1 Corinthians 1:22-31

1 Corinthians 1:22

(A) For the Jews require a sign, (B) and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

 

(A) (Mat 12:38-39 KJV) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. {39} But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: One of the highest forms of unbelief and even borders on mockery, is to try and get God to prove Himself. The Jews were consistently badgering the Lord Jesus by demanding a sign from Him to prove His authenticity. This whole scenario with signs shows how ignorant these leaders of the Jews were. If they would have truly known the Scriptures, then they would have had no problem in recognizing the Lord Jesus. The problem is that by the time the Lord Jesus appeared on the scene, the Jews had already exchanged the Scriptures for the Talmud. Whenever anyone is a teacher of the Scriptures but does no studying in the Scriptures, they are false teachers. The Jews were consistently testing and trying to tempt the Lord Jesus to capitulate and show a sign. (Mat 4:7 KJV) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Today there are many people in different movements that want to see a sign before they can believe.

 

(B) The next group was the Greeks who bathed themselves in worldly philosophy. They were desiring to try and fit Christianity into some type of philosophical system. (Acts 17:21 KJV) (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) The Greeks were the progenitors of philosophy and that philosophy, which started with Thales (thay-lees) who lived about 625-547 BC and was considered by Aristotle to be the father of Greek philosophy. Greek philosophy still affects the way society thinks today. With the Greeks steeped in philosophy schools like Aristotelian or Socratic philosophy, they wanted only schools of thought which can be brought down into some type of systematic teaching. They seemed to only be interested in the philosophical aspect and not the essence of it. Well Christianity is far above any worldly philosophy yet it is so designed by God, that those who are wise in this world deem it as foolishness.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:23

(A) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, (B) and unto the Greeks foolishness;

 

(A). The preaching of the cross of Christ was a total stumblingblock to the Jews. In the Greek the word “stumblingblock” is “skandalon.” We derive our word “scandal” from it. The Jews thought that Christianity, with the crucifixion of Christ was a scandal. One of the obsolete meanings of scandal is “disgrace.” One of the reasons that they thought this way was based upon the following Scriptures. (Deu 21:22-23 KJV) And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: {23} His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. In their worldly thought, how could the Messiah, who was supposed to free Israel, be the true Messiah if He was hanged on a tree and according to the Deuteronomy Scripture, was considered a curse. There was two reasons for this: 1) The first reason, was that the Jews were looking for someone who was to be like Joshua who would help throw off the yoke of Rome and lead them into being a free nation. 2) The second reason, was that they were looking at the physical realm only and did not understand the reason that Christ came the first time, which was to die for the Elect. Christ took upon Himself the curse of sin for all His children. (Gal 3:13 KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

(B). The Greeks saw Christianity as foolishness, actual meaning as “moronic.” The idea of resurrection did not fit into their philosophical schools of thought. (Acts 17:32 KJV) And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. They probably equated the teaching of Paul with that of Aesop’s Fables. With the idea of a resurrection, they saw Christianity as some type of inferior teaching, and no doubt, purely mythical based on a person’s imagination.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:24

(A) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, (B) and the wisdom of God.

 

(A). The Power of the cross, calls people to faith, changes relationships, and unites all Christians no matter what their ethnic background. Only those who are truly saved are able to see the truth of Christianity and the reason for the crucifixion of Christ. (Rom 1:16 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. When a person becomes saved, they are then privy to the heavenly knowledge we find in the Scriptures which so fluently teach that it was only through Christ that we are saved. No person can ever become saved by their own works or by any system of beliefs. When we realize that God the Son died on that cross for the sins of the Elect, we then realize what power procured our salvation.

