Exploring Corinthians #4

1 Corinthians 2:6-12

1 Corinthians 2:6–9 NKJV

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 NKJV

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:

1 Corinthians 2:12–16 NKJV

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Who wrote the book?

Paul’s authorship of this epistle is widely accepted in the scholarly community, though it was not the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian people (see ). We know that the Corinthians misunderstood an earlier letter from Paul (5:10–11), though that letter has not survived. Therefore, it is Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians that we know as 1 Corinthians—the first letter to the Corinthians that God inspired.

Four years prior to writing the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, the apostle had spent eighteen months in Corinth, so he was intimately familiar with the church and many of its congregants. The recipients of the letter must have understood the letter’s significance, not only to their own circumstances but for the church worldwide. In AD 95, Clement, the bishop of Rome, wrote a letter of his own to the Corinthians in which he invoked the authority of Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians. Only a few decades after its origin, this letter to the Corinthians had traveled outside of Corinth and was considered authoritative beyond its initial Corinthian context.

Where are we?

Paul had been in Ephesus for more than two years on his third missionary journey when he received a disturbing report of quarreling within the Corinthian church, a report he received from people associated with one of its members, Chloe (). The church he had founded so recently () had already developed deep divisions, a situation that required immediate action. Paul penned his letter in AD 55, just as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia ().

Why is First Corinthians so important?

First Corinthians contains a frank discussion of the church and the issues that impacted real people in the first century. The Corinthian church was corroded with sin on a variety of fronts, so Paul provided an important model for how the church should handle the problem of sin in its midst. Rather than turn a blind eye toward relational division and all kinds of immorality, he addressed the problems head on. In his bold call to purity within the Corinthian church, Paul made it clear that he was willing to risk the good opinion of some in order to help cleanse the sin that tainted the church.

What's the big idea?

First Corinthians addresses reports that Paul received from Chloe’s household, as well as a letter he received from the church itself (). In this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul covered a number of different issues related to both life and doctrine: divisions and quarrels, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, marriage and singleness, freedom in Christ, order in worship, the significance of the Lord’s Supper, and the right use of spiritual gifts; he also included a profound teaching on the resurrection.

The line of thought that joins these topics together was Paul’s emphasis on Christian conduct in the local church. The apostle expected that Christian people would live according to Christian ideals, or as he told them, “You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (6:20).

��

How do I apply this?

Corinth was a large, international metropolis, filled with people from different backgrounds. Idol worship to gods such as Aphrodite was particularly prominent in the city, though Corinth contained numerous temptations far beyond her temples. In this sense, Corinth was very much like a modern urban area, containing unending opportunities to engage in sinful behavior without any apparent consequences.

Such a community clearly had a negative influence on the Corinthian church. But notice that Paul’s instruction to the believers was not to retreat from their city. This was not Paul’s vision for the church then or now. Instead, he directed us to live out our commitment to Christ ever more faithfully in the midst of nonbelievers. Paul expected that we Christians would shine our light into the dark places of their world by worshiping in a unified community that was accountable to one another. He expected that we would settle our problems internally, that we would encourage one another in the pursuit of purity, and that we would strive together by holding tightly to the hope of our bodily resurrection to come.

What can you do within your local church to make this kind of community more of a reality?

Have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit rarely speaks in plain language?

He communicates to us in dreams, visions and prophecy (), in unknown tongues (), and in light, spontaneous impressions. His messages—especially in dreams and visions—are often symbolic in nature. And many times, His communications are brief and fragmented, as though He is leaving us a clue to follow.

Why does God communicate to us in this way? After all, wouldn’t it be easier if He spoke in clear, easy to understand speech?

6 Biblical Insights on Why the Holy Spirit Speaks in Mysteries

1. Mysteries are a Sign of the Kingdom

It is not surprising that the Holy Spirit speaks in mysteries, given that Jesus also taught in parables, stories and metaphors (symbolic pictures) that needed interpretation in order to be understood.

Unlock the parable, and profound Kingdom truths are broken open.

When Jesus’ disciples asked why He spoke to the crowds in parables, His response was: “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” () Jesus also said, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” ()

2. Mysteries create Seekers

When God communicates in mysteries, it separates the seekers from the skeptics. A mystery has a meaning to uncover, one that is available to those who pursue it. Those who are being drawn by the Holy Spirit have a thirst to discover that meaning.

When the Holy Spirit speaks in a picture, a fragment or a mystery, He is inviting you to go on a journey with Him. The heart of God longs for those who will seek after and pursue Him.

‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ ()

Humanity has always been fascinated with mysteries, dreams and symbols. It is something God has placed deep in the DNA of people, to cause us to hunger for Him.

Interpreting dreams is one significant way that we can reach those who do not know God.

Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that ‘there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.’ () After Daniel gave the interpretation of the King’s prophetic dream, King Nebuchadnezzar reflected back to him, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” ()

3. Mysteries Require Intimacy with God to Understand

God longs for relationship with His sons and daughters.

Mysteries invite us into relationship and intimacy with God, as we seek Him for further revelation.

The Greek word translated ‘mysteries’ in the New Testament is ‘musterion’ (Strongs G3466). It also means ‘secret.’ The Vines Concordance has this to say about it: ‘In the NT [mystery] denotes…that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit’ [1].

A mystery cannot be understood by natural means. But we can discover the meaning of a mystery with the help of the Holy Spirit, in our intimate relationship with God.

4. Mysteries are Comprehended as we Study God’s Word

Mysteries from the Holy Spirit send us to the Scriptures for further insight. The Bible should be the first place we go to understand dreams, visions, words and stories from the Holy Spirit. Mysteries of the Kingdom are grasped as we study God’s Word. Jesus said to the Sadducees, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” ()

It is not enough to be acquainted with God’s power, we must also be full of God’s Word.

Your knowledge of the Bible is a storehouse that the Holy Spirit draws from as He leads you towards the meaning of a vision, dream or prophetic insight.

5. Mysteries Foster Humility

‘For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.’ ()

Being a recipient of a mystery fosters humility and perseverance in us.

Many people do not understand, and skeptics may scorn. But in spite of the opinions of others, you determine to pursue God and His revelation.

‘For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.’ () When we pray in the Spirit using the gift of tongues, we are praying heaven’s secrets—things that haven’t been revealed in the earth realm yet. ‘We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.’ ()

It takes humility to enter that place of fellowship with the Holy Spirit where the mysteries of God are birthed into reality through prayer. And it takes humility to bring prophetic insights received in that secret place into the light of community, where they can be weighed up and tested.

6. Mysteries are Unfolded in Community

How can we be sure we have interpreted a mystery from the Holy Spirit accurately? Mysteries are best understood in the place of community. () It is in the church body that the gifts needed to steward a word from God are present. For example:

Discernment, to ensure that the mystery is truly from the Holy Spirit Wisdom, to know what to do, how and when as we respond to a prophetic insight Pastoral oversight to bring godly direction Others with prophetic gifts to help weigh up what God is saying

And, it is in community that Jesus’ command to love one another is obeyed.

‘If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.’ ()