1 Coríntios 1
Samuel Johnson · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - The last verse (25) in this section further compares “God’s foolishness” (“the foolish thing,” i.e., the crucified Christ), and “God’s weakness” (the self-effacing way of the cross) with “human wisdom” (the self-promoting, status building, rhetoric enhancing way of the world) and “human strength” (self-achievement, boastful success and self-help) that breeds the “party splits” in the community. God’s great act of self-effacement on the cross outshines anything attained or attainable by human wisdom or strength. (1 Corinthians) Related Resource: Spiritual Paradox in the Christian Life Surprised by Wisdom Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Romans 11:33 Today's Scripture & Insight: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 “It seems like the older I get, the wiser you become. Sometimes when I talk to my son I even hear your words coming out of my mouth!” My daughter’s candor made me laugh. I felt the same way about my parents and frequently found myself using their words as I raised my kids. Once I became a dad, my perspective on my parents’ wisdom changed. What I once “wrote off” as foolishness turned out to be far wiser than I had thought—I just couldn’t see it at first. The Bible teaches that “the foolishness of God is wiser” than the cleverest human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness” of the message of a suffering Savior to rescue “those who believe” (v. 21). God always has ways of surprising us. Instead of the triumphant king the world would expect, the Son of God came as a suffering servant and died a humbling death by crucifixion—before He was raised in unsurpassable glory. Sign in to track your progress! When have God’s ways left you confused? How does it help to know His ways are not our own? Heavenly Father, I praise You for the wisdom of Your ways. Help me to trust You and walk humbly with You today. Amateur Christians June 28, 2008 Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 The love of Christ compels us. —2 Corinthians 5:14 The word amateur has been redefined over the years and has lost the luster of its original meaning. The English word comes from the Latin word amore, which means “to love.” An amateur is someone who does something simply for the love of it. In today’s way of thinking, receiving payment moves you into a “higher” category—that of a professional. The reasoning is that if someone is willing to pay for your service, you must be really good. An amateur, therefore, is considered to have less skill or talent. As I read my Bible, however, I see a different hierarchy of values. During the time of Jesus, the religious professionals were using their position to gain power and prestige for themselves, not to serve the people. Jesus didn’t choose those who were wise, mighty, or noble by human standards (1 Cor. 1:26). He sought those willing to follow Him and be trained for loving service. I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —Featherstone One proof of our love for God is our love for our neighbor. D A Carson has a convicting comment on this verse in his book "The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians." Western evangelicalism tends to run through cycles of fads. At the moment, books are pouring off the presses telling us how to plan for success, how “vision” consists in clearly articulated “ministry goals,” how the knowledge of detailed profiles of our communities constitutes the key to successful outreach. I am not for a moment suggesting that there is nothing to be learned from such studies. But after a while one may perhaps be excused for marveling how many churches were planted by Paul and Whitefield and Wesley and Stanway and Judson without enjoying these advantages. Of course all of us need to understand the people to whom we minister, and all of us can benefit from small doses of such literature. But massive doses sooner or later dilute the gospel. Ever so subtly, we start to think that success more critically depends on thoughtful sociological analysis than on the gospel; Barna becomes more important than the Bible. We depend on plans, programs, vision statements—but somewhere along the way we have succumbed to the temptation to displace the foolishness of the cross with the wisdom of strategic planning. Again, I insist, my position is not a thinly veiled plea for obscurantism, for seat-of-the-pants ministry that plans nothing. Rather, I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry. Called of God, Christians have always fastened their confidence to the cross of Jesus Christ. That is why we still sing, for instance, this hymn from the Middle Ages: (Following version sung by Fernando Ortega) O sacred head! sore wounded, With grief and shame bowed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thy only crown! How pale art Thou with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish, Which once was bright as morn! What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, Was all for sinners’ gain: Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain: Lo! here I fall, my Saviour; ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favour, Vouchsafe to me Thy grace. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine for ever; And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never Outlive my love to Thee! Be near me when I’m dying, O show Thy cross to me, And, for my succour flying, Come, Lord, and set me free! These eyes, new faith receiving, From Jesus shall not move; For he who dies believing, Dies safely through Thy love. Bernard de Clairvaux (1090–1153) 1 Corinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; Amplified - For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Imagine this scene – You are a parent sending your child off on his own for the first time he is going away to college or the military or moving into his own home. The car is packed, the good-byes are said. You watch your child get into the car and drive away into adulthood. You did your best to raise him right. You taught him right from wrong. You took him to church. You kept a close watch on his decisions. Now his life is in his own hands. Now imagine a few months have gone by. You've heard from some of his friends that he has moved away from his moral and spiritual roots. He's somewhat abandoned the values you instilled in him. He's losing his testimony as a Christian. Let's say the only way you could communicate with him is to write a well-thought-out letter expressing your feelings as a parent. What would you say? How would you write such a letter? The Apostle Paul faced a similar task when he sat down to write the letter we know as 1 Corinthians. • Paul founded the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey. He spent 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:1-18), teaching them and firmly grounding them in the faith. Yet, as time went by, Paul heard some distressing news. 1 Cor. 5:9 Paul talks about “my epistle” that he wrote to them. It has been called the “lost letter.” Actually, Paul wrote letters to many churches that did not make it into the Bible. God did not see fit to allow them into His divine word.• Usually, Paul's letters contain a rather lengthy doctrinal section followed by a section of practical application. But in this letter, he weaves his doctrine in with the practical application throughout the letter. The reason for this is that Paul is dealing with one problem after another. 