5/3/10 1 Corinthians 1, 2, 3 - Errors may abound did not have time to proof.
Wisdom
There seems to be an issue of pride associated with wisdom that Paul is rebuking the Corinthian church for in the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians. The word “wisdom” occurs 17 times and “wise” occurs another nine times in the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians.
The first section of wisdom begins with a quote from Isa 29:14. If we look back to what we discovered in Isa 29:14 we understand that God through the prophet of Isaiah was giving the city of Jerusalem a strong warning. He was warning them of physical chastisement. The leaders of the city had tried to manage the city in their own wisdom. They had tried to form alliances with nations to avert destruction, and they were even trying to hide their plans from the LORD. The LORD’s message to them was that he would destroy their wisdom and craftiness.
So Paul here is warning the Corinthian church from seeking things that will distract from the message of Christ. Paul reminds them that God’s wisdom is far superior to that of the world. There is no need for them to be esteemed for their wisdom by those outside of the church. There is no need for them to be mighty according to the world’s standards. They do not need nobility for the message of the cross to be effective. There is no need to strive after these things and certainly no need to boast. Their boasting is to be found in the LORD only which Paul quotes Jeremiah 9:23. This verse in Jeremiah has the same pattern which Paul has just laid out for the Corinthians wisdom, mighty, and riches or nobility.
The second section of wisdom Paul tells the Corinthians how he came to them with the message of the crucified Christ not with superiority of speech and wisdom to make them ooh and ah, but simply Jesus and Him crucified. The simple message was given in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. He did not desire for them to follow him because of his great and marvelous wisdom, but that their faith, trust, and hope would rest upon the power of God. Yet here the Corinthian church has now become divisive surrounding words of wisdom from God’s servants and stewards of the mysteries of God as stated in 1 Corinthians 4:1.
The Corinthian church had taken their eyes of the risen Christ and put it on dying men. They had placed their hope on great words of wisdom to convince people of the message rather than in the demonstration of the Spirit and power. They have become boastful in their wisdom and the wisdom of others overlooking that any boasting can only be found in the LORD alone.
So for us what and who do we consider to be wise and full of wisdom? We must be careful not to become guilty of trusting in the wisdom of men or seek to add worldly wisdom to the simple message of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Prayer: Father, I praise you that your wisdom makes the wisdom of the nations as foolishness. The nations consider your message of salvation and redemption to be foolish, Lord open their eyes to true wisdom. Protect my heart from searching for wisdom from men who may be “wise, mighty, rich or of nobility.” I want to seek nothing more that the wisdom that is from you and that is revealed through the Spirit, for only the Spirit knows your great and marvelous thoughts. One revelation of wisdom from the Spirit to my heart is enough for me to ponder, consider, apply and consider for a considerable amount of time. Your wisdom astounds me as I read and meditate upon the Scriptures. Increase my wisdom not for the sake of wisdom, but that I may be a faithful servant and steward of the marvelous message of salvation and sanctification. Amen.