1 Corinthians 2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1 KJV)
During Paul’s visit to Athens (Acts 17) he appealed to the philosophy of the Athenians but didn’t accomplish much. Yes, his oratory was flowery and elegant, but results lacked as only a few people were saved, and no church founded.
You can’t debate someone to salvation, they must arrive at it themselves. The Christian’s job consists of delivering information; what people choose to do with it is up to them. In Ezekiel chapter 3 God gives Ezekiel the “watcher on the wall” principle — we provide information, and if we fail that we’re responsible for the lack of effort, but if we provide information we’re not responsible for the choices made with that information.
In other words, it is not your job to convert people. Many Christians have the mistaken idea God gives extra credit for each person turning to Christ. Not so. God judges motives and actions, but not results (man of course judges results only, and many believe the end justifies the means — if the results are good, the motives and actions don’t count). Results are His problem, not ours. For example, who was the biggest failure (humanly speaking) in the Bible?
Noah. He built that boat for decades, and all his neighbors had the opportunity to listen to Noah’s warnings about coming judgment. Yet for all his time and effort, how many were saved? Zero. None. Zilch. Noah was a complete wipe-out as an evangelist. Yet we see Noah again in Hebrews 11 (the “Hall of Faith”) along with many others. Why? God judged Noah’s motives and actions, not results.
Many use Acts 17 as an example of “meeting people where they’re at” to justify modifying the way you speak to people; Paul himself said to the Jews he was a Jew, to the Gentiles a Gentile, so the principle has merit. It’s acceptable to change the methods of communication, but the message should be the same. In Athens Paul changed the substance of the message, and didn’t accomplish much; Paul arrived in Corinth with a simplified and basic message of Jesus Christ.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)
Nothing matters except Jesus; it’s not your smooth speech or oratory skill winning people to Christ. Paul made a mistake in Athens, learned from it, and arrived in Corinth with a new technique. Some people evangelize using the creation vs. evolution issue or other scientific focus. That’s not entirely bad, but the central focus must be on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins. Let’s keep it simple, as Paul did in Corinth.
Like Paul, you’re going to make mistakes. The question is, do you learn from them, or repeat the error? Many people believe Christians somehow don’t make mistakes. Obviously that’s not true, but the real lesson comes from learning from mistakes. Paul made a mistake in Athens, arriving in Corinth with a new, simplified message of Jesus Christ, and the elimination of man’s wisdom. And that simple message founded a church.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3 KJV)
By traditional accounts, Paul was neither easy on the eyes, nor did he posses powerful oratory skills. In an area treasuring oratory skill and debate Paul would not be very appealing, as Paul himself admits in his next letter to the Corinthians.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. (2 Corinthians 10:10 KJV)
What isn’t important (his verbal oratory skills) have long since faded. But Paul’s real skill, his writing, still influences us today long after the other flowery orators have been long forgotten. The people in Athens valued oratory skill (which fades into oblivion), while God choose Paul for his writing.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (1 Corinthians 2:4 KJV)
Without the absolute reference of God man’s wisdom changes. Recently California banned trans fat in food[1]. Yet others proclaim trans fat is actually good for you. Who to believe? If you have any medical condition at all you know the transitory nature of man’s wisdom as advice changes year to year. God doesn’t change, because He doesn’t have to.
So even if you use flowery human oratory skills and human wisdom, what happens next week when man decides wisdom lays down a different path? Where does that leave you? Unchanging standards and stability come only from God’s wisdom.
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV)
It’s not about intellectualism (that attitude infects the church as chapter one showed). The Corinthians based their faith on the wisdom of men, with the church dividing into different sects following their particular guru. That was 2000 years ago — has man evolved? How often does the exact same thing occur in the church today?
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the princes of this age, that come to nothing; (1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV)
A difference exists between wisdom and knowledge. A list of facts provides knowledge, while the correct application of facts shows wisdom. Unfortunately there’s too much of the first, and not nearly enough of the second.[2] The world and its wisdom will someday disappear, as Peter relates.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)
This world will come to nothing. Where are your priorities? Peter asks the same question in the next verse — since the world is going away, how should you act? What motivates you? Man’s wisdom perishes with the cosmos and comes to nothing, why accept it over God’s wisdom?
God won’t destroy the world by a flood again — next time it will be by fire. The first chapter of Colossians says Jesus holds all things together (1:17). If you remember basic high school physics, inside the atom in the nucleus are protons and neutrons, with the electrons orbiting about. Protons are positively charged, electrons negatively.
But like charges repel, so what holds the atom together? Something called the strong nuclear force binds the naturally repelling protons together in the nucleus. But what is it? Paul tells you in Colossians Jesus holds the atom together.
But since the 1940’s, we know what happens during the releasing of that force — a massive explosion. Atomic weapons contain a few pounds of material, and huge amounts of energy are released. Imagine the energy released in the entire cosmos if all the atoms explode.
That also means that much energy is required to hold it together. How powerful is your God?
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the ages unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7 KJV)
Notice the contrast with the previous verse (“but we”) — not man’s wisdom and oration, but God’s word.