1 Corinthians 1:2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Wuest (Eerdmans Publishing) - (paraphrase) - to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been set apart for the worship and service of God, this act of setting apart having been accomplished by being placed in Christ Jesus and thus being in vital union with Him, consecrated ones, this consecration having been by divine appointment and summons, with all those who are calling upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. NET 1 Corinthians 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. NLT 1 Corinthians 1:2 I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. ESV 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: NIV 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: GNT 1 Corinthians 1:2 τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ, ἡγιασμένοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις, σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, αὐτῶν καὶ ἡμῶν· KJV 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: YLT 1 Corinthians 1:2 to the assembly of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all those calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place -- both theirs and ours: ASV 1 Corinthians 1:2 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours: CSB 1 Corinthians 1:2 To God's church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord-- both their Lord and ours. NKJ 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: NRS 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: NAB 1 Corinthians 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. NJB 1 Corinthians 1:2 to the church of God in Corinth, to those who have been consecrated in Christ Jesus and called to be God's holy people, with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord as well as ours. GWN 1 Corinthians 1:2 To God's church that was made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God's holy people in the city of Corinth and to people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. the church: Ac 18:1,8-11 2Co 1:1 Ga 1:2 1Th 1:1 2Th 1:1 1Ti 3:15 to those who have been sanctified: Jude 1:1 sanctified: 1Co 1:30 1Cor 6:9-11 Joh 17:17-19 Ac 15:9 26:18 Eph 5:26 Heb 2:11 10:10 Heb 13:12 called: Ro 1:7 1Th 4:7 2Ti 1:9 1Pe 1:15,16 with: Ac 7:59,60 9:14,21 22:16 2Th 2:16,17 2Ti 2:22 call: Ge 4:26 12:8 13:4-7,8-13 our Lord: 1Co 8:6 Ps 45:11 Ac 10:36 Ro 3:22 10:12 14:8,9 2Co 4:5 Php 2:9-11 Rev 19:16 See background on the ancient City of Corinth John MacArthur's excellent introduction to 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Schematic of Ancient Corinth - click to enlarge (See Acrocorinth and pix) (See another reconstruction) THE CHURCH'S PLACE IN THE WORLD AND POSITION IN CHRIST To the church of God which is at Corinth - Notice Whose church it is. Not the megachurch of pastor so-and-so, but the church of God. God "owns" the church, because He calls its members and "He purchased (it) with His own precious blood." (Acts 20:28+). Interestingly only Paul uses this phrase church of God and most uses are in the Corinthian letters (Acts 20:28; 1 Co. 1:2; 1 Co. 10:32; 1 Co. 11:22; 1 Co. 15:9; 2 Co. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; 1 Ti. 3:5) Related Resource: See Table Summarizing Paul's Ongoing Relationship with the Corinthians - 4 letters, 3 visits Notice that in this passage Paul in essence gives us a good "definition" of a genuine believer in Jesus Christ, a true Christian - A member of the church of God (the Body of Christ), Sanctified in Christ Jesus Saints by calling Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (in prayer, in worship).
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - There are a lot of different kinds of grace in the Bible: There is Saving Grace Ephesians 2:8+ There is Standing Grace Romans 5:2+ It allows us the privilege of standing up for Christ There is Singing Grace Colossians 3:16+ We sing about grace: - “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound” “Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled, By its transforming power, making me God's dear child.” Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin There is Service Grace Hebrews 12:28+ There is Sufficient (or Suffering) Grace 2 Cor. 12:9+ Norman Geisler - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:3—Does this verse prove that Jesus is God the Father, as Oneness Pentecostals believe? MISINTERPRETATION: In 1 Corinthians 1:3 we read the salutation, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (NASB). Oneness Pentecostals argue that the word and (Greek: kai) in the phrase “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” should be translated “even.” It should thus read, “God our Father, even the Lord Jesus Christ.” Translated this way, Jesus and the Father are seen to be one and the same person (Graves, 1977, 50–51; cf. Bernard, 1983, 207–11). CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: See comments on Romans 1:7. Note that the verse immediately after 1 Corinthians 1:3 points to the distinction between the Father and Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor 1:4). (When Cultists Ask) 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, Wuest (paraphrase) - I am thanking my God always concerning you, the cause of my thanksgiving being the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus. (Eerdmans Publishing) NET 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. NLT 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ESV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, NIV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. GNT 1 Corinthians 1:4 Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ δοθείσῃ ὑμῖν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, KJV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; YLT 1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus, ASV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; CSB 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of God's grace given to you in Christ Jesus, NKJ 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, NRS 1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, NAB 1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, NJB 1 Corinthians 1:4 I am continually thanking God about you, for the grace of God which you have been given in Christ Jesus; GWN 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank God for you because Christ Jesus has shown you God's good will. thank: Ro 1:8 6:17 Ac 11:23 21:20 the grace: 1Co 1:3 Joh 10:30 Jn 14:14,16,26 Jn 15:26 1Ti 1:14 1 Corinthians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR HIS GRACE This verse continues the prayer begun in 1 Cor 1:7 and extends through 1 Cor 1:8. Some would add it includes verse 9. I (continually) thank my God (my God in Ro 1:8+, Php 1:3+, Philemon 1:4) always concerning you - Paul does not say “I thank God for your faithfulness and your good behavior and that you are such nice people." The NET version tells us why he thanks God = "I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus." (1Co 1:4NET) Thank is from two words meaning "good grace," and here Paul expresses "good grace" to God for His grace which (1) is a gift and (2) is found in Christ Jesus. Paul is possessive of God (my God,cf Jesus' words - Jn 20:17) and so too should we be beloved. Paul will expand on the things he is thankful for in the Corinthians in 1 Cor 1:4-9. Thank is in the present tense so that Paul is saying (despite all the problems in the Corinthian church) that he is continually thankful to God for them! In addition the adverb always (pantote) means without exception, in all times and in all circumstances! Paul practiced what he preached when he commanded believers "in everything give thanks (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey); for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Th 5:18+). THOUGHT - MY GOD