1 Cor. - Chapter 2 - "THE HIDDEN WISDOM"
THE HIDDEN WISDOM
1 Corinthians – Chapter 2
Sunday Evening Service
August 5, 2012, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
The apostle reminds the Corinthians of the plain manner in which he delivered the gospel to them. He shows them that he had communicated to them a treasure of the highest wisdom, such as could never have entered into the heart of man if it had not been revealed by the Holy Spirit. Nor can this hidden Wisdom be received by man except for the light and influence of that Holy Spirit, who revealed it.
1 Cor. 2:1-2: “When I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Christ in his Person and Office is the sum and substance of the gospel. From Genesis to Revelation, the whole of the gospel message is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The testimony of God is His witness in power of the Gospel message.
Because Corinth was the intellectual, and cultural center of the Mediterranean, and the people idolized the latest ideology as well as physical prowess associated with the Olympics; Paul was determined while in Corinth to remove himself and release the testimony of God, the power of the Cross.
1 Cor. 2:3-5: “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
The word “demonstration” (apodeixis) found only here in the New Testament indicates stringent proof leading to absolute certainty.
Because of the testimony of God’s witness, Paul did not need hype, charisma, politics, charm, beauty, eloquence, or popularity to deliver his preaching. “Divine wisdom did not need to be set off with human ornaments.” He published a Divine Revelation. Ornaments of speech and philosophical skill and argument could add no weight to what was recommended by such authority as the testimony of God.
As for Paul’s weakness, fear, and trembling, there is absolutely no proof of the physical appearance of the Biblical personalities. However, some of the writings of the third century describe Paul as “of low stature, bald ( or shaved on the head), crooked thighs, handsome legs, hollow eyed; a crooked nose, and was full of grace; for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel” (The apocryphal Acts of Paul and Theola).
In the fourth century Paul is ridiculed in the Philopatris of the Pseudo-Lucian as “the bald-headed, hook-nosed Galilean who trod the air into the third heaven and learned the most beautiful things” (Philopat 12).
“In 2 Cor. 10:10, Paul quotes what his opponents said of him to the effect that his ‘letters…are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.’”
As to Paul’s health, scholars hold opposite opinions. Some biographers are sure Paul must have been exceptionally robust or he could not have endured the rigors of missionary work over a vast area for a period of approximately thirty years. “A man who could trudge mountain and valley day after day, endure shipwreck and imprisonment, hardship and persecution, was no weakling.”
Other authorities are convinced that Paul was physically weak and frail throughout his life. Partially from his numerous beatings causing painful body sufferings, but also that he had chronic physical deficiencies. There must have been terrible scar-marks from the scourgings and from the stoning at Lystra which was so severe that the perpetrators thought Paul had been killed.
Since he lacked a hardy appearance, this would be difficult problem for him when he worked among peoples of the Greek tradition which held that a vigorous body was essential to a normal personality.
This same tradition of “judging by outward appearances” is still part of the western culture today. I don’t know many if any who have the power of the testimony of God in that measure of demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power.
Paul was given great courage and resolution through grace. He was, “in nothing terrified by his adversaries”.
1 Cor. 2: 6-8: “Howbeit that we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature); yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing; but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory; which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.”
In showing the total inadequacy of the wisdom of the world and the complete sufficiency of God’s wisdom in the accomplishing man’s salvation, Paul has aimed blow after blow at the cause of dissension in Corinth. Worldly wisdom will devastate a church.
Yet the church is not without wisdom. To those who are called, Christ the wisdom of God (1:24) is made our wisdom; (1:30) and is increasingly comprehended as maturity develops.
This true wisdom, hidden in past ages and unrecognized by men of worldly power and intellect, has now been revealed through the Spirit. Just as a man alone knows his own thoughts, so the Holy Spirit comes from the being of God Himself to give understanding of His mind to those who have received Him. This is the wisdom Paul himself imparts as taught by the Spirit of God.
Paul speaks wisdom among those who are mature. While the word for mature (teleioi) was common in the mystery religions, this in no way colored Paul’s meaning. As a pioneer, in common with modern missionaries, he took the language of his day and invested it with the gospel.
Paul repeatedly makes the contrast between mature (teleioi) Christians and the (“nepioi”) ‘infants’ who are identified as men of the flesh, worldly, or those made of flesh. Also (“psychikoi”), man without the Spirit, natural; and at an even lower level (“sarkikoi”), ‘of the flesh’, fleshly, or characterized by flesh.
“Teleioi” and “pneumatikoi” signify ideal Christians, those dominated by the Spirit. A growth to this maturity is envisaged. At this level of maturity, they will be able to understand the wisdom Paul imparts. “The rulers of the age whether spiritual world rulers or kings of governments who have usurped control of the world are coming to nothing. Also, possibly those who crucified Christ: Pilate representing the ruling world power in league with the rulers of the Jews.
