Why people do not believe 1 Cor. 1:17-2:15

Introduction

What I have here is basically 5 reasons why a person does not believe the gospel. Now this is not an in depth study of the passage, but basically a fly over of the text. I ask this question because it does seem in my experience that those I would think would be quick to accept the gospel are not and those who are the down and outers are more inclined to believe. I also was intrigued by this in some of my past reading. I am not so sure where I got this idea either. But one thing is for sure, Paul is making the case that without the Work of the Spirit of God using the Word of God through preaching the Cross of Christ no man will come to faith in Christ. Having said that, there is no such thing then as ‘free will.’ So let me give you these five reasons.

here is one reason why unbelievers do not believe:

The word of the cross is foolishness to them

God has made it this way: he destroyed the wisdom of the wise, despises the understanding of those who understand. God made foolish the wisdom of the world, v.20

v.21, God, by his wisdom, made it so that the World would not know God by wisdom (he means by wisdom the eloquent speech and arguments of philosophers of the day). Rather, it pleased God to reveal himself through the foolishness of preaching the cross.

The cross is an offense to the Jews

and foolishness to the Greeks.

Here is a second reason unbelievers do not believe, albeit, cannot believe the gospel -

God has not chosen them.

He has not chosen the wise, or powerful or well born, But rather God chose those considered fools, the weak, αγενη insignificant, the despised, the ones not being/the nobodies,

Why? so that no flesh could boast before God, v.29.

In other words, that all would boast in The Lord, v.31

Thus those who are not the chosen cannot believe. They wouldn’t want to because of the first reason. It is foolish to them.

A third reason unbelievers do not believe is because of the preacher,

Paul for example was not a charismatic personality. He didn’t have the right hair, stature, air about him. He was viewed as weak, fearful, even repulsive.

His delivery was not in keeping with the orators of his day who could argue and debate with all the high sounding words and so on.

But that was so that men would not believe in the wisdom of men, the argument or eloquence, but in the power of God.

A fourth reason is the preaching,

The message is the wisdom of God, not of men and it is a mystery that is hidden to the unbeliever. They wanted eloquence, great arguments and wisdom of words, but that is not what God ordained. Had it been that way then they would not have crucified the Lord. They would have recognized Him as Messiah.

v.9

He quotes from in which Isaiah expresses the desire for God to make Himself clearly known so that no one could mistake who You are. But that is exactly what Paul is saying about Jesus and the cross. God has made Himself clearly known to those whom He chooses. As in

We can also go to

Here is a fifth reason:

God has to reveal it to them.

v.9

He quotes from in which Isaiah expresses the desire for God to make Himself clearly known so that no one could mistake who You are. But that is exactly what Paul is saying about Jesus and the cross. God has made Himself clearly known to those whom He chooses. As in

We can also go to

Now these passages are not exact quotes, but the idea in this section is that only those whom God chooses to reveal Himself by the Spirit will be able to understand.

If you examine verses 10ff you see this quite clearly.

What Paul’s point is that “one’s apprehension of the gospel as the wisdom of God comes only through divine revelation. Simply stated, the wisdom of God cannot be known unless God makes it known. More specifically, God’s wisdom is revealed through the Spirit, who searches the deep things of God (2:10). God’s wisdom is not a matter of human intelligence or discovery but rather of divine disclosure.”

Taylor, M. (2014). 1 Corinthians. (E. R. Clendenen, Ed.) (Vol. 28, p. 83). Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.

Vs. 14-16 sums up the point

the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. It is foolishness to him. He cannot know them.

The spiritual person, the believer does know the truth and has the mind of Christ.

Therefore, the next time you share your faith with someone realize it is not your responsibility to convince them with the ‘right’ words. Give them the gospel and pray the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts to bring them to repentance and faith.