shows us the intensely personal relationship Paul had with God. God was not at a distance for Paul; He was close, He was his Father and his Friend. Not only does the believer have a right to offer prayers to God because of Jesus Christ, but also he has a right to claim God as "MY GOD" because of Jesus Christ. There is an expression "Possession is nine-tenths of the law which means that ownership is easier to maintain if one has possession of something. However because of the Gospel Paul's possession of God was 10/10th's and not of the law but of grace. Because you are in Christ Jesus Who Himself declared "My God," (Mt 27:46, Mk 15:34, John 20:17), you can rightfully and boldly speak of "my God." If this does not boggle our mind, I don't know what will! As an aside there is no thanksgiving in the introductions of 2 Corinthians or Galatians. As another aside, Paul's continual attitude of gratitude is another manifestation that he is continually filled with/controlled by the Holy Spirit because in Eph 5:20+ he describes gratitude as one manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18+) Who energizes one to be "always giving thanks (eucharisteo - present tense) for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." THOUGHT - Beloved, by Paul's "descriptive definition" of a Spirit filled believer (a continual attitude of gratitude), would you say that you are Spirit filled today? If not go to God for an "attitude check" (pray Ps 139:23-24+) and confess any shortfall (Eph 4:30+, 1 Th 5:19+, 1 Jn 1:9+, Pr 28:13+) and be filled with supernaturally empowered gratitude even in the face of the adverse circumstances and/or "adverse" people! (cf Jas 1:2-4+) Thank (2168) (eucharisteo from eucháristos = thankful, grateful, well-pleasing - Indicates the obligation of being thankful to someone for a favor done <> in turn from eú = well + charizomai = to grant, give.; English - Eucharist) means to show that one is under obligation by being thankful. To show oneself as grateful (most often to God in the NT). Eucharisteo is a word that at its very core (eu = good + charis = grace) means to acknowledge how good grace is! Eucharisteo describes a person who is depending on God’s grace moment by moment. Most ot the NT uses are by Paul and most uses rightly refer to gratitude to God! The present tense in 1 Cor 1:4 pictures this as Paul's lifestyle, a life only possible under the control of the Spirit (see comments above). Eucharisteo is also a significant word in the spiritual declension of mankind, Paul writing "For even though they knew God (NOTE - ALL MEN KNOW GOD EXISTS WHETHER THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR NOT! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TRUE ATHEIST!), they did not honor Him as God or GIVE THANKS (eucharisteo), (NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR FAILURE TO GIVE HONOR AND THANKS!) but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." (Ro 1:21+) Uses of eucharisteo in Corinthians - 1 Co. 1:4; 1 Co. 1:14; 1 Co. 10:30; 1 Co. 11:24; 1 Co. 14:17; 1 Co. 14:18; 2 Co. 1:11 Related Resource: Special Topic - Thanksgiving (Bob Utley) God's will for believers - 1 Thes 5:18+ Leon
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - 1 Corinthians) Gordon Fee says "What is remarkable here is the apostle’s ability to thank God for the very things in the church that, because of the abuses, are also causing him grief.” (The First Epistle to the Corinthians
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson on speech - probably includes more than the gift of tongues (cf. 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28-30). The Corinthians had a wide assortment of utterance gifts (see 1 Cor 14:26). Utley on speech and knowledge - These were two aspects of the Greek-oriented (later Gnostic) spiritual pride which was developing in the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Cor 13:1–3). They were glorying in their gifts and performance instead of in Christ and in the God Who gave them these very gifts. There was/is no room for human pride (cf. Eph. 2:9).The knowledge Paul is alluding to is not theoretical or academic knowledge, but Christian truth and its application to life (cf. 8–10; Ro. 14:1–15:13). Human knowledge builds up, but God’s knowledge edifies and leads to peace and harmony in the Christian fellowship. Oh how we need God’s gift of knowledge in the church today! (1 Corinthians 1 Commentary) Telford on knowledge - They knew "Truth from Error." They knew the errors of Paganism and the essentials of Christianity. They couldn't plead ignorance or inability.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Since they are a gift, they must be viewed as a trust also. To not know your gift is a tragedy; to not use your gift is a travesty! The purpose of these gifts are to Enrich the church …to Affirm the gospel … and to Confirm the Saints. Life Application Study note - The Corinthian church members had all the spiritual gifts they needed to live the Christian life, to witness for Christ, and to stand against the paganism and immorality of Corinth. But instead of using what God had given them, they were arguing over which gifts were more important. Paul addresses this issue in depth in chapters 12-14. Ray
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Paul speaks of the future life that awaits each believer. This life is not all there is. One day Jesus will come. This ought to stir our hearts. Knowing He is coming soon ought to encourage us to live blameless lives (compare 1 Jn 3:2+ with 1 Jn 3:3+)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Paul’s main point in these verses (1 Cor 1:14–16) is to defuse the bickering spirit among the factions by denying that the gospel he preached required people to be baptized in his name or in any way declare themselves to be his followers. (1 Corinthians) Keep in mind that Jesus baptized no one John 4:2 recording "Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were," for anyone baptized by Him would have been prone to pride and a better than thou attitude. And given that Paul was the founder of the church at Corinth, it would have doubtless led to pride in those who were dunked in water by him. They would say "I was baptized by the apostle Paul. Who were you baptized by -- that Alexandrian Jew Apollos?" THOUGHT - My guess is that all of us have fallen into a similar fleshly trap from time to time, saying things like "Guess who I heard in church last Sunday? Charles Swindoll." And we do so to seek at least a little "inflation" of our status with the person we are speaking. The fallen world does this all the time -- they call it "name dropping." which the dictionary says means to "mention important people as if they are one's friends or associates, usually in an attempt to receive preferential treatment." The Corinthians were in a sense "name dropping" and it was divisive. Believers need to guard against this fleshly (worldly) tendency to impress others. As John
