Nikhil Raj Gupta

EXPOSITION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 2: BIBLE STUDY

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2

This church was founded by Apostle Paul during his 1.5 years stay at Corinth (Making tents and ministering) about AD 50 during the 2nd Missionary journey (Acts 18) and this epistle was written by Paul himself about AD 53-57. This is perhaps the second letter to Corinthians 5:9, written by Paul.

Our teaching portion for today is chapter 2. Chapter 2 is basically an amplification of 1:18-31. 

An overarching theme could be “God’s wisdom is an antithesis to World’s wisdom”  

Six Parts in the letter:

  1. Defending Apostleship 1:1-9 Salutation 
  2. Division in the Church 1:10-4:21 Case, Cause, Cure 
  3. Decadence in the Church 5:1-6:20 Discipline immoral brother, resolving personal disputes, sexual purity
  4. Difficulties in the Church 7:1-14:40 Marriage, Liberty, Worship 
  5. Doctrine of Resurrection 15:1-58
  6. Donation 16:1-24 for Jerusalem and Greetings  

Context/Climate of Corinth:

80 km from Athens, it was an economic and cultural center with two ports. When it comes to pleasure, it was Los Vegas of the ancient world. Paul was mocked for the message of resurrection Acts 17:32. Platonism, Stoicism, Cynicism (Diogenes BC 323), and other philosophies like, syncretism shared a common view – the body is evil and the soul is good, the pursuit of superior wisdom than religions, and the importance of Rhetoric and Oratory. 

The Greco-Romans prized both “Speech” and “Knowledge” (1:5). They would hold debate competitions at Isthmian Games and their primary Education was on Philosophy and Rhetoric.

Consequently, Church was attracted to and divided over superior wisdom, rhetoric and speech, and Immorality (Disunity).

Second line leadership – Young Alexandrian Apollos (Eloquent and mighty in scripture) Acts 18:24. In whose light Paul was seen “Contemptible” 2 Cor. 10:10.

Therefore, Paul was not providing cheap anti-intellectualism but asking us to evaluate our intellectualism in the light of the Cross of Christ. If the Romans proved Paul to be a great theologian, then, the Corinthians proves him to be a great Administrator.  

Principal Cause of Division – Rhetorical Prowess (Keener)

Five Points from chap 2:

Five “M”

1. Mind of Preaching v.1-3 Christ Crucified  

2. Method of Preaching v.4-6 God’s Spirit & Power  

3. Mystery of Wisdom v.6-9 Lord of glory 

4. Means of Wisdom v.10-13 Holy Spirit 

5. Man of Wisdom v.14-16 Receives things of God

Brief Explanation:

  1. Mind of Preaching. 1-3

Paul had only one overarching theme in the heart of his message; testimony of God that is the crucified Christ. And he contrasts this with the preaching that had a goal of influencing men towards the preacher through the clever use of rhetoric and human wisdom.   

2. Method of Preaching. 4-5

Paul’s method of preaching was a demonstration of the Spirit and power in and through human weakness. So that people should not rely on human wisdom but on God. 

3. Mystery of Wisdom. 6-9

The wisdom of God was hidden from ages for our glory and was not known to rulers of this age. Because of its hidden nature this wisdom is mysterious wisdom. This is hidden wisdom was the revelation of the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ. In verse 6 Paul says that he speaks wisdom. Therefore, we must not see Paul as anti-intellectual but for some reason, Paul is resisting himself here and keeping it for mature believers. 

4. Means of Wisdom. 10-13

The means by which this wisdom got revealed is through the Holy Spirit. So all the revelations men have ever received were conveyed through the person of the Holy Spirit.  

5. Man of Wisdom. 14-16

The spiritual person is the one who discerns the things of the Spirit of God and receives the wisdom of God. Because a spiritual person judges all things before receiving and no natural man can judge him/her. And such people possess the mind of Christ. 

Why weakness, fear, and trembling?

  1. Humility Acts 14:12; 2 Cor. 10:10
  2. Intimidated 
  3. Inability 2 Cor. 10:10

Bibliology

  1. Revelation 10-12
  2. Inspiration 13
  3. Illumination 14-15

In verses 1, 4 we find a few Greek words:

Hyperochen e Sophias and Peithois logois might mean excessive importance to theatrical expressions, sophism, appearance, gestures, deep linguistic, rhetorical appeal to emotions, notations, lofty words, grammar, literature, eloquence, hyperbole, proverbs, glittering phrases, etc. 

3 Practical Lessons for Spiritual Men:

  • Don’t get attracted to the claims of superior wisdom or revelations, other than Christ Crucified. 
  • Acquire skills but depend and boast only in the Christ Jesus 
  • Don’t get attracted to the communicator (rhetoric) but the content (Christ). 

This study was given at PCG Itarsi on March 29, 2023.

Please find PPT attached here:

1-corinthians-2Download

Published by Nikhil Raj Gupta

Nikhil Raj Gupta is a pastor and a Bible teacher in Itarsi, India. Come here to find thoughts, articles, sermons and poems. In the biblical faith there is only one sovereign Creator and Redeemer: the Holy Trinity. Scripture says that, in the beginning, God spoke creation into existence, it teaches that all three persons of the Trinity were involved. The Father spoke, and nothing came into being that came into being except through God the Son, the Word (John 1), with the Holy Spirit hovering over the face of the deep (Gen 1). This picture of the transcendent and triune God acting freely to create ex nihilo (from nothing) sets the pattern for God's dealing with humanity in providence and redemption. God acts through his created agents (Exod 9:16) and with them but never in dependence upon created agents. The Bible faith, confessed by the ancient church, is that the triune God made humans in his image. It is that image-bearing status that constitutes us as human. We confess that we freely rebelled against God, violating God's law, introducing sin and death into the world. God the Son became incarnate as the Last Adam, obeyed, died, and was raised on the third day for our justification. In God's joyous transaction, our sin was reckoned to Christ and his righteousness was credited to all who believe, to all whom God has given the grace of faith. Christ committed this faith for safekeeping, administration, and proclamation to a visible, institutional community, the church.

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