1Cor 1:18-2:16 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 1:18-31: 1:18-31 Paul contrasts eloquence and human wisdom, which were highly valued by some of the Corinthians, with the foolish message of the cross—the expression of God’s wisdom. The followers of Apollos, in particular (see 1:12 ), were probably attracted by his rhetorical abilities and intellectual approach to ministry (see Acts 18:24-28 ). In contrast, Paul emphasizes that the real power lies in the simple message of the cross of Christ. 1:18 The message that God is saving the world through a condemned criminal is foolish to unbelievers, for their eyes are blinded to the truth (2 Cor 4:4 ). For believers, whose eyes have been opened by God, the message of the cross has the ring of truth to it, and they know its power to convict the human heart (see 1 Cor 1:23-24 ; Rom 1:16 ). Unbelievers, still in their sin, are headed for destruction , for ultimate condemnation. Believers, whose sins have been forgiven, are being saved: They are on their way to eternal life and glory.

Summary for 1Cor 1:18-31: 1:18-31 ^a Paul contrasts eloquence and human wisdom, which were highly valued by some of the Corinthians, with the foolish message of the cross—the expression of God’s wisdom. The followers of Apollos, in particular (see 1:12 ^b), were probably attracted by his rhetorical abilities and intellectual approach to ministry (see Acts 18:24-28 ^c). In contrast, Paul emphasizes that the real power lies in the simple message of the cross of Christ. 1:18 ^d The message that God is saving the world through a condemned criminal is foolish to unbelievers, for their eyes are blinded to the truth (2 Cor 4:4 ^e). For believers, whose eyes have been opened by God, the message of the cross has the ring of truth to it, and they know its power to convict the human heart (see 1 Cor 1:23-24 ^f; Rom 1:16 ^g). Unbelievers, still in their sin, are headed for destruction, for ultimate condemnation. Believers, whose sins have been forgiven, are being saved: They are on their way to eternal life and glory.
1:19 ^h This quotation from Isa 29:14 ⁱ shows God’s estimation of mere human wisdom.
1:20 ^j In God’s eyes, the human wisdom of this world is foolish. Divine wisdom lies in the message of the cross and in Jesus Christ (see 1:24 ^k, 30 ^l).
1:21 ^m Human wisdom alone does not bring people to the true knowledge of God; that comes only through the message of the cross, which the world considers foolish, but which saves those who believe (cp. Matt 11:25 ⁿ).
Summary for 1Cor 1:22-24: 1:22-24 ^o Paul uses the words Greeks and Gentiles interchangeably to refer to non-Jews. 1:22 ^p Unbelieving Jews wanted to see miraculous signs to validate the message (cp. Matt 12:38-39 ^q; 16:1-4 ^r; John 2:18 ^s, 23 ^t; 4:48 ^u). Greeks, renowned for their schools of philosophy, were only interested in human wisdom—i.e., philosophical reasoning.
1:23 ^v Regardless of what unbelieving Jews and Gentiles desired, Paul refused to give them anything but the simple message of the cross. To many Jews, the idea of a crucified Messiah was a contradiction in terms because crucifixion expressed not the power and blessing of God but his curse (see Gal 3:13 ^w; cp. Deut 21:23 ^x).
1:25 ^y What the unbelieving world considers foolish and weak—Christ and the message of the cross—is in reality wiser and stronger than anything the world has to offer. It solves the world’s greatest problem, the problem of sin, and overcomes all the powers of evil that oppose human beings.
1:26 ^z Socially and culturally, most Corinthian Christians were ordinary people; few were among the elite (cp. Matt 11:25 ^aa). Only a few Christians, such as Erastus, the city treasurer in Corinth (see Rom 16:23 ^ab), were wealthy (or high born; cp. Jas 2:5 ^ac).
Summary for 1Cor 1:27-29: 1:27-29 ^ad God chose despised and humble people in order to demonstrate his judgment on human pride (cp. Rom 3:27 ^ae; 4:2 ^af; 2 Cor 4:7-11 ^ag; 12:8-10 ^ah; Eph 2:9 ^ai).
1:30 ^aj When people are united ... with Christ Jesus, God makes them righteous, holy, and free (see 6:11 ^ak; Rom 3:21-26 ^al; 5:17-21 ^am). This work of Christ is an expression of God’s wisdom.
1:31 ^an This quotation is a paraphrase of Jer 9:24 ^ao (cp. 2 Cor 10:17 ^ap). Because salvation is a result of God’s sovereign power (1 Cor 2:5 ^aq) and his decision to save his people, there is absolutely no room for human pride (see 1:29 ^ar).

