Daily Bread 2010 - n1 Corinthians 1
Daily Bread 2010 – 1 Corinthians 1
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Today, we start Paul’s first letter written to the Corinthians. Whereas the book of Romans is focused more on theology, this first letter to the Corinthians focused more on specific issues that were dividing the church. There was a saying, “to Corinthianize”, which basically meant to corrupt with bad moral character. Corinth was also a place of great philosophical debate about Truth and the meaning of life.
In this first chapter Paul confronts the Greek idea of “wisdom”. One of the prevailing worldviews of the day was “Gnosticism”, which developed into other philosophies as well. The basic tenet of Gnosticism was that one “could know” (I.e. Greek= “gnosis”) or gain secret knowledge, which would lead one to knowledge and power and ultimately being like God.
Paul confronts this first century worldview by referring to the “wisdom of God”. He makes an argument that Christ is the wisdom of God and God’s wisdom is superior to human being’s wisdom. Instead of wisdom being used to set up the power structure of the wise/foolish, God’s wisdom is displayed even in the foolishness of the world. This is Paul’s tongue in cheek way of saying that God laughs at man’s wisdom.
So what does all of this mean? It means that true wisdom comes from God and the person who thinks they can obtain this wisdom outside of God’s power is foolish. Yet the person foolish enough to humble themselves and say I am not wise in and of myself, and yet I know the key to wisdom is through God’s source, His Son Jesus Christ is truly wise. Okay that is a mouthful, but the bottom line is wisdom comes from outside of us. namely in the person of Jesus who is the Word/Wisdom of God. To know Christ is to know God’s wisdom and to follow His ways is the path of true wisdom. And this wisdom is revealed in God’s Word namely through Jesus, but also through the other inspired writings of the Old and New Testament.
Jesus, thank you for being for us the true wisdom of God. We humble ourselves in order to gain access into the mind of Christ and learn how to live according to God’s way and not man’s. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Today, we start Paul’s first letter written to the Corinthians. Whereas the book of Romans is focused more on theology, this first letter to the Corinthians focused more on specific issues that were dividing the church. There was a saying, “to Corinthianize”, which basically meant to corrupt with bad moral character. Corinth was also a place of great philosophical debate about Truth and the meaning of life.
In this first chapter Paul confronts the Greek idea of “wisdom”. One of the prevailing worldviews of the day was “Gnosticism”, which developed into other philosophies as well. The basic tenet of Gnosticism was that one “could know” (I.e. Greek= “gnosis”) or gain secret knowledge, which would lead one to knowledge and power and ultimately being like God.
Paul confronts this first century worldview by referring to the “wisdom of God”. He makes an argument that Christ is the wisdom of God and God’s wisdom is superior to human being’s wisdom. Instead of wisdom being used to set up the power structure of the wise/foolish, God’s wisdom is displayed even in the foolishness of the world. This is Paul’s tongue in cheek way of saying that God laughs at man’s wisdom.
So what does all of this mean? It means that true wisdom comes from God and the person who thinks they can obtain this wisdom outside of God’s power is foolish. Yet the person foolish enough to humble themselves and say I am not wise in and of myself, and yet I know the key to wisdom is through God’s source, His Son Jesus Christ is truly wise. Okay that is a mouthful, but the bottom line is wisdom comes from outside of us. namely in the person of Jesus who is the Word/Wisdom of God. To know Christ is to know God’s wisdom and to follow His ways is the path of true wisdom. And this wisdom is revealed in God’s Word namely through Jesus, but also through the other inspired writings of the Old and New Testament.
Jesus, thank you for being for us the true wisdom of God. We humble ourselves in order to gain access into the mind of Christ and learn how to live according to God’s way and not man’s. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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