creating great traffic and commerce.  The city also had an efficient water system.  A freshwater spring flowed through man-made canals, providing drinking water and refrigeration fro produce. 

Corinth was a wealthy, teeming metropolis, strategically located for both commercial and military purposes.  It was a prestigious, intellectual, materially prosperous, and morally corrupt city. 

 Corinth Culturally

Corinthian cultural life centered around the worship of the goddess Aphrodite, and sexual immorality was incorporated into worship.  The temples and streets swarmed with prostitutes.  More than 1,000 prostitutes served in the temple of Aphrodite.  In fact, the city of Corinth became so noted for its wickedness and sexual immorality that the term “Corinthianized” was coined.  

The leaders of the city were wealthy merchants who worshipped money.  With the usual demoralizing influences of the sea-port, Corinth was a hotbed of evil, luxury, sensuality, gambling, vice, and prostitution.  It became a proverb for corruption. 

We’ll pick up again later.  I hope you enjoy this study as much as I do.

I love you all!

Pastor Ricky