By all means, marry.

If you get a good wife,

you'll become happy;

if you get a bad one,

you'll become a philosopher.

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–Socrates–

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Introduction

Chapters 1-4 Synopsis

• 1:1-9 - Introductory remarks
• 1:10-17 – Problem of Division Stated and Rebuked
• 1:18-31 – Power of the Cross vs. Human Wisdom
• Chapter 2 – The Revelation of God’s Wisdom
• Chapter 3 – Proper Estimation of Preachers
• Chapter 4 – Apostles as Faithful, Humble Stewards

Introduction - 1

• In chapter 1, Paul had chastised them for being divided over men and human wisdom.
• He proceeded with historical reminders that human wisdom does not give man the answers to life.
• He then concluded that human wisdom compared to God’s wisdom is itself foolishness, and self destructive.

Introduction - 2

• Only Christ through God’s wisdom can provide man with righteousness, sanctification and wisdom.
• Finally, if man is to glory in anything, it is not in himself, but his glory should be to God for His loving Grace to man when we do not deserve it.

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Introduction -3

• Preaching should emphasize the power of the gospel of Christ rather than the ability of the preacher.
• Inspired men spoke the wisdom of God not the wisdom of men.
• The Spirit of God revealed the things of God in words taught by the Spirit.
• The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, but we have the mind of Christ.

Dangers of Human Wisdom - 1

• Prov. 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
• Psalm 81:12 – So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels.
• Jer. 7:24 – Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts.

Dangers of Human Wisdom - 3

• Jer. 8:9 – Wise men rejected the word of the Lord; So what wisdom do they have?
• Jer. 16:12 – Each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

Dangers of Human Wisdom - 4

• Rom. 1:22 – Professing to be wise, they became fools,
• Col. 2:8 – Beware lest anyone cheat you … according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
• 1 Tim. 6:20 - ...avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge

Dangers of Human Wisdom - 5

• Lk. 18:9 – Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

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Prov. 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul’s Resolve And His Reason

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Jesus Christ And Him Crucified

Christ Crucified - 2:1-5

Paul’s Resolve

• Paul did not come with great oratory skills
• His purpose was to preach Jesus Christ and His crucifixion for our salvation.
• Preaching in Corinth with it’s worldly people caused him much fear.
• Christ told him to be bold, no one would hurt him – Acts. 18:9–10

Christ Crucified - 2:1-5

Paul’s Resolve

• Paul did not have great oratory skills
• His purpose was to preach Jesus Christ and His crucifixion for our salvation.
• Preaching in Corinth with it’s worldly people caused him much fear.
• Christ told him to be bold, no one would hurt him – Acts. 18:9–10

Acts 18:9-10

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

Christ Crucified - 2:1-5

Paul’s Reason

• His preaching was not in persuasive words of great human wisdom
• It was in demonstration of the power of God.
• This process would allow people to have faith in the power of God and not the wisdom of the man or his skills as a speaker.

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1 Corinthians 2:6-9

God’s Hidden Wisdom Now Revealed

God’s Hidden Wisdom Now Revealed 2:6-9

• Hidden from man since before the creation
• If the rulers had known it, they would not have crucified Christ

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1 Corinthians 2:10-12

• The Spirit Reveals The Mind Of God

The Spirit Reveals The Mind Of God

• No one can know what a man is thinking unless that man reveals it
• We have now received, by the Holy Spirit through the apostles, that which God freely gives us.

God

Man

Jesus Christ

Holy Spirit

Apostles

The Bible

How God Revealed

His Mind To Man

In The N.T.

Hebrews 1:1-2

God, who at various times and in diverse ways spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the world.

God

Man

Jesus Christ

Holy Spirit

Apostles

The Bible

How God Revealed

His Mind To Man

In The N.T.

John 16:13-14

But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you.

God

Man

Jesus Christ

Holy Spirit

Apostles

The Bible

How God Revealed

His Mind To Man

In The N.T.

Ephesians 3:3-4

how by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I have written briefly already, by which, when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ,

God

Man

Holy Spirit

The Bible

How God Revealed

His Mind To Man

In The O.T.

Zechariah 7:12

They made their hearts hard like a diamond so as not to hear the instruction and words that the LORD of Hosts sent by His Spirit through the former prophets, and there was great anger from the LORD of Hosts.

The Prophets

God

Man

How God Revealed

His Mind To Man

In The O.T.

Jeremiah 30:1-4

“Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken.” Now these are the words that the Lord spoke …

Holy Spirit

The Bible

The Prophets

1 Corinthians 2:13-16

Natural Man Rejects God’s Spiritual Things

Natural Man Rejects God’s Spiritual Things – 2:13-16

• After the apostles received these things from the holy spirit, they in turn spoke these things to the world.
• The natural man (worldly) refuse to listen, considering the wisdom of god of no value to him.
• Finally Paul says, that no one has known the mind of god so that they can instruct him in his ways.

In Conclusion

In Conclusion - 1

• Christianity is fundamentally opposed to the world’s beliefs, values and standards.
• God chose people whom the world considers weak and foolish.
• The gospel is divinely powerful to convert the lost without resorting to arguments from worldly wisdom.

In Conclusion - 2

• The wise in the world failed to recognize Jesus as God’s Son and crucified Him.
• We are dependent on God’s Spirit to reveal to us the truths about God.
• Pride and arrogance often lie behind conflicts in the church.