Acts 3:14-17: “You killed the Prince of Life, whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses…brethren I know that through ignorance you did this, as did also your rulers.”
Luke 22:53: “When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me: but this is your hour and the power of darkness.”
The hour when darkness reigns operates through human agencies.
The Hidden wisdom is not unintelligible or difficult to understand, but a secret hidden in the counsels of God, now made known by His Spirit. This wisdom is that age-long purpose of redemption, reconciliation and restoration through Christ, kept secret, but now revealed. However, this wisdom of God still remains hidden in a very real sense to those who are perishing. This wisdom was destined before time began. God’s redemptive plan is no afterthought.
Eph. 1:4: “According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
The title of Lord of Glory is perhaps the most exalted title give to Christ. James 2:1: “My brethren do not hold your faith in the Lord of Glory with an attitude of respect of persons.”
The title Lord of Glory identifies Christ in dignity and majesty with His Father.
Eph. 1:17: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”
The Father of Glory imparted to the Son, the Lord of Glory(Vs. 8), the spirit of wisdom and revelation which wisdom we speak through the Holy Spirit that we might receive this same wisdom “unto our glory” (Vs. 7).
1 Cor. 2: 9-10: As it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
This morning we were greatly blessed with the prophetic gift of revelation knowledge give by the Holy Spirit to his servant, Prophet Darrell McManus. We had a powerful meeting today and I commend Prophet McManus to all of the pastors of the churches. His message on the Throne of God takes us with John “around the throne”; with Isaiah “above the throne”; with Ezekiel “under the throne”; with David when he sees the rims of the Chariot throne of God touch the earth and his vision of seeing God ride on a Cherub; then to Daniel as the Lord sits on his throne, his chariot throne (because the thrones are set in place).
Like Jesus when Paul uses the term, “as it is written”, he is quoting from the Old Testament scriptures, yet in this instance this verse is not an exact quote from an Old Testament text.
Paul may have been paraphrasing and quoting from memory Isa. 64:4: “Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, not perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what you have prepared for those that wait for him.”
This verse clinches Paul’s argument that the natural man through his physical sense is not able to understand God’s wisdom in the Cross of Christ. That it is “God who has revealed” further affirms the superiority of the divine wisdom and revelation compared to human wisdom. “The great truths of the gospel are things lying out of the sphere of human discovery.
The scripture is given by inspiration of God. The apostles spoke, wrote and taught under the inspiration of the same Spirit. The Holy Sprit enters into the very depths of God, penetrating into his most secret counsels. Who can have such a through knowledge of God but God?
The Spirit of God knows the things of God because he is one with God. Neither can we know the secret counsels and purposes of God until they are made known to us by his Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 11-13: “What man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual thing with spiritual.”
Paul lists three kinds of spirits:
- the spirit of man
- The Spirit of God
- The spirit of the world
1 Cor. 2:14: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The man without the spirit (psychikos)---We will not mention or presume how close that is to our word psychos.
The natural man is living under the control of the fleshly passions, the sensual and depraved part of man in contrast with the rational part. He is the animal man as opposed to the spiritual man. He has no sense of spiritual values and no desire for them. He counts it the highest wisdom to live for this world and carnal pleasures. Spiritual things are foolishness to him. He cannot see their supreme excellence due to being spiritually dead.
The Spiritual man is living under the control of the Holy Spirit and minds the things of the Spirit. He has the mind of Christ and discerns and esteems spiritual things above the sensual. He is a new creature and resurrected from death in trespasses and sins. The base nature has been crucified and put off.
1 Cor. 2: 15-16: “He that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
The spiritual man has discernment and is able to make sound judgment. This means to examine well, search out, and sift. The spiritual man can therefore scrutinize and sift since he has the faculty to do so, but the unspiritual man finds the spiritual man and spiritual truths beyond his scrutiny.
Isa. 40:13: “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor has taught him?”
This is to know the Voice of the Lord and when His Voice is speaking through the spiritual man. Also we who are spiritual are able to discern the Voice of God from all the other voices around us.
I know the voice of Jesus and will follow no other. However, when I have an important decision to make, I also know the voices of other ministers whom I trust to hear the Voice of God. I listen carefully as they speak. I make a judgment after I have examined all things well, searched out the Mind of Christ and sifted through any strange voices. However, I will not follow any voice that is not in agreement with the Voice I know. All other voices will align their voice with the One Voice, the Father of Glory, the Lord of Glory and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V; I entered into the labors of The International Bible Commentary by: F. F. Bruce and Matthew Henry Bible Commentary.