Jesus as God's Wisdom

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

This lesson will attempt to:

Examine the division within the congregation as it relates to wisdom

Examine Paul’s presentation of divine wisdom

Think about what that means for our lives

Division and Wisdom

After Paul introduces the idea that there is division within the congregation at Corinth, he goes on to specify more of what the division is about.

1 Corinthians 1:12 KJV 1900

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

It seems that the Christians in Corinth all may have believed they were Christians, but still divided over which leader or teacher they associated with. The various teachers included Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ.

Paul’s argument against this division begins by pointing to Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:13 KJV 1900

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Immediately, Paul points to Christ. Obviously the one who was crucified was Christ. Obviously the one in whose name they were baptized was Christ. Therefore, Paul is making a comparison of Christ to the different individuals the Christians are clinging to. The obvious difference is that none of the names except Christ died for them and gave authority for their baptism.

In the next few verses, Paul is still referring to Christ, but he also starts talking about wisdom. In fact, the rest of the chapter is a discussion of the crucifixion of Christ within the context of wisdom.

“Since Paul responds to Corinthian division with a theological statement on wisdom, it seems likely that Corinthian division stemmed from their misunderstanding of wisdom. Hence, Paul aims to correct their understanding of wisdom in order to change their behaviour.” Simo Frestadius, “The Spirit and Wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:1-13,” Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (January 1, 2011): 54.

Paul’s Presentation of Divine Wisdom

“Paul’s presentation of divine wisdom can be divided into three parts. Firstly, Paul presents the content of the divine wisdom, namely Christ crucified (1:18-31). This is followed by his contrasting its form with contemporary Sophist rhetoric (2:1-5). Finally, Paul presents how wisdom can be known, and by whom (2:6-16).” Simo Frestadius, “The Spirit and Wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:1-13,” Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (January 1, 2011): 56-57.

Content of Divine Wisdom

In chapter 1, verses 17-31, Paul is going to talk about the divine wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:17–31 KJV 1900

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Verse 17 - This may strike at the heart of the matter of division within the congregation. The church was putting too much emphasis on man and the words he used, and not enough emphasis on the cross of Christ.

Verse 18 - The message of the cross may not seem to be wise to the world, but to those who have been saved it is the power of God. Notice the contrast Paul is starting to make between man and God.

Verses 19-20 - These are references to Isaiah. Notice that there are rhetorical questions but Paul phrases the last one in a way that expects an affirmative response. The answer should be “Yes, God has made foolish the wisdom of this world.” God is wiser than the wisdom of men.

Verses 21-23 - The world sees the preaching of Jesus crucified as foolishness, but this is what brings salvation, not the wisdom of man.

Verse 24 - Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Verse 25 - God’s wisdom is superior to man’s.

Verses 26-29 - No person will be able to brag or glory in the presence of God because their wisdom is superior. God chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. The Jews looked for a sign, but didn’t see it when a man was hanging on a cross. The Greeks looked for wisdom but didn’t see it when a man was hanging on a cross. But that’s the foolish and weak thing that God chose in order to confound the wise and mighty.

Verses 30-31 - Christians are saved because of Christ and the wisdom of God. Our glory should be in God.

Contrast With Sophist Rhetoric

The Teacher’s Value Based on Rhetoric

If we put ourselves back into what life was like in the first century, different people may have ascribed value to the teacher depending on his eloquence of speech and rhetoric skill. In other words, the style of the speaker may have been as important, or possibly more important, than the content of his message. This may have been a problem the Corinthians were experiencing.

“The success of the teacher of knowledge (the sophist, philosopher, or prophet) depends on his ability to teach knowledge persuasively, yielding the result of a good number of followers and material rewards from supporters and sponsors. Barton further points out the hierarchical and discriminatory nature of wisdom in two ways: ‘It divides those who have the upbringing, learning, and leisure to pursue it from those who do not, and it divides those who follow one sophist or sage from those who follow another.’ It is no wonder that these tendencies were showing in the way the Corinthians were relating to their leaders.” Seth Kissi, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Spirituality in Self-defense : A Rhetorical Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 1–6 (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2019), 39.

This is Carnal

The emphasis on the teacher is placing emphasis on man, instead of God. Paul delineates this emphasis as carnal, or based on the physical man.

1 Corinthians 3:3–4 KJV 1900

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Christ is the Important Thing

Paul negates the carnality by stating that while he and Apollos were ministers, the more important issue was the belief in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Further, Paul is going to argue that the teacher should not be the focus, but God should be.

1 Corinthians 3:7 KJV 1900

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Again, notice that Paul takes the emphasis off the different men of Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 KJV 1900

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Eloquence Vs. Content

Paul is contrasting the need for eloquent speech with the content of the speech, namely Christ crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 KJV 1900

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Paul admits that his speech was not excellent, but it doesn’t bother him. He was more concerned with knowing Christ and Him crucified.

Then Paul states where their faith should reside.

1 Corinthians 2:3–5 KJV 1900

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul’s eloquence and rhetoric may have been lacking, but he demonstrated the truth of what he was speaking by miraculous manifestations, the power given to him by the Holy Spirit. He contrasts the eloquence of speech and wisdom of men with the power of the Holy Spirit as a basis for the location of faith. Paul states that their faith should not be based in eloquent speech and wisdom of men, but rather in the fact that God verified Paul’s speech through miraculous power. Therefore, how important is it whether or not the speech is eloquent? It’s more important if the content is Christ crucified.

