1Corinthians 1: 22 : “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom..”
Paul knew well, Greeks need wisdom…that’s what they are interested in. Jews, they need a sign, miracles, and mighty things…not the message of the cross…
But Paul preached…no wisdom…cf. v. 12 ‘we preach Christ crucified’. Cf. 2: 1, 2, 4
Purposely Paul avoided it just like he refused to give baptism…But Corinthians did not understand the spiritual perspective of Paul..But when others came with such wisdom with eloquent preaching…They compared Paul with those new preachers…that resulted in division. So, their love for wisdom…human philosophy is one of the major reasons…for trouble …Sensing the severity of the problem Paul elaborates this issue further up to the last verse of chapter 2!
So, in this long passage Paul explains: -
The characteristics of the human wisdom and the wisdom of God.
What is Human wisdom? V. 20c
Then, the ideology, teachings, imaginations of the thinkers of that time…
Today…it’s all kinds of knowledge…’knowledge explosion’....Knowledge acquired by learning…language, history, science, religious, philosophy, etc.
Knowledge acquired by experience – various skills, skills to drive, communicate, entertain, etc...
Ob: emphasis is on finding God, solving human spiritual problem with this wisdom.
What is Wisdom of God? V. 21a
Cf. v. 24b – Christ – and all the other related truths for the salvation of man…revealed in the scripture.
The information, knowledge that coming from God such as the message of the cross. V. 18, crucified Christ…etc…
How should we / believers view Wisdom of this world & wisdom of God?
Just as it was an issue in the Corinth assembly, today also…much more...We need to know where to draw the line between human wisdom and God’s wisdom.
Then and now…there is a satanic effort to corrupt the church by mixing both…Clear understanding helps us to be healthy spiritually individually as well as collectively.
Characteristics of human wisdom - philosophy:-
i. Wisdom of words. V.17b.
Depends on eloquent, persuasive presentation etc. It is oratory and argument to give entertainment to the ears!
Illus: Literature / Literary get-togethers in North India. Poets, writers, thinkers perform…contribute…interesting to listen…Mostly, the power / beauty of speech comes from the usage of words, phrases etc..
ii. Wisdom of the wise. V.19.
Thoughts and ideas of man…experts
iii. Wisdom of the world. V.20.
The origin is of the world
The use / relevance of this wisdom also of the world / age – if at all there is..
It has no permanent value.
iv. Confused wisdom. V.17c. ‘lest cross of Christ should be made of no effect”
Paul deliberately avoided philosophy because it robs the power of the message of the cross. It questions God and His word. Casts doubts in the heart of a spiritual seeker. Ultimately puts one in utter confusion.
John Macarthur puts it rightly, “You don’t need philosophy, because if it’s right, the Bible says it any way. If it’s wrong, you don’t want it.”
v. Rejected wisdom. V.19.
God is against our relying on human wisdom. Cf. Is. 29:14
People of Judah thought they are very wise in scheming things which God never desired.
For example they felt its political wisdom to seek help of Egypt to fight against the enemy / the Assyrians. Cf. Isa 33:1 But it was against God’s will. Through Isaiah God says He will destroy that wisdom…
And He did….Cf. 2King 19:35 – God in a wonderful manner defeated the Assyrians….slaughtered 185000 Assyrian soldiers. Without anybody’s involvement…
So it’s a principle throughout the Bible, for divine work…God does not need the wisdom of man.
Cf. 1Cor 3:19, 20 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "HE CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE, THAT THEY ARE FUTILE."”
He hates….feels dishonored when His own people….trust the so-called wisdom of man…not His word.
That’s why, godly men in the past with all spiritual discernment …kept away certain things…considering it as the wisdom of man…now…some want to adopt…which will not be good … in the long term…Cf. Rom 11: 33, 34 – God does not need a counselor. Rom 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Rom 11:34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
He is the sovereign God, omnipotent, omniscient. Our wisdom…nothing before Him….yield to Him….what else to do..
