I Corinthians 2 God’s Wisdom

I Corinthians 2:1-5 – Paul’s Preaching – a demonstration of the power of the gospel What are you looking for in a sermon? What do your friends look for in a sermon? What kinds of preaching did the Corinthians admire? What characterized Paul’s preaching in Corinth? What did each of Paul’s sermons center in? Why was Paul’s preaching successful?

Acts 20: From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.a Be shepherds of the church of God,b which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.ab 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

compare … how Paul preached in Ephesus (Acts) and he he described his preaching in the following slide in 2 Corinthians, with the description of his preaching in 1 Corinthians 2. What common theme seems to runs through all his preaching?

2 Corinthians 6: Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Expanding on the text What is the place of scholarship and of pulpit eloquence in the pastoral ministry? Why should we be thankful that our salvation does not rest on men’s wisdom? What should we look for in a sermon? How do we “grade” a sermon as good or bad or mediocre?

I Corinthians 2:6-10 What was the wisdom Paul preached to the Corinthians? How did the crucifixion prove the inability of natural man to know God’s wisdom? How did the hidden wisdom of God become known? Why is the Spirit able to reveal God’s wisdom to us? In what manner did he reveal it? Why can’t someone who is unspiritual judge someone who is spiritual?

I Corinthians 2:10b-16 How does vs 13 add to your understanding of verbal inspiration? In what section of the Small Catechism would you find an explanation of verses 14 & 15. Why? Show that our Christian judgment of the world is superior to the judgment of even the most intelligent and perceptive man of the world.

Compare the scriptures re. inspiration Acts 1:16 - and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 2 Ti 3: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Pe 1:21 - For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Compare the scriptures – re inspiration What are the main features of inspiration? What does 1 Corinthians 2:13 add to these presentations? What is meant by verbal inspiration? How does the Biblical teaching of inspiration affect the way we intrepret the Bible?

Expanding on the text How does this section demonstrate that the Christian religion is a divine revelation not only to man, but in man? Show that our Christian judgment of the world is superior to the judgment of even the most intelligent and perceptive people of the world. Many times in the book of Proverbs King Solomon wrote, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” How does your understanding of Paul’s words here help you to understand what King Solomon meant?

On the basis of I Corinthians 2 explain what’s wrong with each statement “There’s a little bit of good in everyone, you just have to look a little harder for it in some than in others.” “Simple minded people are Christians.” “I like sermons that tell me how I can make a difference in the world.” The secret to spiritual growth is to pray harder.