Chap. 2 Outline
- 2:1-5 - Christ crucified
- 2:6-9 - Wisdom
- 2:10-13 - Revealed
- 2:14-16 - Natural Man
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
V. 1 - “When I came to you” - Paul was in Corinth at least twice, in his second and third missionary journeys (about 51-52 A.D., and 55 A.D., respectively). He spent about 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11), left there to go to Ephesus where he lived for three (3) years.
“I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom” - It would have been relatively easy for Paul to debate - having been a student of a famous rabbi teacher, Gamaliel, a Pharisee. He spent years studying the Law, debating. I am pretty sure Paul could have out-argued anyone, anywhere.
V. 2 - “I determined to know... Jesus Christ” - After Paul’s encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-10), he went to Arabia to be taught about and by Jesus. Paul says elsewhere that he was there about three years (See: Gal. 1:17). This portion of Paul’s life does not seem to be clearly defined, other than he spent some time in the Sinai of Arabia, came back and then went to Damascus for three years. There may have been about six years between Paul’s conversion on the road and when his missionary ministry got into full swing. After that, it was event filled! (See: Acts 13-28.) This is an amazing declaration! Paul the primo debater, skilled in arguing fine points of the Law, forgoes all that and focuses on one person: Jesus Christ.
“Him crucified” - Paul taught the message he himself was taught by God (“proclaiming the testimony of God.” - (1 Cor 2:1). God taught - from Abraham to Moses to Jesus - that sin could only be covered by the death of an innocent. From Moses’ time up until the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, sins were forgiven by a sin offering, burnt on the altar in the Tabernacle or temple. The sacrifice of the lamb or goat or bull was for sins committed.
Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, sinless. He died for our sin - not sins, the things we’ve done - but because of our sin nature, inherited from Adam and Eve.
V. 3 - “weakness... fear... trembling” - Paul was not over-confident. He was determined to rely on God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. Why would he fear? Paul did not fear the Lord, but may have feared failing to preach the message of salvation in Christ clearly. (See: 1 Cor. 3:13, 15:1; Acts 15:7; Rom. 1:16) I believe Paul feared failing to preach and teach adequately the salvation through Jesus Christ. He did not want to fail in his calling.
V. 4 - “my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom” - Paul’s goal was to show who Jesus Christ is. Many people have no knowledge of Jesus Christ. Some only know him as swear-word phrase. Some have never even heard the words, “Jesus Christ”. He had no plans to debate the relative merits of one religion over another (which was part of his formal training). Jesus came to offer you a better life, a better hope, future and not calamity. I love the verse from Jeremiah, “ ‘For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.’ ” (Jer. 29:11) And Peter tells us to share the hope that is in us! (1 Pet. 3:15) “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
”demonstration of the Spirit and of power” - The power of the Holy Spirit, working in lives is the best witness.
V. 5 - “your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men” - The wisdom of men has given us the Greek and Roman gods, the Hindu gods, the Buddha’s godless faith, social justice warriors, worship of nature but not nature’s God, political parties, feminism, and a worship of science.
“Power of God” - Salvation comes from God, not by man’s efforts or deep thoughts. We cannot work our way to God; we cannot generate the faith unless He calls us. God calls to our hearts and minds. We can respond in faith or not; we do not need to generate the faith, nor can we generate the faith - it is a gift from God. See the following:
“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.” (2 Chron. 20:6)
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” (Job 12:13)
“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God.” (Psa. 62:11)
“You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” (Psa. 68:35)
“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” (Psa. 77:14)
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.” (Dan. 2:20)
Jude, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ catches all of that in this wonderful doxology, (one of the most beautiful verses in the Scripture):
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24, 25)
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