1 Corinthians 2

1. What is the historical background?

The purpose of Paul’s letter is highly situational, so the student must be aware of the “precise” background of the letter in order to interpret properly.  The church as broken itself up into factions following their favorite teachers.  From Paul’s point of view, the people are entrapped themselves using worldly insight and “wisdom” to defend the faction they belong to.  Paul is going to contrast God’s wisdom with worldly wisdom.  He is going to say the simple truth of one man dying to save the world is judge incredibly ignorant by the world.  Paul intentionally avoided a certain kind of eloquence to deliver a plain message of the crucified Savior, that the resulting salvation would not be accredited to Paul’s savvy choice of words, but the power of God to convict and transform. (vv1-5).

The world judges a crucified Savior to be foolish because they do not have the Spirit revealing this mystery to them, Paul says (6-10). This mystery has from the beginning of time (vv7) been elevated beyond the reach of man’s capacity to understand it, until it was given in revelation through the Holy Spirit.  This key that unlocks the mystery gives the believer sight to judge everything in the world in the light of God’s coming kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ (vv 11-16).

2. Theological Question: What does the passage speak about God?

God had a secret plan from the beginning which is now revealed in Christ and the Gospel v7.

The wisdom of the Gospel is contrary to the wisdom of the world and incites the world’s ridicule v8.

The Gospel is “spiritual understanding” of how the world will finally be settled, therefore those without possession of the Holy Spirit do not have the means to understand, to them it will judged as “foolishness”.  But for those who possess the Holy Spirit will be able to judge the value of things in the light of Gospel and according the Lord’s direction v14.

3. How is the passage fulfilled in Christ?

Themes: The wisdom of God is the most visible in the cross of Christ.  God has prepared good things for His people in Christ v9.  And no one has instructed God how to do so v16.  When a person is in Christ, they receive the Spirit of God, enabling them to understand God’s will and revelation.

4. How do we apply this passage to our modern lives?

Because God has given us His revelation in Christ, we must use the wisdom of God to make decisions on the implications of the risen Lord.  Paul specifically meant for the Corinthians to recognize they all belong to God, rather than their artificial factions.  Paul would have them forsake this worldly wisdom that causes them to look at outward qualities, and rely on God’s wisdom which simply trusts God with humility.

Which source of wisdom do you most often employ?  Do you look at your life and decide the value of a thing based on it’s strength?  Do you find yourself unsatisfied unless you have the best?  Are you able to recognize God’s hand in utilizing the inferior things of the world?