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - It is clear that he does not here depreciate baptism; he simply puts it in its proper place, as a symbolic act pointing to the real fact of identification with Christ by faith. (1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Corinthian Dissention) Hodge on Stephanas - Stephanas was one of the three messengers sent to inform the apostle of the state of the church in Corinth and to deliver the letter to which reference is made in 1 Cor 7:1 (compare 1 Cor 16:15, 17). (1 Corinthians 1 Commentary) Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized (baptizo) any other - Paul is not saying that baptism (it is part of Jesus' commission in Mt 28:19+) was not important but that it was not his focus, for no one is saved by water baptism, but only by "baptism" into (identification with) Christ (Ro 6:3+)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - This corrective truth encourages us to avoid overemphasizing baptism in God’s economy in comparison to proclamation of the gospel message. Baptism has an important place in our response and expression of our faith. But it must not take precedence over the message of the gospel or be administered in a manner that enlists people to follow a particular person or faction within the diverse expressions of the church. (1 Corinthians) Water baptism "takes a back seat" to Gospel proclamation. THOUGHT - Francis of Assisi is credited with the saying “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” Tim Chester quips "That may be a great medieval sound bite, but it falls short of what the Bible teaches about evangelism." (Total Church) Some sources say closer to what he actually said was "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Either way, the emphasis of this popular saying is more on one's walk than on one's words. However, this saying, while conveying the important truth that our walk should be an authentic representation of our proclamation of the Gospel is somewhat misleading (and not thoroughly Biblical). Paul's words in 1 Cor 1:17 would argue against the phrase "if necessary use words." WORDS ARE NECESSARY! Our life, no matter how Christ-like, is not a substitute for the proclamation of the Gospel. We MUST always use words (THE GOSPEL), and we also must continually strive, enabled by the Spirit, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so that our walk validates our word, the truth of the word of the Gospel we proclaim. So I would change the saying slightly - "Live out the Gospel at all times, so that you may proclaim the Gospel at all times." No one will be saved by our good life, but only by the good word of the Word of Life found only in the proclaimed Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Regarding the need to speak the Gospel Paul said "for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they BELIEVE in Him Whom they have not HEARD? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” -- Ro 10:13-15+, See also how Jesus our Model to imitate began His ministry - Read Mark 1:14, 14+) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. - Romans 10:17+ Carson writes that "A first-century orator or public speaker was expected to produce carefully crafted speeches which drew attention to his skilful use of rhetorical conventions. Oratory was called ‘magic’ because it was seen to bewitch the hearers. The content of the speech was immaterial, only the performance mattered. They spoke to gain the adulation of their audiences. (New Bible Commentary) Leon
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson observes that "Here we are introduced for the first time to the Corinthians’ infatuation with wisdom and speech artistry....This cultural appetite for speech eloquence combined with an intense desire, also fostered by the social structure, to improve one’s status or honor in the eyes of others. It was desirable to advance through stages or levels of new knowledge acquisition, associated with reveling in the eloquence of speech forms, argument and emotional effect generated by orators who brought such “wisdom.”" (1 Corinthians) Not in cleverness of speech (logos = word and intelligence, words are intelligence expressed, gives us Eng "logic") - Not in "clever rhetoric." Amplified = "not with verbal eloquence." Wuest not "within the realm of philosophical discourse." Not is ouk which is the stronger Greek negative which signifies absolutely not in (literally) "wisdom of word." Cleverness is sophia a word the Greeks loved. Sophia logon "means natural wisdom expressed in words. Preaching should be in plain speech (Word centered, Spirit filled, supernatural wisdom), not clever (natural) speech.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Paul’s unstated question for the Corinthians would go something like this. How can the gospel of Christ be a form of worldly wisdom when it proclaims (message, v. 18) a crucified leader, Jesus? Isn’t such a proclamation foolishness in terms of the world’s evaluation of what counts for wisdom and knowledge? (1 Corinthians) The word (logos) of the cross (stauros) is foolishness to those who are perishing - KJV is a poor translation "the preaching of the cross," for here Paul is not describing the act of preaching but the content of preaching. That is always the most important thing in preaching. Not men with slick dialogue, but men sticking to sound doctrine. The word of the cross is the preaching of a crucified Saviour as the Sacrifice for sins (cf Jn 1:29+). The unsaved man looks at the Cross as moronic (see moria below). Contrast the cleverness of speech (logos) with the word (logos) of the Cross. They are diametrically opposed to each other. "Paul is contrasting man’s word, which reflects man’s wisdom, and God’s Word, which reflects God’s wisdom." (MacArthur) The word of the Cross is the Gospel (cf 1 Cor 15:1-7+). It is the truth that Jesus, fully God took on human flesh becoming fully Man, lived a sinless life and died on a rugged Cross to pay for the sins of those who would believe on Him is accounted as absolute foolishness (complete nonsense!) to natural (1 Cor 2:14+, cf Acts 26:24+), unregenerate, unsaved men who are perishing. Perishing (apollumi) is in the present tense which depicts Christ and Cross rejectors as those who are in the process of being ruined now (cf Jn 3:18+) and ultimately forever (eternal punishment) (cf 2 Cor 4:3 also has apollumi in the present tense). The significance of the Cross is in the spiritual truth it reveals, and this can only be revealed to a man's mind by the Spirit of God. The lost world says you are worshipping a God Who died. A crucified Messiah, Son of God, or God must seems to be contradiction in terms to anyone—Jew, Greek, Roman, or barbarian—and is foolish to the natural man. The message of the Cross is foolishness to the wonder-seeking Jew and to the wisdom-seeking Greek. -- Robertson Arnold points out that "Perhaps you can now understand a little better the way your unsaved family or friends or business associates react to you when you talk about Christ to them. You appear to be a moron!" Whenever we witness to a very self-sufficient, self-made man and tell him all of his impressive record or achievement is worth nothing in the sight of God, that it does not make him one degree more acceptable in the sight of God, that it is nothing more than wasted effort, we immediately feel the sting of the offense of the Cross. He will say, “You mean to tell me all this impressive array of knowledge and wisdom that has been accumulated for centuries, with all the great achievements of mankind in the realm of relieving human misery and the technological advances of our day, that all this is worthless and that God will not take this into account in the area of salvation. Nonsense!” (1 Corinthians 1:17-24 The Foolishness Of The Cross) As Paul says in 1 Cor 2:14+ a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness (moria) to him; and he cannot understand them, (WHY NOT?) because they are spiritually appraised. The cross stands in bold opposition to the natural man. Its philosophy runs contrary to the processes of the unregenerate mind. -- A W Tozer Albert
