READING IN 1 CORINTHIANS TWO
READING IN 1 CORINTHIANS TWO
It will be noted that throughout this epistle God is made specially prominent, and what He is as in contrast to man. “Of him”, says the apostle, “are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. God had chosen certain ones in Corinth, generally from among those regarded as [p. 36] insignificant in this world, and had given them a status in His world; He had placed them in Christ, whom He had made to them everything that they needed as before Him. Thus man, whatever his culture, is shut out; the believer is independent of all worldly supplies, for God has furnished him with everything he needs, making Christ all to him.
Of course, God is before us in all the epistles, indeed, in all Scripture, but He is peculiarly so here, as compared, for instance, with Colossians, where Christ is emphasised more. God was to be known in His assembly through the order and holiness seen there in contrast to what man is as seen in this world. It was “the testimony of God” that Paul had announced at Corinth, and his preaching was in every way in keeping with this. He had determined to know nothing among the saints there, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He was taken up with the order of Man that pleased God. The fact that such an One was crucified spoils all the glory of man in this world. The apostle’s determination was in view of the general conditions at Corinth. Human education, social distinction, and the like had a great place in this Greek city, and the introduction of God, as presented in Jesus Christ crucified, in Paul’s testimony, struck at the root of all this.
Paul was in full accord, in the manner of his ministry, with what he ministered. He avoided all that would appeal to the flesh, and his word was “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”, that the Corinthians’ “faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. These believers had thus a wonderful opportunity to start well; they had some eighteen months of Paul’s work and manner of life. Not only did they have his doctrine but also the spirit and power in which he ministered; that was an immense advantage, which the saints at Rome did not have, when the [p. 37] epistle to them was written. The apostle, having weighed the peculiar influences of a city like Corinth judged that he would know nothing there but “Jesus Christ, and him crucified”. Such knowledge is the only effective antidote to human pride. It is of all importance now as the sure fortification against the spirit of Antichrist which denies “Jesus Christ come in the flesh”, 1 John 4: 3.
Having spoken of the subject matter and character of his ministry at Corinth, the apostle touches on what he ministered elsewhere, by way of contrast. He spoke wisdom among the perfect, but not the wisdom of this world, but “the wisdom of God in a mystery”. The Corinthians were carnal, “babes in Christ”. They were Christians, being “in Christ” but had not gone on; they had not grown. Evidently they had not grown as they should have, even under the apostle’s influence, for eighteen months should have taken them out of the babe state, which is passed for a much longer time in the spiritual, than it is in natural history. The Thessalonians got on better; they had the apostle a much shorter time.
The “babe” state among Christians is generally marked by undue recognition of gift or signal ability in others, which tends to partisanship. Compare chapter 1: 11 - 13. The blind man of Bethsaida in Mark 8 is an illustration; the Lord led him out of the town before He opened his eyes. In the town sin is concentrated, and hence the peculiar danger there for young Christians. The blind man, having his eyes opened, first saw men as trees walking; men would thus be unduly great in his estimation; this is always the danger, but afterwards he saw all men clearly.
One object in this epistle to the Corinthians is to teach the Lord’s people how to form a right judgment of everything. We are to have a true estimate of every man and every thing; “he that is spiritual judgeth all things”, as is said in our chapter. Among the perfect; that is, those whose moral senses were fully developed, the apostle spoke “the wisdom of God in a mystery”. This suggests Colossians and Ephesians. In Colossians 2: 3 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are said to be hid in the mystery and in Ephesians 3: 10 the “all-various wisdom” of God is spoken of as seen in the assembly.
The Corinthians were unable to take in such light, being but little beyond the natural man as to their practical state; their spiritual ability was very limited notwithstanding their great advantages. Although richly endowed with gift they made but poor use of it, and this was a sad discrepancy, but alas! constantly noticeable among the people of God. The Corinthians seem to have regarded gifts almost as playthings, things to adorn and distinguish them as men in this world, whereas they are precious endowments, by which, as given by Christ the Head, the assembly is to be edified and instructed.
Presently the wisdom of God shall be manifested in all its various workings, but now it is hidden; it is in mystery now, and is thus ministered to those who appreciate it and can understand it. It was “ordained before the world for our glory”. Wonderful surety! The princes of the world knew nothing of it, or they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Jesus on earth was the expression of it. Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8, but it took form in Christ when become Man. Luke presents it to us, especially in chapter 7, where wisdom shines in a remarkable way, and is there said to be “justified of all her children”. Note the centurion and the woman in Simon’s house.