Paul's Letters 1 Corinthians

God's Hidden Wisdom

Discover Jesus as: The Last Adam 1 Corinthians 2 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 504 of 730
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INTRO

As we reviewed yesterday, Corinthians is divided into two books and was written by Paul to the church in Corinth, Greece. Paul’s actual time of ministry in Corinth is recorded in Acts 18. His letters were in response to his ministry there, and what he heard about the church after he left. While ministering, Paul obeyed Christ’s commission to preach the gospel.

Wiersbe points out the parallel between Christ’s commission and Paul’s ministry. Christ’s commission from Matthew 28:18–20 includes: go therefore (v. 18), make disciples (v. 18), baptize them (v. 19), and teach them (v. 20). Paul’s ministry in Corinth from Acts 18 included: he went to Corinth (v. 1); he preached in the synagogue, and many heard, believed and were baptized (v. 8); he stayed with them for 18 months, making disciples and teaching them (v. 11).1

Paul fulfilled the commands of Christ’s Commission. Did you know the statistics today are high for believers who have never shared their faith, never led someone to faith, and never baptized anyone? Paul walked out Christ’s commands and commission obediently.

TEACHING

1 Corinthians 2:1-16: Paul explained he had come originally, not because he was a brilliant speaker, but to share the message of Jesus Christ with them (vv. 1–2). Paul acknowledged he came in weakness and fear, but his words had been a demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit, not himself (vv. 3–4). Therefore, the faith of believers should be based on God’s power alone, rather than anything Paul did (v. 5).

These verses may be one of the best evangelism lessons in the Bible. Paul acknowledged he was not a gifted speaker, and he was afraid to the point of trembling, and yet God gave Paul the power to share His message effectively. Jean Boonstra outlines the five excuses Moses gave God for why he couldn’t do what God asked in Exodus 3—4 (and notes they all could have been used by Paul as well): (1) He wasn’t good enough (3:11); (2) he didn’t know enough to do it (3:13); (3) he didn’t think people would believe what he said (4:1); (4) he was a terrible speaker (4:10); and (5) he wasn’t qualified (4:13).2 However, God demonstrated His power through both men.

Paul went on to explain God sent him to speak to the mature, genuine believers about the mysteries in God’s wisdom (vv. 6–7). MacArthur explains verse 7 with these words: “[Mystery] does not refer to something puzzling, but to truth known to God before time, that He has kept secret until the appropriate time for Him to reveal it.”3

Warren Wiersbe points out five characteristics of this wisdom that God has kept for the appropriate time:

  1. It comes directly from God, not man (v. 7).
  2. It has been hidden, waiting for God’s timing (v. 7).
  3. It involves God’s ordained timing (v. 7).
  4. It results in glory for God’s people (v. 7).
  5. It remains hidden from the unsaved world, and they were willing to crucify Jesus because they didn’t get it (v. 8).4

In verse 9, God prepared His wisdom for those who love Him (Isaiah 64:4; 65:17). That wisdom continues to apply to believers’ lives today. The Holy Spirit searches all mankind and reveals God’s wisdom to us. Wiersbe notes four characteristics of the Holy Spirit (vv. 10–13):

The Spirit indwells us as believers.

The Spirit constantly searches the depths of God’s wisdom and reveals it to us.

The Spirit constantly teaches us God’s wisdom and truth.

The Spirit guides us in the process of maturing spiritually.5

On the other hand, unbelievers do not welcome God’s Spirit—they see it as foolishness (v. 14). The unbeliever can be understood as “a natural,” who lives in nature without God, while the believer can be understood as “spiritual,” who is open to the Holy Spirit.6 (vv. 14–15)

CLOSING

In 1 Corinthians 3:1, a third type of person is added to “natural” and “spiritual”—the “carnal” man, who is a baby in faith because he will not let the Spirit work in his life.7 Believers can know what is in the Lord’s mind because we have the mind of Christ, and we mature as we study God’s Word and listen to His Spirit’s guidance.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Exposition Outlines on the New Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1989), p. 573.

  2. Jean Boonstra, “Moses’ Five Excuses,” April 18, 2014, www.VoiceofProphecy.com; available online.

  3. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 1568.

  4. Wiersbe, pp. 574–575.

  5. Wiersbe, pp. 575–576.

  6. Wiersbe, p. 577.

  7. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1463.

Questions

  1. What seems to be Paul’s qualifications for evangelism in 1 Corinthians 2:1–5?
  2. What was the center of Paul’s message to the Corinthians (Galatians 6:14)? Are you seeing this focus in the church today? Why or why not?
  3. God’s character includes being glorious (1 Corinthians 2:8). What other titles reflect God’s glory? (Psalm 24:7–10; Acts 7:2; Ephesians 1:17; 1 Peter 4:14; 2 Peter 1:17)
  4. Compare what Scripture says about God’s wisdom versus man’s wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:18–30; 2:6–7, 13–14; 3:18–19)
  5. Why can’t the natural man receive the things of the Spirit of God? Who can receive these things? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? (Romans 11:33–36)
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in 1 Corinthians 2 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin 1 Corinthians 2:3–5

“I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.”

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have the mind of Christ. You have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. As the Spirit dwells within you, He searches you, teaches you, and matures you so you may understand what has been feely given to you by God.

You may feel like a failure. You may feel weak, fearful, and tremble. You may not be a good speaker with lots of wisdom. However, your faith is not based on man’s wisdom and strength but on God’s power. You are a child of God, and you are able to do more than you can even imagine because God’s power is alive within you. Paul shared the Gospel in his weakness, in fear, in trembling, and while feeling inadequate. But he didn’t let that stop him. He went in the power of Spirit. So today, step out in faith and trust that still, small voice that says, “You can do this.” You have the mind of Christ—full of His strength, power, and wisdom. Walk it out in faith and believe this powerful truth for your life.

“I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.”

— 1 Corinthians 2:3–5

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Exodus 4:10–12 — “But Moses replied to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant—because I am slow and hesitant in speech.’ Yahweh said to him, ‘Who made the human mouth? Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.’”
  • 1 Corinthians 2:13 — “We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.”
  • 1 Corinthians 2:16 — “For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”