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - The decisive act of God in Christ’s death has brought about a reversal of the world’s values concerning status, success, self-achievement and boasting. The cross confounds all human wisdom and redefines wisdom in a new and paradoxical way. Therefore our whole way of seeing the world is turned upside down. The cross becomes the lens for an epistemological revolution, a conversion of the imagination. For anyone who grasps the paradoxical logic of this text, the world can never look the same (Hays). (1 Corinthians ) Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Wisdom or grace without the cross is what is sold on the market like a cheapjack’s wares. Cheap grace means justification of sin without the justification of the sinner, … forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline … the world goes on in the same old way … grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ” Every doctrine that is not embedded in the cross of Jesus will lead astray. -- Oswald Chambers There is not a word in the Bible, which is extra crucem, which can be understood without reference to the cross. -- Martin Luther Related Resources: Baker's Evangelical Dictionary Cross, Crucifixion Easton's Bible Dictionary Cross Fausset's Bible Dictionary Cross Holman Bible Dictionary Cross, Crucifixion Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Cross Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Cross, Cross-Bearing International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Cross Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Cross The Jewish Encyclopedia Cross Perishing (622)(apollumi from apo = away from or wholly + olethros = state of utter ruin <> ollumi = to destroy) means to destroy utterly but not to cause one to cease to exist. Apollumi as it relates to men, is not the loss of being per se, but is best understood as the loss of well-being. It means the person's life is "ruined" so that they no longer fulfill the purpose for which they were created (for man it was to glorify God)! The word of the cross promises everlasting life for the one who believes. The failure to possess this life will result in utter ruin and eternal uselessness (but not a cessation of existence). Uses in letters to Corinth - 1Co. 1:18, 19; 8:11; 10:9, 10; 15:18; 2Co. 2:15; 2 Cor 4:3, 9. Foolishness (3472)(moria from moros = foolish;' Eng = moron) is a noun which is that which is folly, foolish, intellectually weak or irrational. It means lacking good judgment. It "denotes inappropriate behaviour, thought or speech, both of single lapses of sense as well as in the sense of a permanent attribute. It is concerned as much with lack of knowledge as with lack of discernment. The use of the word for the state of mental derangement (Soph., Aj. 1150) or for a man’s behaviour when acting under the influence of his desires (Eur. Hippolytus 966; Soph., Ant. 469 f.) suggests the thought of a power which dominates man. " (NIDNTT) "The Group in Classical Greek. moros and cognates denote deficiency, e.g., physical sloth, but more especially mental dullness. " (TDNT) All NT uses by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians - 1 Co. 1:18; 1 Co. 1:21; 1 Co. 1:23; 1 Co. 2:14; 1 Co. 3:19 Zodhiates - A moron has limited ability to think logically. Lógos is the opposite of mōría; a logical person is the opposite of a moron. Illustration of foolishness - Several years ago, there was a massive volcanic explosion in the state of Washington when Mount St. Helens erupted. Sheriff Bill Closner said, “People were in the danger areas around the mountain because they refused to obey roadblocks. The bottom line is that nobody would listen.” As a result, there were needless deaths and injuries. Even though danger was physically imminent, people still refused to obey the regulations. Sin or disobedience always has consequences. If people refused to listen in the midst of dangerous circumstances like the Mount St. Helens eruption, we should not be so shocked at the depravity and stubbornness of men in spiritual matters. (Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively, Green, Michael P) A minister who faithfully proclaimed the gospel in an open-air meeting was challenged at the close by an unbeliever who stepped from the crowd and said, "I don't believe in heaven or hell. I don't believe in God or Christ. I haven't seen them." Then a man wearing dark glasses came forward and said, "You say there is a river near this place? There is no such thing. You say there are people standing here, but it cannot be true. I haven't seen them. I was born blind. Only a blind man could say what I have said. And only a spiritually blind man can say what you have said! Does not the Word of God say, 'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God'?" (Ps. 14:1). But - Term of contrast. The sharp contrast here is striking as it separates all humanity into two groups, unsaved and saved, children of darkness or children of light. There is no in between, no purgatory. Only those who perish and those who are saved. Every person is either on a sure course for eternal punishment or eternal bliss! THOUGHT - Beloved, if you are in the latter blessed group, you should stop now and have a short private praise and worship service. I fear I too often underestimate the greatness, grandeur and glory of my salvation, and that if I pondered more often the great salvation and great Savior, it would be a strong impediment against my willful sinning against Him! May our great Father grant that enabled by His Spirit we might all glory more often in our great salvation in Christ and that this would be a powerful motivation for us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord to please Him in all respects. Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen. To us who are being saved - Us is Paul and the saints at Corinth. Being saved (sozo) present tense and passive voice (divine passive = work of the Spirit) a truth which speaks of the believer's need to daily come to the Cross of Christ for power to fight the good fight of faith. This is tantamount to present tense salvation - we have been saved (justification), we are being saved (progressive sanctification and and will be saved (glorification). The Cross is the power of God which energizes and enables all three "tenses" of salvation. One is reminded of the words of Jesus regarding taking up the cross in Mark 8:34-38+ And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) himself, and take up (aorist imperative) his cross and follow (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save (sozo) his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save (sozo) it. 36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” The Old Rugged Cross On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;its shame and reproach gladly bear, So I'll cherish the old rugged, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson notes that in context Paul's quote from Isaiah 29:14 represent "God’s denouncement of the policy of the ‘wise’ in Judah in seeking an alliance with Egypt when threatened by Sennacherib.” (Wycliffe Bible Commentary) Gary Smith - They (LEADERS OF JUDAH) act contrary to the wise instructions of God. There will be no wisdom found in all the shrewd political scheming of the so-called “intelligentsia.” In every era, God’s ways are marvelous and totally beyond natural human reasoning, yet they are plainly explained for all to understand in His revelation. If people would only listen to what God says and trust Him, the disastrous results of blindness could be avoided. (NAC -Isa) Stanley Horton - Because of this hypocrisy and spiritual blindness, God will do something amazing and supernatural that will destroy human wisdom and intelligence and cause it to vanish because it is ineffective. Isaiah probably had in mind the Israelites’ trust in Egypt and their plan to rebel against Assyria....And godless people today still think they can solve the world’s