Salvation wasn’t an afterthought by God. He knew Adam would blow it, and made provision for his salvation. God knows you’re going to blow it, which means He can’t be disappointed. But don’t take that for approval — don’t think since God hasn’t interfered with your sin He approves of it. God doesn’t change, and sin 2,000 years ago is still sin today. You can choose to follow God or not, it’s your choice. But don’t be fooled into believing God actually approves of sin.
Which none of the princes of this age knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:8-9 KJV)
Verses 9-14 present one argument. Verse 14 you’ve heard before, but may not know the background, so allow Paul to lay the foundation. Paul speaks of how you learn; it’s not by physical means, intellectual debate, or reading books. Some things can’t be experienced by sight and sound — it’s invisible.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10 KJV)
It’s been revealed to us, not by superior intellectual skill or our learning, but God’s grace. You can’t learn it, it’s revealed by God. And that eliminates boasting about it, which then eliminates any division in the church based on following a certain teacher.
The Holy spirit guides you into all truth (John 14:26). When you’re confused ask! Don’t pick up a commentary, ask the guy who wrote it. The spirit reveals, not man. That doesn’t mean teachers aren’t important, just don’t trust them over God.
Paul defends his statement by a simple argument.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11 KJV)
Who really knows what you’re thinking? We’ve all experienced a failure of communication, both being misunderstood, and misunderstanding others. Why? Nobody really knows what you’re thinking, and many times words don’t adequately express thoughts. Thus, who knows what God thinks? Paul takes a principle you can relate to, and applies it to something you can’t.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV)
We have God’s spirit indwelling who can reveal God, not by eyes and ears. That’s spiritual discernment. When you’re confused, ask the author. It’s an open book test, and you have the advantage of being tutored by the author Himself. Do you think He’ll turn you down?
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:11-13 KJV)
God gives freely to those who ask. He’s not holding back, but maybe you don’t ask. Some people have a legal or impersonal relationship with God — I don’t want to bother God except with the big stuff, after all, He’s got a cosmos to run.
The question is, can you pray for a football game?
God wants to hear from you, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians: “Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Everything means what? Just the big things, right? After all, you don’t want to bother God with something you can handle yourself.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
All things in John chapter one uses the same Greek as Philippians 4:6. All means all, that’s all all means. Thus it’s not “Lord, we ask thee to smite that school from the north, and make their arms of stone so they can’t reacheth the football, they’re hands as slick as the oil of the temple so the football slideth off, and if it’s not too much, can you rain down fire from heaven?”
No, the prayer runs more like this — Lord, I’ve had a bad day, and you know my love of sports, and it’s not a big deal, but you know I really want to win this game, and it would give a little break from the gloom. I know there are people on the other side of the stadium feeling the same way, with the same prayer, and I don’t know how you do both.
You can rest assured if you take that attitude, win or lose you’ll feel better. How do I know? Let’s just say I’ve got experimental evidence.
It’s likely a similar conversation took place among friends and family anyway. So why leave God out? Do you think He’s not a football fan? Do you think He doesn’t care? Do you think He doesn’t want to be involved in what’s going on in your life?
Not just the big stuff — the “God problems”, but all things. I’ll submit to you we’d be a lot better off if we involved God in all things. Why don’t we — it goes back to the garden of Eden and the tree of good and evil Adam ate from. Before that, they had to ask God about everything. After that, they thought they could do it on their own.
That’s the curse we’re still under.
It’s not attempting to invoke the God of the universe as your genie (you get three wishes from Him to win the really big games). It’s fellowship and koinonia, it’s communication with your heavenly father. If you think that’s shallow, fill in the blank with whatever you like (after all, there’s NASCAR, basketball, hockey and so on). God wants to hear from you, in all things, and God freely gives to those who ask. Maybe not the request you’re asking for, but what you really need.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV)
Paul communicates what he’s learned, not the wisdom of man, but God (it’s the Holy Spirit teaching). This verse also implies the Godly inspiration of the Bible, not just in ideas and thoughts, but in the very choice of words used. Every word, every detail comes from the design of the Holy Spirit. Nothing exists in the Bible we don’t need, and nothing we need lacks in its pages.
An idea floats around the Bible contains the word of God. No, the Bible is the word of God. A cavern of meaning exists between the two, and Paul makes clear which it is. The words of the Bible itself are inspired, not just the concepts. Every detail, every number is by design. The popular idea today the Bible isn’t totally the Word of God is garbage. It’s not us saying that, it’s Paul, so take it up with him if you don’t like it.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)
Again, the contrast — this time spiritual vs. natural. The Holy Spirit explains spiritual matters to you, not your intellect. The natural man has no way of understanding because he doesn’t have the Holy Spirit. That’s why so many of them become confused by the Bible.
Nevertheless when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13 KJV)
The natural man sees the Bible as a quaint collection of stories and myths, but lacking relevance to everyday life, and certainly not God’s word. Recall back to chapter one as Paul discussed the foolishness of God. What do you think of it?
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV)
Don’t be confused by the use of judges in this verse, as Paul used the same Greek translated as discerned in the previous verse (many translations make the distinction a bit clearer). The natural world can’t figure God out, or you as they have no discernment of either without the Holy Spirit; it takes the Holy Spirit for discernment of spiritual matters.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV)
That’s why you have discernment and the world doesn’t.
[1]http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/Story?id=5393222&page=1
[2]Jeremiah 4;22, 8:9