Mariano Galvez University

Hershey Medical Center

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV) 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;     the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Literary Structure Chiasmus (Latin term from Greek χίασμα, "crossing", from the Greek χιάζω, chiázō, "to shape like the letter Χ") is the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the clauses display inverted parallelism.   A B B2 A1 24…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Structure of 1 Corinthians I Letter Opening (1.1–9) II True and False Wisdom and Corinthian Factionalism (1.10–4.17)  A .Factions in the Community (1.10–17) B .Negative Treatment: The Wisdom of this World (1.18–2.5) C .Positive Treatment: The Wisdom of the Cross and the Spirit (2.6–3.4) D .Application to the Church, Ministers and Ministry (3.5–4.17) III ‘Flee Sexual Immorality’ and ‘Glorify God with your Bodies’ (4.18–7.40)  A. Negative Treatment: ‘Flee Sexual Immorality’ (and greed 31)(4.18–6.20) B. Positive Treatment: ‘Glorify God with Your Bodies’ (7.1–40)   IV ‘Flee Idolatry’ and ‘Glorify God’ in Your Worship (8.1–14.40)  A. Negative Treatment: ‘Flee Idolatry’ (Food Offered to Idols) (8.1–11.1) B .Positive Treatment: ‘Glorify God’ in Your Worship (11.2–14.40)  V The Resurrection and Consummation (15.1–58)  VI Letter Closing (16.1–24)

Main elements of the letter: Wisdom Unity Sexuality Worship Resurrection

Social Context Gospel Preaching Wisdom Christ the Power of God Unity “The problems Paul addresses in I Cor. point to the infiltration of the Corinthian social values into that city´s church.” Roy E. Ciampa (The Structure and Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Biblical Jewish Approach (pg. 209) ) Gospel Preaching Wisdom Wisdom Solution Social Context Christ the Power of God Unity Sexuality Worship Unity Worship Resurrection

The logic of Paul underlying I Corinthians Romans 1:21-28 Thess 1:9-10 Romans 15:5-16 I Corinthians Paul calls for unity Disunity Failure to glorify God Wisdom (Lack of wisdom) (1:10-4:17)   Leads to sexual so ethical problems Sexual Immorality immorality may be resolved (4:18-7:40) and idolatry converted from Idolatry idolatry (8:1-11:1) to worship the so that believers may Worship of God one true God glorify God (11:2-14:40) and wait for the and hope in his Son Resurrection resurrected Lord (15:1-589)

To summarize, In writing this letter, Paul´s big goal is that the Gentile believers from Corinth will not be prevented from worshipping the true God.   Since they live in a society where the values of disunity, sexual immorality, and idolatry are promoted, only a valid understanding of what true wisdom is will prevent them from falling into those snares and enable them to be ready for when the resurrected Lord returns.