problems. (Isaiah-Logion Press)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - Paul’s point that may relate to us is that those persons who are highly acclaimed by the world as the pundits, commentators, experts, pop philosophers of the day all belong to this age and are nothing in the light of God’s great act accomplished in the crucified Messiah. God has swept the pundits of this world all away with his own wisdom. (1 Corinthians) Where is the wise man? (the philosopher?) - NLT - "So where does this leave the philosophers?" One can almost envision Paul pointing his finger at the crowd of conflicting converts at Corinth asking them these three questions! Paul apparently is taking this question from Isaiah 19:12 which begins "Well then, where are your wise men?" referring "to the wise men of Egypt—the soothsayers, mediums, and wizards—who always promised but never produced good counsel." (MacArthur) The wise man is either Jew or Gentile/Greek. One is reminded of the words in Jeremiah 8:9 “The wise men are put to shame, They are dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, And what kind of wisdom do they have? Comment: Rejection of the Word of God, leaves one's wisdom empty, futile and foolish (cf Ro 1:21-22+).and this principle still holds true in our day. Arnold - What human wisdom could Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome add to God’s wisdom and His way of salvation? None. The wise man may be a general reference to secular scholars who think they have all the answers to difficult problems. (1 Corinthians 1:17-24 The Foolishness Of The Cross) Wise (4680) see sophos = clever and skillful in ability to use acquired knowledge. Where is the scribe? (the scholar?) - NLT - "So where does this leave...the scholars?" Scribe is grammateus and probably refers to the Jewish scribe (cf. Matt. 2:4; 16:21; Mark 8:31; 10:33; Acts 23:9). This question seems to relate to Isaiah 33:18 "Where is he who counts? (Septuagint = grammatikos [see grammateus below] = one who knows his letters, scholarly) Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?” NET Note explains that these descriptions in context of Isaiah 33 "refer to various Assyrian officials who were responsible for determining the amount of taxation or tribute Judah must pay to the Assyrian king." Arnold - The Jews approached wisdom and knowledge from a study of ancient writings and Scripture. This would correspond to scholarly people, men and women, of letters in our society. But what can they add to God’s way of salvation in Christ? Nothing. (1 Corinthians 1:17-24 The Foolishness Of The Cross) Scribe (1122)(grammateus from grapho = to write) was one skilled in Jewish law and theology scribe, expert, scholar (Mt 2.4). Grammateus also referred to a chief executive officer of a governmental entity such as a town official secretary, town clerk (Acts 19.35). A T
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson says Christ crucified "is the heart (ED: aka "crux") of Paul’s message and his whole understanding of God’s matchless wisdom. All else follows from this central core; without it, all else is a rabbit trail that leads nowhere, a powerless gospel. But a crucified Christ is a stumbling block to Jews." (Ibid) But - Term of contrast. The great divide. It is like the rain that falls on the Rockies, some raindrops going to the Pacific and others to the eastern rivers, and similarly this "but" presents us with the "great continental divide" between man's wisdom and God's wisdom, one message leading to eternal punishment and the other to eternal life (cf Mt 25:46, Mt 7:13, 14+, Ps 1:6+).
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - this is how Christ is to be seen by those who belong to him. God’s power is revealed in the crucified Jesus, God’s wisdom is inseparable from the cross. (1 Corinthians) but - Term of contrast. The rejection of the Gospel by Jews and Greeks is here contrasted with the reception by the called Jews and Greeks. to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (= "Gentiles" - 1 Cor 1:23) - Paul repeats called from 1 Cor 1:1-2, the verbal adjective kletos which includes the ideas of invited, welcomed, appointed and originally was used to designate those invited to a banquet (1Ki 1:41, 49). Here in 1 Cor 1:24 kletos refers to an "invitation" by God presented in the form of the proclamation of the Gospel. The called speaks of an effectual call to salvation (cf Ro 1:1,6,7, Ro 8:28, 1Co 1:2,24, Jude 1:1, Rev 17:14). The call has gone out to both Jews and Greeks, that is, to all of humanity, but only the called receive the Word of the Cross, experience the power of God and are born again. To reiterate the called are those who the Spirit of God draws to Himself, Jesus put it this way -- "No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." (Jn 6:44) And again Jesus declared “For this reason I have said to you, that no one (oudeis = absolute negation) can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” (Jn 6:65). As called is used by Paul (and Jude and John) the called are those who have heard the preaching of the Gospel and responded to it by exercising saving faith. In this understanding the called are virtually synonymous with "the elect" (see Who are the elect of God? | GotQuestions.org) Jack Arnold on the called - In the word “called” we have the key to Christianity. This refers to the sovereign, efficacious, irresistible call of God to salvation. (1 Corinthians 1:17-24 The Foolishness Of The Cross) Called (2822) see previous note on kletos Related Resources: See Note above for 13 Scriptural truths that relate to the called What is the effectual calling/call? | GotQuestions.org Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God - Earlier Paul said the Word of the Cross was the power of God (1 Cor 1:18+). Christ is the Word (Jn 1:1+), the Word of God (Rev 19:13+), and thus the Word of the Cross is the word about the Word and it is a Word energized by the power of God. As Schreiner says "The message of the cross transforms those who are called, and what is identified as foolishness, according to the world, is embraced as wisdom by those who belong to God." James describes the wisdom of God which as "from above (and) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits (ED: ONE "GOOD FRUIT" IN CONTEXT OF 1 CORINTHIANS IS TO MAKE A SINNER A SAINT = " a kind of first fruits among His creatures." James 1:18+), unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (Jas 3:15-18+) This godly wisdom is made available to godless men through the God-Man, Christ Jesus. Leon Morris on power of God - Those called know that the crucified Christ means power. Before the call they were defeated by sin; now there is a new power at work in them, the power of God. (cf Ro 6:11-14+, Ro 6:17-18+, Ro 8:13+) (Full text of "1 Corinthians TNTC Leon Morris") John
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - To further bolster his case against human wisdom and achievement as the way for Christians to express their faith in Christ, Paul points to the social composition of the redeemed community in Corinth as it was when he wrote. (Ibid) Queen Elizabeth I, who was a Bible-believing, Christ-loving Christian said that she never read this verse without stopping and praising God for the fact that she, cultured and a person of power and noble birth, was among the “not many” who were called by God for salvation. Ray
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson says "For introduces the “unanswerable argumentum ad hominem” (ICC, p. 24). “Why, look at your own ranks, my brothers,” is Moffatt’s rendering. A glance at their own church would prove Paul’s point, for there were not many of the wise and mighty among them."