So, it’s a rejected wisdom And He opposes our effort to mix…copy…worldly wisdom in the divine matters.
6. Helpless wisdom. V.20a.
Quoting…Isaiah…Cf. Isa 33:18 "Where is the scribe? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?" cf. Isa 19:12 – notice, – Similar words..…repeated…. Challenging the ‘wise men’… from time to time. cf Isa 19:12; 19:1, 11 – God’s judgment against Egypt, counsel of wise men Egypt failed…Lord defeated…
33:18 – context…Assyrian spies, who made a report on Jerusalem to attack accordingly…..
- But they were not successful…- God defeated their wisdom…o God worked for Judah, His people…not as others predicted….planned…? In future also such mighty work of God will be visible…• Against the wise, smart counsel of others…? Paul takes up those questions and ….•
Applies it for the wise of his time…- ‘Wise’ – refers to the Greek who promised solution, answers / with philosophical ideas. - ‘scribe’ – may refer to the learned Jew / expert in literature / writers.- ‘debater’ – who loves to argue from both the group. / expert in dialogue / debate / argument. The question in the context of Paul’s time / ministry… ’what benefit through your wisdom?’
In two aspects:
a. To solve human problem – true then and now..
- In spite of the advancement in knowledge and science …Human problem is only increased-
? New disease, more evil, More dangerous weapons of mass destruction etc…Nuclear / chemical weapons etc.
o Exposing the uselessness…Futility of human wisdom. Cf. Pro 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
b. To know God. V.21a. “world through wisdom did not know God”
- Answer no….so challenging and proving the helplessness of the wise of the world…
o Never benefited the followers of human wisdom… With all their wisdom they failed to understand and acknowledge God. Cf. Rom 1:19, 21- They cannot.. Through human wisdom and effort… Man will never find God or ways of salvation.
• He can never save / transform neither himself nor others…Cf. Act 17:30 – ‘time of ignorance’ -
? – Paul talking to great thinkers of that time… their wisdom….ignorant of the things of God. Their knowledge only inspired them to laugh at God’s wisdom. V.23c
7. Degraded wisdom. V.20c. “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
- God proved man’s wisdom to be helpless as well as foolishness.. In other words, human wisdom only got degraded through the years. Not only that it does not help but also men became much wicked / fool than the past. cf Rom. 1:22, 20, 23, 28.etc..Ob: They became fools, knew God yet deliberately ignored Him… Mind became futile…God gave them over…debased mind…v. 28
? What is the moral, ethical standard of man today!
• Evil is good, good is bad! o Man behaves worse than animal!
Review: features of human wisdom
? Wisdom of words. V.17b.
? Wisdom of the wise. V.19.
? Wisdom of the world. V.20.
? Confused wisdom. V.17c.
? Rejected wisdom. V.19.
? Helpless wisdom. V.20a.
? Degraded wisdom. V.20c.
- 7 features / characteristics of human wisdom.
Does it mean…not to study…..no..
- We can / should….but knowing what it is….
- It’s worldly knowledge…which is for this world….age…
- Not a system to know God….lead a moral, righteous life….does not help
As far as spiritual life, assembly life is concerned:
- What psychology teaches or a scientist says is not our standard or example.
- Management principles of the corporate world are not our guiding principles of assembly life.
- Leadership method of the world is not our pattern to lead the people of God.
- Fund raising tactics of the world is not our pattern to find funds for Christian service.
- Communication technics and advertising methods of the business world are different from what God has laid in His word.
In fact we carefully analyze, you will find in many areas, the world has taken many lessons and principles form the Biblical wisdom and added to their thoughts!
- As Paul preached the message of the cross and he saw its effect on man…..he understood the utter foolishness of philosophy to solve human problem…., so he avoided it. Cf. 1Tim 1: 3 – 7; - 4: 6, 7; 2Tim 2:14; Tit 3: 8 – 11. Someone has said rightly, “Philosophy is like a blind man trying to catch a black cat in a dark which is not there.”
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