29 November

Bible In 365 Days

1 Corinthians 1-4

1 Corinthians 1

The epistle is to the Church. Its messages are only for those who have been brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ. The character of the Church is indicated in the words, "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints." The equipment of the Church is indicated in the phrase, "enriched in Him."

The foundation proposition of the epistle is that the Church is called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. The first part of the letter is corrective. It deals with evidences of the dominance of the carnal nature, and the first is of the divisions which had arisen among them. Paul first beseeches them to "speak the same thing," to "be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

These factions, created by disputes in the realm of the "wisdom of words," were the result of the folly of failing to appreciate the marvelous wisdom of that great "Word of the Cross" which was the foundation on which their faith was built, and which brought them into sacred union with Jesus Christ, and therefore with each other. The Apostle shows the unutterable folly of those who were attempting to deal with Christian truth after the manner of that "wisdom of words" which characterized the age, and who were thus causing schism in the body of Christ. "The Word of the Cross" contradicted the whole method and result as it revealed the wisdom of God and the ultimate discomfiture and overthrow of all that the age most valued.

1 Corinthians 2

The Apostle reminds the Corinthian Christians that when he first came to them he did not come with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, but with "the Word of the Cross." Yet there must be no foolish imagining that there is no wisdom, or that the Christian teacher has no deep and sublime subjects with which to deal. The Apostle says, "We speak wisdom, however." And yet the wisdom was such as could be taught only among those who were full grown. Babes and feeble ones in Christ could not be led into the deep things of God. For them there must be the simple proclamation of the word of wisdom, without its explanation and unfolding.

What, then, is this wisdom? It is a mystery, hidden from the world's wisdom, but known of God and revealed by His Spirit. It could come to man only through the direct and distinct revelation of the Spirit of God. It is pre-eminently important that this should ever be borne in mind. "The Word of the Cross" is not the ultimate of human reasoning. All mere philosophies of the mind have failed to explain it, as the wisdom of the world had failed to discover it. It is the Word of God hidden from ages, and spoken at last only by that Spirit of God "who searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." This revelation, moreover, could not be received by the natural man.

Here it is well to understand Paul's meaning by his use of the term "natural." He invariably speaks of man unregenerate as the natural man, putting him in contrast with man regenerate, who is the spiritual man. Thus the reason why "the wisdom of words" is folly becomes apparent.

1 Corinthians 3

The reason for the schisms was that these people were carnal. "Jealousy and strife" are evidences of carnality. Proceeding, Paul declared the true value of the Christian ministry. "For we are God's fellow-workers." The sublimity of their work is evidenced by the fact that they are co-operating with God. The foundation of the building is Jesus Christ. On that great foundation other men are building. Some of the work is precious and permanent, of the nature of gold, silver, costly stones. It may be some of it is unworthy-wood, hay, stubble. The nature of the work is to be revealed in the great fire baptism, which is to be the final process before the completion of God's great building. Thus it is evident that the matter of supreme importance is the building.

The purpose of the building is revealed in the statement, "Ye are a sanctuary of God." The word "sanctuary" here is of special value as indicating not merely a temple, but a temple appropriated to its true use, a dwelling.

In the light of this statement concerning the Church the Apostle wrote the solemn warning, "If any man spoil the temple of God, him shall God spoil." The Apostle sums up and endorses his argument that the "wisdom of the age" is foolishness with God.

If a man turn from this foolishness to the wisdom of God he possesses all things. The teachers themselves- Paul, Apollos, Cephas; all the facts that touch personality and affect it- "the world," "life," "death," "things present," "things to come"-all these are possessed by the man who has learned his own folly and glories alone in the Lord. Such a man not only possesses, he is possessed. He is Christ's. And, yet again, the final safety is God Himself, for "Christ is God's."

1 Corinthians 4

Christian teachers are "ministers of Christ." That defines their responsibility. They are "stewards of the mysteries of God." That defines their work. What dignity does this double statement suggest?

In view of this, to Paul it was "a very small thing" what judgment men might form of him. The Lord at His Coming will pronounce the judgment. It would seem as though this faithful steward of the mysteries of God feared lest the very impetuous sweep of his anger against the folly of the schism-makers would be misunderstood, and he hastens to write tender words as he closes this section. His purpose is not to shame them, but to admonish them. They are his "beloved children."

Looking back over the argument, it is clearly seen that the final test of wisdom is always power. Herein is the difference between the "wisdom of words" and "the wisdom of God." The "wisdom of words" has no moral lift in it. On the other hand, the "wisdom of God is manifested in the "Word of the Cross." By that Word men are not merely mentally illumined, they are morally saved. Put the teachers of psychology or philosophical systems down in the midst of corrupt Corinth, or in later cities, with their own writings as the textbooks, and how much can they do to lift the burden, break the chain, quench the passion, and out of a ruined humanity reconstruct a divine manhood? Put down in the same city a street evangelist who utterly lacks all words of wisdom, but who lives and prophesies the "Word of the Cross," and watch the issue. The result of power is the true test of wisdom.