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - God did not call them to be his people because they were acclaimed, influential or elite in the eyes of the world. Why would they now want to make social status the criterion of spirituality and create factions around their self-achieved status improvement? (1 Corinthians)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - God's Calling is not According to Intelligence. Why? Because those who are wise after the flesh have a tendency to think independently of God. Greek culture placed high value on learning and wisdom; yet, as you look around, most saved folks don't fit the category of “wise according to the flesh”. Many who fit in the category “wise according to the flesh” reject the gospel of Christ because their worldly wisdom is too great a barrier for faith. When I think of foolish people that God uses, I think of Billy Sunday (or Wikipedia), one of the greatest who ever lived, but was certainly no brilliant intellectual. He was not highly educated. He would sometime break a chair over the pulpit in illustrating a point. Other times he would glide across the stage as if he were sliding into home plate to illustrate going to heaven. One biographer called Billy Sunday, “God's joke on the ministry.” One night he began to preach “hell hot, heaven sweet, sin black, judgment sure and Jesus saves,” and the power of God fell. Hundreds came during the invitation. One who came forward that evening was an old man with a long white beard. He was standing near the platform when he have his heart to Jesus. For some reason, Billy was fascinated by the man's beard and couldn't take his eyes off it. Finally, temptation got the better of him. He went over to the edge of the platform, bent over, grabbed that man's beard, pulled it and said, “Honk, honk!” Yet, God used him to win over a million souls to Jesus. (Billy Sunday quote - "I want to preach the gospel so plainly," he said, "that men can come from the factories and not have to bring a dictionary.")(Sermon)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - The mighty like to work independently of God. The word “mighty” means “dynamic, powerful or popular people. The mighty are often too self-reliant. They have difficulty humbling themselves before God or anyone else. (Sermon) Not many noble (eugenes) - Paul alludes to those who were "high born," aristocratic, of noble pedigree, affluent, great wealth and influence, and high social standing. As Spurgeon said "There are a few such. The Countess of Huntingdon who had been converted under the street preaching of Roland Hill, a flaming evangelist, used to say that she was very thankful for that letter “m,” for it does not say “not any noble,” but “not many noble are called.” One thinks of Jesus' words "Blessed are the poor (ptochos - beggars, paupers) in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." (Mt 5:3+). For this truth, we praise God, for most of us were far from being in the "noble" class (yours truly included!) D A Carson - This is a point that our generation cannot afford to ignore. Why is it that we constantly parade Christian athletes, media personalities, and pop singers? Why should we think that their opinions or their experiences of grace are of any more significance than those of any other believer? When we tell outsiders about people in our church, do we instantly think of the despised and the lowly who have become Christians, or do we love to impress people with the importance of the men and women who have become Christians? Modern Western evangelicalism is deeply infected with the virus of triumphalism, and the resulting illness destroys humility, minimizes grace, and offers far too much homage to the money and influence and “wisdom” of our day. (The Cross and Christian Ministry- Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians) ILLUSTRATION "SAVED BY THE LETTER 'M'" - A noblewoman once told the great Methodist preacher John Wesley that she was saved by an “m.” When
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson adds that "God in fact called them to himself in that very low social condition, those who were not worthy of the world’s attention (foolish, weak, lowly, despised nobodies), in order to show his love for the unworthy, the undeserving, those who could not claim any self-help or status (from the world’s viewpoint). In a deliberate strategy God chose these “nobodies” for shaming the wise, the strong, the “somebodies” by human standards. So the grace message of the cross is contradictory to the Corinthian believers’ seeking now to be upwardly mobile for spiritual reasons....In Roman society your value was determined by your education, wealth and breeding. Paul shows that you cannot become an insider in the world’s status game by becoming a Christian, but you can become an insider in God’s eyes by finding your status in Christ (1 Corinthians) Ben Witherington says that "Salvation in Christ is not a human self-improvement scheme, but a radical rescue from a form of slavery out of which one cannot earn or buy one’s way. Paul must establish this theology of grace at the very outset of his arguments because it is on the basis of that theology that he will undercut all factors that promote factionalism. Grace is not only the great unifier but also the great leveler in the Christian community, which if taken seriously nullifies the importance of all cultural devices used to create social stratification. It can also stifle rivalries about and between Christian teachers, since it makes possible the rejoinder, “was Paul (or Apollos or whoever) crucified for you?” (Commentary) Related Resource: Spiritual Paradox in the Christian Life
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson says "There is no greater demonstration of the power of God than when God takes nobodies and makes somebodies out of them." “God chose nothings to make nothings out of the somethings. He chose nobodies to help the somebodies to realize they are nobodies too.” We know from history that many of the first century believers were among the the base things of the world for many were slaves (cf Php 4:22+), despised among men but welcomed with open arms by Christ followers. They were considered as chattel, as living tools by the wealthy, but living souls by the worshipers of Jesus! They had no earthly hope, could be bought and sold on a whim, were regularly beaten (often to the point of death), and even their children were not their own. And yet many among these despised and hopeless souls found a heavenly hope in the life transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ. THOUGHT - You may have been told that you would never amount to anything (ED: MY STEP-FATHER NEVER USED MY GIVEN NAME, CALLING ME "BOY" AND TELLING MY MOTHER "HE WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING." - SEE MY TESTIMONY). Maybe you have grownup feeling that you were worthless. I have good news for you. God can use you. (Lowell Johnson) ADDENDUM - If you have been verbally abused by a parent or some other authority figure, telling you that will never amount to anything, then you need to seriously consider the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because Paul writes that when you hear and receive the Gospel and are born again you become God's "workmanship (masterpiece! - poiema), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph 2:10+). Related Resource: Believers Are God's Masterpiece, His Poiema Chosen (1586) see note above on eklego Despised (1848)(exoutheneo from ek = an intensifies + outhenéo = bring to naught) is a strong verb which means to despise someone on basis that it is worthless or of no value. To consider as nothing. To treat someone contemptuously as if completely worthless, despicable, or of no account. So that (term of purpose) He may nullify (katargeo) the things that are - NLT picks up the idea rendering it "used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important." The things that are refers to those things to which the lost world ascribes value (wisdom, power, noble birth). They regard these things of "value." God says they are without efficacy and totally useless in regard to bringing about the salvation of one's soul. God will nullify, , cancel, bring to naught this worldly wisdom.