1 Corinthians 2:1–15

Bible Studies for Life
Chair and Armstrong Professor of Religion, Samford University

Wise 

1 Corinthians 2:1–15
Information is one of the key words of today. We are overwhelmed with demands for information and we want it immediately. Yet information is one thing — knowledge, understanding and wisdom are another. 

Human Wisdom (1–8)
Paul is in no way opposed to human knowledge. If we believe that all truth is God’s truth, then there is no aspect of human knowledge that cannot benefit human beings. 

However, Paul distinguishes between a dependence upon human knowledge and the manipulation of human wisdom with what he considers the foundation of true wisdom — Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Although Paul may be using hyperbole to make his point, it is clear that he considered the preaching of the crucified and risen Jesus as the central truth of Christianity, the foundation of the life of Christian community. In a church which was often divided over the quality of its leaders with individual groups saying, “I am of Paul … I am of Cephas … I am of Apollos” Paul believed the common ground of their fellowship was not human eloquence or wisdom but the cross which brought them all to the same level of sinners saved by grace.

Paul was quite willing to admit that in terms of human wisdom he often came across as a not very gifted speaker. He was not diffident about admitting his insecurity and inadequacy. He knew the important thing about preaching the gospel was not primarily the eloquence of the preacher but rather the focus of the message — pointing toward Jesus as the only hope of salvation. This is the way of wisdom that the world rejected and yet, in nailing our Lord to the cross, in a paradoxical way, fulfilled the purposes of God.

God’s Wisdom (9–11)
Paul stresses the fact that the wisdom of God is beyond our human comprehension. Without the ministry of the Holy Spirit we will never fathom the mind of God or discern the depth of His love toward us. 

Paul specifically refers to the wonderful nature of our Christian hope and tells us that our most wonderful conception of what God has prepared for His people will always fall short of what actually awaits us. This reminds us of two important truths. First of all as Christians we walk by faith and not by sight. We live not on the basis of what we can see or hear but on the foundation of faith that believes the promises of God and lives in the present in the light of the glory that is to come. Secondly we must ask God for more and more insight into His loving purposes for us here and now as well as for the future. 

Discerning the Difference (12–16)
Paul distinguishes between two types of Christians in these verses — those who are influenced by the standards of the world and those who are led and guided by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells all Christians, but not all of us live our lives guided by His principles and open to His direction. Sadly there are many Christians in the modern church who are Spirit-poor. 

A.W. Tozer put it this way: “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.”

Paul and the early church were Spirit-rich. They emphasized the need to allow God’s gift of the Spirit to work within our hearts, to become the One who leads, guides and empowers our lives both individually and corporately. Thus we pray the words of this song:

Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me
Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me
Fill me anew
Fill me anew
Spirit of the Lord
Fall afresh on me