1 Corinthians 1

A Church In Strife

After the introduction and greetings, Paul begins a “General-Specific” argument in verse 10.  He says by the authority of Christ that we should live in harmony with one another.  following this general command, Paul begins giving specific reason for the command.  There is quarreling among the church (v11). People are breaking up in factions according to their favorite teachers and it is causing strife (v12).  These verses set up the context for Paul’s teaching and correction.

Paul gently reminds them that Christians are baptized in Christ alone and that Christ Himself is not divided up into factions (v13).   People do not need to pretend as though Paul, Peter, or Apollos have invented their own doctrine and now contend together to see whose is superior.  Some have even said they follow Christ’s teaching, but only within the spirit of this ongoing contention as to possess a more superior argument than the rest.  Paul reminds them he has only baptized a few (v.14-16), and good thing too, as if to say, “If superior factions in the church were supposed to be a thing, then I would have baptized many more.”

The Irony of God’s Foolishness is Wiser than Men

Pauls next statement in verse 17 transitions into the next step in his argument, but still within the bounds of dealing with their bickering.  He says in effect, “My purpose in coming to you is to draw you to Christ through the simple preaching of the Gospel.”  No antics, just Gospel preaching, so that the philosophies of the time would not spoil the power that is in Christ.”  This statement assumes the context of the time in which it was written, a time where Greek philosophies were the talk of the day.

How did the Gospel fall onto the ears of the ancient philosophers? “Foolishness!” (v.23) they would say, as they do today, but ironically in different ways.  The Gospel message whose foundation is built upon the “Logos” who created the world would be closer to the naturalistic views of atheist philosophers today.  In ancient times, many philosophies held to the existence of many gods who were personifications of natural forces, whereas in Scripture these forces are merely natural creations from the mind of Logos.  It is ironic how modern day has since flip flopped, what once was wisdom is now fable and myth, but yet attempt tries to put the Gospel into the category of myth and fable when it once led the way to a more naturalistic explanation of the world.   Do not be manipulate by those who confuse science with the philosophy of science.  To the believer, science is merely thinking God’s thoughts after Him, and Scripture should guide our scientific theories as long as our interpretation of God’s word is sound.

Why Do People Dismiss the Gospel?

It seems the true reason why anyone rejects the Gospel as “foolishness” is because the Gospel message denounces everyone as a sinner and is in need of saving, it is to them a stumbling block of offense (v23).  And when one’s pride is offended by Gospel, it is deemed as foolishness so as to not merit any further consideration by the one who is offended.  Is is like the seed which landed in the wayside, so quickly removed by the enemy from one’s heart, because the seed found no pliable earth sink into.  They dismiss the Gospel because of the offense with a false charge of foolishness when at its heart, the Gospel message delivers life and goodness.  All of this so-called foolishness is back up by infallible proofs that God is a faithful Savior of mankind, so indeed the true irony is embedded in fool who calls it foolishness (v.25)

Paul says, God has chosen to make this so-called foolishness of the Gospel to be the vehicle of His saving power (v.21-22), so that as an element of our faith, we would rely on God even when His ways so opposed the so-called wisdom of the world.  Often, tests of faith are incompatible with secular reason, otherwise it would not be considered a test.  What will one do when faced with a choice to either trust in God, or trust in human opinion?  He or she with other trust God and thus build their faith, or trust in man and shrink one’s faith.

All of this talk of wisdom and foolishness is all about of Paul’s argumentation for the immediate reconciliation between the church’s factions of strife.  The secular world has ordered themselves into factions based on their own “wisdoms” that they possess. So Paul says in effect, it is foolishness to bring such ideas into the church where only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism exists.  It is the Gospel which holds us together in the bond of unity and peace (v.30).  Everyone who partakes in the gift of holiness, right-standing with God has done so through the wisdom in Christ.  We are equal shareholders in God’s grace so that no one may boast about his own personal possession.  If there is any boasting do be done, let it not be in some divisive faction, but in the glory of Christ that we all share in (v.31).

Chapter One In Summary:

1. What is the historical background?

Paul is writing to the church he planted in hopes of settling a dispute he has heard about between the so-called factions that have arose in the church.  Paul aims to dismantle these factions and unite them together through the principles of the Gospel.

2. What are the Theological implications?

God has chosen the means of the Gospel to exhibit His wisdom for the purpose of reconciling sinful humanity to himself.  In result, boasting is removed as all are sinners and equally in need of grace.

3. How do we apply the passage to modern day people?

A principle emerges to abandon all secular philosophy where it flies in opposition to God’s wisdom.  For non-Christians, they must repent of man’s wisdom and believe the Gospel to be saved from sin and death.  And for Christians, they must continue to resist being contaminated by secular reason, apply the Gospel to their lives, and be unified together in Christ.

4. How does it point to the Gospel and Jesus Christ?

God’s wisdom incarnated in Jesus Christ.  The Gospel which unifies the church is founded upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The grace which we must commonly possess flows from His wounds.  We abandon all other logic for the Logos in which all wisdom and knowledge of the universe derives itself.