02-19-05 1 Corinthians 2-1-16
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
This chapter continues Paul’s discussion of the Gospel and the wisdom of men.
There were Christians at Corinth who admired the philosophies of men
People thought that the church would be better off to use man’s wisdom and philosophy to win converts rather than the simple and despised message of the cross
Let say you have a serious disease and you have asked your Medical specialist for a plan of action
They then go “on line” and then a radio talk show to discuss what is going on with you
They let “non professionals” make a medical decision decide on your treatment
You would be outraged
As Christians are talking about a life and death decision Salvation
We debate with people who do not even understand who Jesus is let alone who Jesus was and they are the ones telling us we do not know what we are talking about wow
They make light of His suffering with out a recourse of rebuttal and we are called closed and narrow minded
I. The Message of the Cross Is Not of This World (2:1–6)
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
A. What Paul determines not to do (2:1-4)
1. Paul was very well educated, he was not depending on eloquence or education in his preaching
a) Some people use this as a credential to not do their bible home work, we should not use this excuse
2. What Paul is emphasizing is the power of God not the intellect, the group he was addressing was tantalized by oration alone
a) Paul was focusing on the mystery of God’s work on the cross
3. To reestablish faith in the power of God
a) The message it self, but not how well the words were delivered
b) Not the delivery, but the content
(1) Sound like today?
(2) Is someone more anointed when they get riled
(3) or when a humble servant humbly delivers the truth of God’s word
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
B. (Verse 2) I determined to know nothing among you Jesus Christ and Him crucified
1. Knowing nothing among us
2. Are we aware of the life and or death state of those we are around
3. Do we act accordingly
a) Do we try and assist?
b) Do we stand by and say it is the professionals job
c) Are we scared?
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
4. (Verse 3) Paul came to every city in weakness and fear
a) Humility and awe of God the Father
(1) Rather than in the self-reliant and cocky manner of worldly wisdom
b) 2 Cor. 7:15 the Corinthian church);
c) Eph. 6:5 (Slaves to their Masters);
d) Phil. 2:12 to the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling
e) Paul had recently been run out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–10)
f) Paul in Athens to the unknown God (Acts 17:15-34)
5. Paul came to them humbly to show them that wisdom was not in him but in the power of God through Christ’s work on the cross
a) Paul did not take credit for the glory of God
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
6. (Verse 4) Paul depends completely on the power of the Holy Spirit
a) Paul wanted to focus the mystery of God’s work on the cross and to reestablish faith in the power of God
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
C. The apostle’s reason (2:5–6): He will do this so their faith will rest on God’s Word and not on his wisdom
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1. Verse 6 Paul revealed that the hidden mind of Christ is above human understanding and evaluation
2. Philosophers used the term for “mature” or “perfect” (KJV) here for those who had progressed to an advanced stage in wisdom
3. The contrast in 2:6–9 is between temporal wisdom of those great in this age and God’s eternal wisdom
II. The Message of the Cross Was Ordained before This World (2:7–8)
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
A. Handcrafted for the saved (2:7): This involves God’s wise plan to bring believers into the glories of heaven
B. Judaism believed that God’s Wisdom existed before the world and that God had created the world through this Wisdom
8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
C. Paul highlighted the terms Crucified the Lord of Glory
1. As god’s plan of salvation
2. A major paradox to the natural man
3. Also to the Jews and Greeks of the time
D. Hidden from the unsaved (2:8)
1. Had they known the truth, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory
III. The Message of the Cross Was Reserved for the Heirs of This World (2:9–16)
9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
A. Paul’s quotations of the Old Testament (2:9; Isa. 64:4; 65:17; Jer. 3:16)
B. This was used to defend the nature of the gospel, not simply to describe future glory in heaven (see Isa. 6:9–10 in Matt. 13:14–15)
C. Concealed from the human spirit (2:9): No mortal can ever see, hear, or even imagine what wonderful things God has prepared for those who love him
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
D. Revealed by the Holy Spirit (2:10–16)
1. God want s to reveal His word to us and set us free to be more His children
2. What we hear will be confirmed by the holy spirit and the word of God
3. If it is not do not listen to it
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
4. The spirit of this world
5. Satan is certainly the energizing spirit in the world today
Eph. 2:1-3
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
6. The enemy has given lost men a “wisdom” that inflates their egos and blinds their minds
7. He has led them away from the simple truths of the Word of God
8. The great centers of learning today do not want the Bible; they reject the deity of Christ and the need for salvation through the cross
9. This ignorance led men to crucify Christ
10. What God does (2:10–12): God’s deepest secrets
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
a) Verse 13 the Holy Spirit is the teacher of us all
b) God’s word is written to us & for us
II Tim 2:4
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
c) God’s word is illuminated to our hearts
(1) The light of the holy spirit goes on in our hearts and suddenly the words on the pages of the bible are alive to us and are bread to us through the holy spirit verse10
d) Giving spiritual truth of the word of God confirmation in our hearts
(1) Interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual people
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
E. Like a deaf critic of Bach
F. A blind critic of Raphael
G. So is the unregenerate critic of God’s Word
IV.Paul described people in four ways
A. Firstly “people who aren’t Christians” (unsaved); “natural man,”
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
1. 1 Cor 1:23, Paul states that the Greeks thought the Gospel was foolishness
2. The Greeks were great philosophers, but their philosophy could not explain a God who died on a cross, or, for that matter, a God who even cares about people
B. Secondly those “who have the Spirit” (mature Christian) (2:15–16);
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1. Things long hidden are now revealed by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, not by human wisdom
C. Thirdly “Infants” (having characteristics of the flesh; spiritually weak or immature Christian) (3:1–2; “carnal,” kjv);
D. Fourthly those “still controlled by … sinful desires” (composed of a fleshly nature; characterized by a willful refusal to grow) (3:3)
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KJV King James Version
1 Lit being
a Eph 2:5; Col 2:13
2 Or by reason of
a 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 2:3
1 Lit age
b Eph 1:21
c John 12:31; Eph 6:12
d Eph 5:6
a Eph 2:2
b Gal 5:16f
1 Lit doing
2 Lit thoughts
c Rom 2:14; Gal 2:15
d Rom 5:9; Col 1:21; 2 Pet 2:14
e Rom 5:12
a Eph 1:7
b John 3:16
a Eph 2:1
1 Or by reason of
2 Two early mss reads in Christ
b Acts 15:11
a Col 2:12
b Eph 1:20
c Eph 1:3
d Eph 1:1; 2:10, 13
a Rom 2:4; Eph 1:7
b Titus 3:4
a Acts 15:11; Eph 2:5
b 1 Pet 1:5
1 I.e. that salvation
c John 4:10
a Rom 3:28; 2 Tim 1:9
b 1 Cor 1:29
a Eph 2:15; 4:24; Col 3:10
b Eph 1:1; 2:6, 13
a 2 Tim 2:16
b Titus 3:3
a 2 Tim 1:13; Titus 1:9
a 2 Tim 1:5
b John 5:47; Rom 2:27
c Ps 119:98f
d 1 Cor 1:21
e 2 Tim 1:1
a Rom 4:23f; 15:4; 2 Pet 1:20f
1 Lit God-breathed
2 Lit training which is in
a 1 Tim 6:11
b 2 Tim 2:21; Heb 13:21
a 1 Tim 5:21; 2 Tim 2:14
b Acts 10:42
c 2 Thess 2:8; 2 Tim 1:10; 4:8
a Gal 6:6; Col 4:3; 1 Thess 1:6
b 1 Tim 5:20; Titus 1:13; 2:15
1 Lit all