 

(B). The wisdom of God is so manifested in Christianity that the world cannot figure out God’s salvation plan, lest the intellectuals think they can come to Christ by human reason. When a person becomes saved, we can then see the wisdom of God in salvation, in that, we cannot attain salvation by ourselves nor can we earn it. God’s salvation plan is only designed for His Elect. If God made it a system of works, then the unbeliever would be able to achieve salvation, but the wisdom of God dictates that no one outside His Elect will ever be called to salvation.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

Foolishness - Moron

Weakness - sickness or Ill

Stronger - able, mighty, forcible

 

If God could do anything foolish, it would still be wiser than men. If God could do anything weakly it would still be stronger than man. This passage is teaching us that the things that God does is neither foolish nor weak, but that the things that God does will appear to the world to be both of these things. What does meekness appear to the world as? Weakness! In the light of evolution and/or New Age teaching about becoming spiritual by elevating to a higher plane of consciousness, the crucifixion of Christ seems foolish and anciently barbaric, and is of no use in an age of higher consciousness. Although mankind may come up with all kinds of systems for self-salvation, nothing that man does, even thinking how powerful they have become, whether in weapons or knowledge, it can never measure up to the wisdom and weak things of God. Man’s wisdom or strength will never equal the wisdom and strength of God, even though there are people today claiming to be God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:26

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

 

After the - According to

Noble - Those of High Social Status

 

When we look at those whom God has saved, it is a very rare person that comes into Christianity that is of noble or high social status. There are very few true Christian millionaires and very few true Christian politicians. If you look at the body of Christ it is made up of predominantly poor people from around the world. The body of Christ probably contains saved people from every race in the world. So far I have personally met only 2 Christian millionaires since I became saved in 1981. The rest of the people I have met prays for their “Daily Bread.” This does not mean that God does not save wealthy people. The majority of the body of believers are made up of the working class. (Mat 5:3 KJV) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Normally those who are poorer are not of the haughty spirit of high society but are of a subdued spirit. It is easier for God to train one who does not have much in worldly goods. Much material wealth will come between God and His children. It can stunt their spiritual growth and keep them tied to the world. This does not mean that God is against wealth, after all, He is the one who doles it out to whomever He wills.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

 

Foolish Things - Morons

Confound - he might put to shame

 

Here God builds on the last verse. God has chosen those who are less advantaged in this world for salvation. Those who are in the lower social status are the ones that God has used to build His kingdom and spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth throughout the ages. While rich people were building their earthly kingdoms, God’s people were building the eternal kingdom. On Judgment Day, all those who stand at the Great White Throne Judgment, will then realize who the true fools were. Those who were rich in this world and who despised the true Gospel, will realize they were the fools. They tried to build permanency in a temporary society. Their strength and their wisdom will fail them on that Great Day. Instead of seeking the Lord while He may be found, they sought one more dollar.

1 Corinthians 1:28

(A) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, (B) and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

 

Base - Low born or no family

Despised - Utterly despised or of no account

 

A. The Base things and the despised things are the lowly and social outcast which is representative of the gospel in the world. One of the most visible outcasts in society are orphans. We see that the word “base” carries a meaning of “no family” or orphans. (Psa 68:5 KJV) A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Here see that God is going to be the father of the fatherless. All unsaved people are without a father and one becomes saved, then God becomes their father. So we, like orphans, are those who are the outcasts of society. We are deemed religious fanatics. When I became saved and stopped drinking, the group I hung with thought I went off the deep end and became a religious fanatic. I never heard from that crowd again. God has chosen those who are low and despised in this world, for as Christians we are considered as those without a mind and opinion.

 

B. The Christians seem to be the least in society but they will bring to nothing the things which seem significant to the world. They will shatter the arrogant ideas of man. The world seems comfortable in its systems and methods but the true Gospel counters the ways of the world, and the world thinking it has something, will be brought to nothing by the wisdom of God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

Glory - Boast

No worldly philosophical system can ever claim they led the path to God since the world cannot know God by human reason. Human reason muddies the waters and it is only after one is saved can they have a clear mind on salvation. Those that become saved can never boast that it was them who initiated and executed their salvation. Salvation is fully from the Lord from beginning to end. (Eph 2:8-9 KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us (1) wisdom, and (2) righteousness, and (3) sanctification, and (4) redemption:

 

1. (Prov 9:10 KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 

2. (Isa 61:10 KJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

 

3. (Heb 13:12 KJV) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 

4. (Gal 3:13 KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

God takes the believer from the dregs or outcasts of this society and plants us in Christ Jesus, who becomes our all in all of salvation.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

(Jer 9:23-24 KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: {24} But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

 

(2 Cor 10:17-18 KJV) But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. {18} For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

 

No human being can ever boast that salvation was of them. Our glorying is to be done in the Lord and our boasting is to be done in the Lord. (Psa 44:8 KJV) In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

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