The wisdom of God
1st Corinthians chapter 1
VERSES 1 to 9
Introduction
The author of the letter was Paul the apostle (sent, messenger) of Jesus Christ by the will of God. It was written by brother Sosthenes (Acts 18:17?), dictated (it is in the singular) and signed by Paul (16:21).
It is addressed to the church in Corinth, which was:
Of God, because He had called her for the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ.
Composed of those who were sanctified in Christ, called saints because they called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting themselves to His lordship.
The greeting: "grace and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ".
The praise: Paul thanks God, because in Jesus Christ the Church was enriched in everything - in all its speech and wisdom — thus confirming the testimony of Christ (which Paul had transmitted to them). So they lacked no gift while waiting for the manifestation (return) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The promise: God will hold them firm to the end, so that they might be beyond reproach on that day, and He is faithful. No one knew, as we still do not know, how much time is left before the return of Jesus Christ for His church. Paul, like other writers of the New Testament books, expected His return shortly.
VERSES 10 to 31
The wisdom of God
Christ is the only Head of the church: the apostles, evangelists, teachers and other christians are His servants, working in different areas, complementing each other. So it makes no sense that the Church, the body of Christ, should be split because of partisanships in favour of people.
The Gospel has its basis on the death of Christ on the cross: It is the power and wisdom of God for the salvation of those who are called. The Gospel message is simple, and its preaching is within reach of everyone, not consisting in wisdom of words, i.e. philosophical intellectual arguments transmitted by eloquent speakers considered to be the wise and intelligent of this world.
The crucifixion of Christ scandalizes the Jews who ask for a sign (evidence that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah through the establishment of his Kingdom on earth) and is considered madness by Greeks who don't understand the logic of the crucifixion.
God chose what, to the world, are foolish, weak, ignoble, despised, void (i.e. people humble of heart) things, so that no one should boast before Him. Thus, those who consider themselves to be wise, strong and important in this world are confused by the Gospel: for this reason so few of them are called.
For us who believe, Jesus Christ was made by God wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption; so He is our only motive for pride..
R David Jones
1 Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God's will, and Sosthenes the brother,
2 to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always about you, in respect of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus;
5 that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word of doctrine , and all knowledge,
6 (according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,)
7 so that ye come short in no gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
8 who shall also confirm you to the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye have been called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be not among you divisions; but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same opinion.
11 For it has been shewn to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of the house of Chloe, that there are strifes among you.
12 But I speak of this, that each of you says, *I* am of Paul, and *I* of Apollos, and *I* of Cephas, and *I* of Christ.
13 Is the Christ divided? has Paul been crucified for you? or have ye been baptised unto the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I have baptised none of you, unless Crispus and Gaius,
15 that no one may say that I have baptised unto my own name.
16 Yes, I baptised also the house of Stephanas; for the rest I know not if I have baptised any other.
17 For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.
18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones.
20 Where is the wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe.
22 Since Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom;
23 but *we* preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness;
24 but to those that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to flesh, not many powerful, not many high-born.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may put to shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world, that he may put to shame the strong things;
28 and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, has God chosen, and things that are not, that he may annul the things that are;
29 so that no flesh should boast before God.
30 But of him are *ye* in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption;
31 that according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians chapter 1