102 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:8 - The Problem with Human Wisdom - a podcast by Dr David Petts - Pentecostal preacher, former AoG Bible College Principal

Talk 4: The trouble with human wisdom (1:18-2:8)

 

Last time we identified five causes of division in the Corinthian church:

 

1. Behaving ‘only in a human way’ - like the world
2. Immaturity
3. A Celebrity culture
4. Failure to recognise church leaders for what they are – servants
5. Failure to recognise that we’re all serving the same God with the same purpose – that his church should grow.

 

Now it could be argued that #2-5 all spring from #1.

Today we will see that in Corinth this was manifested in yet another way – a dependence on human wisdom.

The main theme of 1:21-2:16 is the contrast between human and divine wisdom.

Today we’ll look at what Paul sees as the trouble with human wisdom.

Next time we’ll consider how God’s wisdom is infinitely superior.

Let’s begin by reading 1:18-20

 

18 For 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.

19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20 Where 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?

 

So we see that:

 

1 Human wisdom is foolishness to God

20 Where 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?

 

2 Human wisdom does not recognise God

21 For 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

3 Human wisdom rejects the message of the cross

22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

 

4 Human wisdom rejects Christ who is God’s Wisdom personified

 

24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

5 Human wisdom is totally different from and inferior to God’s Wisdom

 

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

 

6 Human wisdom is useless as a means of winning others for Christ

 

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,

 

7 Human wisdom is an insecure basis for our faith in Christ

 

5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

 

8 Human wisdom gets you nowhere! It leads only to death

 

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

 

18 For 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.

19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20 Where 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?

 

9 Human wisdom crucified the Lord of glory

 

7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

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