‏ 1 Corinthians 2

Summary for 1Cor 2:1-5: 2:1-5 ^as God’s sovereign work made Paul’s preaching effective. In his evangelism, Paul did not rely on the persuasive power of his intellect or his dynamic personality, but on the power of the Holy Spirit (see also study note on 1:18-31). 2:1 ^at When I first came to you: See Acts 18:1-17 ^au. lofty words and impressive wisdom: Human wisdom and philosophy don’t bring people to Christ (see 1 Cor 1:17 ^av, 21 ^aw; 2:2 ^ax). The message of the cross has its own power to convert the human heart (see 1:17 ^ay; Rom 1:16 ^az; Gal 6:14 ^ba).

• God’s secret plan: See study note on 1 Cor 2:7.
Summary for 1Cor 2:3-4: 2:3-4 ^bb Human weakness is no barrier to God’s work (2 Cor 12:7-10 ^bc). The real power is not in charismatic preaching, finesse of presentation, or logical persuasiveness (cp. 2 Cor 10:10 ^bd), but in the message itself, centered on Christ and his death for our sins, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, who convicts the human heart.
Summary for 1Cor 2:6-16: 2:6-16 ^be Paul emphasizes God’s wisdom in contrast to the world’s wisdom. Real wisdom is not mere human wisdom but the wisdom of the Spirit, expressed in the so-called “foolishness” of the Good News (see 1:20-25 ^bf). 2:6 ^bg Only the spiritually mature will recognize God’s wisdom; many of the Corinthians would have been unable to recognize it (see 3:1-3 ^bh).

• The rulers of this world (see also 2:8 ^bi) . . . are soon forgotten because Christ now rules—his enemies have been defeated by his death on the cross (see 15:24-25 ^bj; Col 2:15 ^bk).
2:7 ^bl In Paul’s writings, mystery often refers to a truth previously hidden but now revealed in the Good News of Christ and his saving work (see Rom 11:25-27 ^bm; 1 Tim 3:9 ^bn, 16 ^bo).

• before the world began: From the very beginning, it has been God’s desire to save his chosen people through Christ (see Rom 16:25-26 ^bp; Eph 1:9-12 ^bq; 3:3-12 ^br; Col 1:25-27 ^bs) and to bring them to ultimate glory in the coming age (see Rom 5:2 ^bt; 8:18-21 ^bu, 29-30 ^bv; 1 Thes 2:12 ^bw).
2:8 ^bx The rulers of this world are probably political rulers rather than spiritual authorities (see also 15:24 ^by; cp. Acts 3:14-15 ^bz; 4:10 ^ca; 5:29-32 ^cb).
2:9 ^cc This quotation (cp. Isa 64:4 ^cd) supports Paul’s point (1 Cor 2:8 ^ce): Those with no spiritual sensitivity do not understand God’s work of redemption.
Summary for 1Cor 2:10-12: 2:10-12 ^cf it was to us: Those who believe in Christ and have thus received his Spirit (see 6:19 ^cg; 12:13 ^ch; Gal 3:2 ^ci; Eph 1:13 ^cj; Titus 3:5 ^ck) are contrasted with the rulers of this world (1 Cor 2:8 ^cl). God’s deep secrets are not understood through secular wisdom or philosophy, but through God’s own Spirit, who alone can reveal God’s thoughts to his people (see 1 Jn 2:20 ^cm, 27 ^cn; cp. Matt 11:25-27 ^co). God has graciously given his Spirit to his people so they can know the wonderful things God has freely given them (cp. John 16:13-14 ^cp).
2:13 ^cq using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths: Just as spiritual wisdom is different from human wisdom, so the way spiritual wisdom is taught must be different from the way human wisdom is taught. The communicating and learning of spiritual truth must be done in the dimension and power of the Spirit; it is not simply a rational, human exercise.
2:14 ^cr people who aren’t spiritual: Unbelievers, whose minds are blinded to the Spirit, function in the natural world and see life only through physical eyes (see 2 Cor 4:4 ^cs). They cannot appreciate the significance of the Good News, for it is essentially a spiritual message.
2:15 ^ct Those who are spiritual: People who have the Spirit have a true understanding of divine revelation.
2:16 ^cu This quotation from Isa 40:13 ^cv shows how divine wisdom transcends the limitations of human reasoning (cp. Rom 11:34 ^cw).

• we have the mind of Christ: Linked to Christ, believers have the Spirit of Christ to reveal Christ’s thinking to them.