1 Corinthians 1-2

Paul's letter to the Christians of Corinth begins with a thanksgiving, but judging by the problems outlined in this letter, one has to wonder just how thankful Paul was feeling at that moment! Yes, they were believers, but they were so incredibly immature. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they have it all -- there is no spiritual gift they do not have, they have been enriched in every way. But there are problems to be sure and Paul begins by addressing the divisions within the Corinthian church.

The divisions seem to be almost about spiritual fathers. Only some have figured out that it is Jesus whom they are to follow. Peter and Apollos and Paul and others have been used by God to bring people in Corinth to faith, but some have a devotion beyond the place they should to mere men. Paul rightly points out that Christ was not divided. He taught unity. Paul is glad he hadn't been called to baptize, although he did baptize a few there in Corinth. I wonder the significance of Paul's call to preach, not to baptize. He is an evangelist, not a shepherd.

Paul says that he's not called to use the words of human wisdom to preach the Gospel so that God's power will be all the more apparent. However my mind goes to Paul at Mars Hill, reasoning with the wise scholars of Athens. Of course the scholars didn't think much of Paul's "wisdom" and Paul calls attention in 1:18-25 that the Gospel will sound foolish to those who do not believe. It won't make sense to them. Christ is a stumbling block to Jews who are looking for "signs" or apparently some huge revolution or political upheaval with the coming of Messiah. Christ is a stumbling block to the Greeks because the Gospel seems too easy. Yet what man considers wisdom is elementary foolishness to God.

Paul points out that most of the believers there were of a low social standard before accepting Christ. But Christ is using them to shame those who are infatuated with their own abilities and status. The boasting is not in the wonderful head start the people of the church already had -- they didn't have much of anything. The boasting should be in the Lord. Even Paul, when he first came to Corinth, didn't come with anything more than the testimony about Christ and His crucifixion and what that means to us all. Paul's preaching wasn't persuasive, but God displayed
His power so that all should know it wasn't Paul saving anyone, but God.

Yet the Gospel really is wise. But this wisdom is beyond our knowing. Had the chief priests had been able to understand, Christ would not have been crucified (at least not by them). The only way we can understand God is through the gift of the Holy Spirit. God's wisdom is only discerned spiritually. We are all but gnats without wisdom compared to the incredible wisdom of God.