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - This is God’s ultimate purpose in the proclamation of the gospel of the crucified Christ: to overthrow all human claims of achievement, all boasting in one’s human success and acclaim in participating in God’s wisdom and power (salvation), to highlight the glory of grace as sheer gift. Arnold - Election makes man nothing and God everything, and this is why God elects some to salvation. Election makes God Creator and man the creature. Not one single boast can be made by man if he is saved, for it all came by God’s grace. God will not have any man who is a braggart or a boaster about what he has done for God. No man can stand in God’s sight and attribute his conversion to his own wisdom, birth, might, station in life, good works, human will or even his faith. Salvation is all of God; it is supernatural; it is gracious. While it is true that God chooses some to salvation, let us remember that in our evangelism we are not trying to bring men to Calvinism but to Christ, and then, hopefully, we can bring them to an understanding that salvation is the direct result of God’s sovereign purposes. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Gods Call To Salvation) There were two students, Dick, and Tom. Dick was a strong Calvinist who was trying to reach Tom for Christ. In his witness, Dick, told Tom all about the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed faith and tradition, giving him the whole Calvinistic ball of yarn. Finally, Tom came to Dick with great seriousness of purpose and said, “Dick, I'm ready to make the big decision. I have decided to ask John Calvin into my heart!” Paul echoes this truth in his famous passage on salvation... For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (kauchaomai). (Eph 2:8-9+)
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - The new wisdom from God is Jesus Christ himself, who has become for Christian believers their righteousness, holiness and redemption...These realities reverse our low estate in social terms of the world; instead of weakness there is now righteousness (acquittal), instead of being despised there is holiness (acceptance into God’s intimate fellowship), and instead of nothings (nobodies) we become the redeemed, holy people of God. Glorying in these divine gifts is the only “boasting” of any ultimate value. (1 Corinthians) This passage is one of the beautiful descriptions of our Lord Jesus Christ. He mentions wisdom first because that was the attribute so prized by the Greeks. Paul is saying their Source of true wisdom is from on high in the form of a Person, Christ Jesus. It was from God indicating it was His sovereign pleasure to give them this divine wisdom. The scientist can merely tell us the "how" of things but the Christian knows the "why" for he has the wisdom from God. And righteousness - Amplified = "[thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God]," Righteousness describes the standing or status of these sinful saints (divisions, immorality, lawsuits, etc) before God, a status only obtained from and found in Christ, the Righteous One. When we are justified by faith, God declares us righteous (our position forever in Christ), doing so at a moment in time. Righteousness in simple terms describes all that God is, all that He commands, all that He demands, all that He approves, all that He provides through Christ as effected by His Spirit. When one believes in Christ, he is immediately justified (DECLARED RIGHTEOUS) by faith, declared righteous and clothed with the righteousness of Christ (cf Gal 3:27+). Jack Arnold on righteousness - This is positional righteousness not experiential and is given to the Christian at the moment of conversion. We actually receive the righteousness of Christ and on the basis of this righteousness (which we do not feel or experience) we are declared righteous before God (justification). This is a word used in a court when someone who is guilty is cleared of charges by the judge. This righteousness allows God to declare a person righteous in His sight and this makes him or her acceptable to God. The unsaved person thinks he has to work for righteousness and do things which will impress God because he feels guilty. But the Bible says Christ is our righteousness. So often Christians do not understand positional righteousness and they still try to impress God so He will accept them. Our new wisdom is that Christ is our righteousness and we are acceptable to God because of Him, not because of ourselves. “God made him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him (Christ) we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21+). (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Gods Call To Salvation) John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress said, "My righteousness has been in Heaven for 1800 years. Christ is my righteousness.” Psychoanalysts try to tell us how to be right with each other but only Christ Jesus shows us how to be right with God and when we are right "vertically," we are much more likely to be right "horizontally" (with our fellow man, our spouse, etc). Righteousness (1343)(dikaiosune from dikaios= just, righteous = root idea of conforming to a standard or norm) is derived from a root word that means “straightness.” It refers to a state that conforms to an authoritative standard or norm and so is in keeping with what God is in His holy character. Righteousness is a moral concept. God’s character is the definition and source of all righteousness. God is totally righteous because He is totally as He should be. The righteousness of human beings is defined in terms of God’s. Righteousness in Biblical terms describes the righteousness acceptable to God and thus which is in keeping with what God is in His holy character. Rightness means to be as something or someone should be. In short, the righteousness of God is all that God is, all that He commands, all that He demands, all that He approves and all that He provides (through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the perfectly Righteous One.). In the OT God's character is described as righteous. The Mesopotamian term comes from a river reed which was used as a construction tool to judge the horizontal straightness of walls and fences. God chose the term to be used metaphorically of His own nature. He is the straight edge (ruler) by which all things are evaluated. This concept asserts God's righteousness as well as His right to judge. And sanctification - NIV = "our holiness.".Sanctification in this context is not ongoing sanctification (progressive sanctification - present tense salvation), but is the state of saints, their (our) permanent position in Christ as Paul has described in 1 Cor 1:2+ when he said the Corinthians were sanctified (hagiazo - see note on v2). The main idea of sanctification is those set apart from the lost and dying world, to serve the living God.
1 Coríntios 1
Johnson - The passage has been moving toward this climax of finding our ground of boasting not in our own achievements of learning, wealth and status improvement but in God’s grace expressed through the crucified Christ. Since all Christians possess this priceless worth and status, there is no need to compete for honor by forming factions around our favorite speakers. All such is contrary to the realities of God’s great reversal of human wisdom found in the crucified Savior. (1 Corinthians) Boasts...boast (exult, glory) (2744) kauchaomai akin to aucheo = boast + euchomai = pray to God <> auchen = neck which vain persons are apt to carry in proud manner) means to boast over a privilege or possession. The idea is to take pride in something. Uses in the letters to the Corinthians (especially the second letter) - 1 Co. 1:29; 1 Co. 1:31; 1 Co. 3:21; 1 Co. 4:7; 2 Co. 5:12; 2 Co. 7:14; 2 Co. 9:2; 2 Co. 10:8; 2 Co. 10:13; 2 Co. 10:15; 2 Co. 10:16; 2 Co. 10:17; 2 Co. 11:12; 2 Co. 11:16; 2 Co. 11:18; 2 Co. 11:30; 2 Co. 12:1; 2 Co. 12:5; 2 Co. 12:6; 2 Co. 12:9