A Faulty View of the Good News
1:18 to 3:4
The mention of the cross in 1:17 introduces a long section on a faulty view of the Good News. Basically, the Corinthians needed a renewal of their minds (Romans 12:2). They were trying to live their lives as believers on the basis of worldly wisdom which is self-centered. This kind of life is self-seeking, self-serving, and ultimately, self-destructive (Luke 9:24-25).
The World’s Wisdom vs the Good News (1:18 to 2:5): Here we find a contrast between the foolishness of mankind, which they think is wisdom (Greek: sophia), and the wisdom of God, which they think is foolishness. The contrast is between God’s true wisdom and man’s supposed wisdom, between God’s supposed foolishness and mankind’s true foolishness.35 Thus, Paul says in effect, “So you think the Good News is a form of sophia? How foolish can you get? Look at the message; it is based on the story of a crucified Messiah. Who in the name of wisdom would have dreamed that up? Only ADONAI is so wise as to be so foolish. Furthermore, look at the recipients. Yourselves! Who in the name of wisdom would have chosen you to be the new people of God (1:26-31)? Finally, remember my own preaching. Who in the name of wisdom would have come in such weakness? Yet, look at the results (2:1-5).36
We have all known someone who said that they were wise, only to be a pain in the neck. So, what’s the difference between someone who is truly wise, and just a wise-guy? I suppose I could list a dozen things or more. But one thing is true in every case. Wise people know how to use their intelligence to serve others and to help those around them. Wise-guys are for themselves. They use their intelligence to manipulate and to destroy.
In this section, Paul addressed those in the church at Corinth who claimed to be wise. They used their “wisdom” to divide the church and to promote themselves. These people took pride in worldly wisdom. They had not trusted in worldly wisdom for their salvation initially, but they had begun to emphasize worldly wisdom over the Good News itself. In their pursuit of wisdom, they had become arrogant wise-guys. Their so-called wisdom was worthless.37
True Wisdom and the Spirit of God (2:6 to 3:4): Whereas false, human, worldly wisdom is a great hindrance to the Good News, true, divine wisdom flows from the Good News. To believers, to those who are called, Messiah is God’s power and God’s wisdom (1:24). Mature (Greek: teleios) can mean perfect, or complete in all its parts, but it can also mean going through the stages to reach an end-goal. Here, Paul uses this term in the same way it is used in other forms by the writer to the Hebrews (6:1 and 10:14) to refer to salvation. Those who are mature are those who are redeemed and are completely trusting in Yeshua Messiah. Paul is not saying that he speaks God’s wisdom only when he is with believers who are advanced in the faith, but only when he is with believers in the faith – the saved. To all others it is a stumbling block or foolishness (1:23). Obviously some believers are better taught, and some more obedient to God’s wisdom and the leading of the Spirit than others. But for every believer, in all His wisdom and insight, He has made known to us his secret plan, which by His own will, He designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah (Ephesians 1:8-9). While those who reject Messiah hear His Good News as foolishness, to believers it as wisdom – the wisdom of the Spirit of God.38
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