Later, Paul reiterates this idea when he says he will come shortly.

1 Corinthians 4:19 KJV 1900

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

Some, apparently, are even boasting about their speech. The Corinthians were focusing on man and his eloquence and wisdom, instead of the wisdom of God seen in Christ, and verified by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Apollos as Examples

“If anyone had cultivated a wisdom-school, in Corinth at least, it was not Paul but Apollos. Through the latter’s ministry some of the Corinthians apparently had come to regard the (Christian) gospel as wisdom, the leaders as teachers of wisdom, and themselves as wise. This wisdom was, to be sure, “like that of the Greeks,” a mixture of philosophy, religion, and rhetoric. But this was understood by Apollos and others as Sophia, the Divine Teaching to be contemplated in Scriptures. Indeed Sophia had been understood for generations as the real focus and substance of Jewish religion by Hellenistic Jews such as Philo, and this sophia included eloquent speech as an important facet.” Richard A. Horsley, Wisdom and Spiritual Transcendence at Corinth : Studies in First Corinthians, (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2008), 29.

Paul may have recognized the idea that people were following Apollos as a teacher because of his rhetoric. He mentioned Apollos in the opening of the discussion on the division.

1 Corinthians 1:12 KJV 1900

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Then Paul points out that he and Apollos are merely ministers by which the Corinthians believed.

1 Corinthians 3:5 KJV 1900

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Then Paul points out that even though Paul and Apollos worked together, it was God that gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:6 KJV 1900

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Then Paul takes the focus off the men of Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 KJV 1900

Paul and Apollos serve as visual aids in Paul’s lesson. Now, Paul states that he has talked about himself and Apollos for the sake of the Corinthians that they do not think more of men than that which is written, and not to be puffed up against another.

1 Corinthians 4:6 KJV 1900

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Paul says that you can look at him and Apollos, but the question is “How?” Paul says that he and Apollos are to be thought of as ministers and fellow-laborers with God.

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 KJV 1900

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

“Apollos’ competence in knowledge and eloquence in rhetoric seem to be two aspects of Christian wisdom that the Corinthians have misunderstood. Paul argues against both the content of Corinthian wisdom (1:21; 2:6-7) and its form, with particular emphasis on eloquent rhetorical speech (2:1, 4; cf. 1:17).16 However, since Paul speaks positively of Apollos (e.g. 3:6, 9; 16:12), but refutes his followers (1:12; 3:3-4, 21-22), it is fair to state that Apollos per se was not the problem but rather the Corinthians’ attitude towards him. Paul is not undermining Apollos’ intellectual or rhetorical ability as such but rather what the Corinthians have made of it.” Simo Frestadius, “The Spirit and Wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:1-13,” Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (January 1, 2011): 55.

God’s wisdom is superior over man’s wisdom and the content of the speech is more important than the eloquence of it.

How Wisdom Can Be Known

Paul gives us the information on how we can know the superior wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 KJV 1900

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Verses 6-7 - The wisdom spoken by Paul and others is not the wisdom of the world but the wisdom of God. It was originally hidden before the world was created.

Verse 8 - Had they understood the mystery of God, the people of the world would not have crucified Jesus. Perhaps ironically, the fact that they did not rely on God’s wisdom made it possible for them to carry out the wisdom of God.

Verse 9 - Again, men did not originally know what God had in mind.

Verses 10-11 - But now the things that God did have in mind have been revealed to men by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is capable of knowing the things of God, because He is God.

Verses 12-13 - We have received from the Holy Spirit the things given to us from God, which is the wisdom of God that we speak. They are not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches.

Verses 14-15 - If a man focuses on his own wisdom, or the wisdom of man, then he will not see the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God, such as Christ hanging on a cross, will appear foolish to him.

Verses 16 - We have the mind of Christ for instruction.

How can wisdom be known? Jesus is making His teaching known with the aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the message, that Paul and others have been preaching. It is not about man’s wisdom and eloquence, it is about the wisdom of God that can be seen in Christ crucified. If we want to see the wisdom of God, we can look to Christ.

“Thus it is summarised that Corinthian wisdom was egocentric in nature, and led to exultation of those possessing it and ridicule of those perceived to be without it, resulting in division. It is against this notion that Paul presents divine wisdom which cannot be known by humans naturally but is known only by the Spirit of God. This wisdom is not esoteric knowledge but merely the proclamation of Christ crucified.” Simo Frestadius, “The Spirit and Wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:1-13,” Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (January 1, 2011): 69.

Application

The application for today might be stated in a few simple points:

It’s not about the speaker, it’s about the content. It doesn’t matter how eloquent the speaker of today might be, if his declarations are to be considered “wisdom,” they need to be found in the teachings of Jesus. It’s not about the eloquence, it’s about Christ crucified.

It’s not about the laborer, it’s about the souls. We, like Paul and Apollos, are fellow-laborers together with God. Even though we sow and water, God gives the increase. The important thing is not who taught, but who believes. The glory should not be in men, but to God.

The wisdom of God is superior to men.

The way to know the wisdom of God is through His word.

Christ is the demonstration of God’s wisdom. A poor man hanging on a cross between two thieves is a public humiliation, disgrace, and a picture of foolishness to the world who hears it preached. But to those who believe in the words of God, it is a testimony to His wisdom.

Related Media

Related Sermons