1 Corinthians Commentary Chapter 1 (3)

1 Corinthians Commentary Chapter 1 (3) In 1 Corinthians 1:18, ‘Ho Logos’ appears. In English, it is the message or preaching of the cross, but the original word is ‘Ho Logos of the cross.’It is said to be the gospel of the cross, but in fact, it is Christ of the cross and the Word.Therefore, the wisdom of words is the power of man, but the message of the cross is the power of God.This is because the message of the cross is the work of killing the sinner in Adam and living again him. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)We must know that the preaching of the cross is the word of the cross (Ho Logos).The cross means death, but the message of the cross is the work of raising the dead.It is baptism. Therefore, it is the power of God.This power is always a present and future event.However, it is foolishness to those who are perishing.The meaning of foolishness is ‘tasteless, having lost its taste.’Humans should be applauded and praised by people, but who would willingly accept the ‘message of the cross’ that requires them to give up their own lives?To those who rush in and ask, ‘What should I do?’, it is tasteless to tell them to believe in the death and resurrection of the Lord, follow him, and be baptized to receive forgiveness of sins.That is why those who build their houses on sand, on people, view the message of the cross as foolish. But for us who are currently saved, it is the power of God (dunamis).That is why 1 Corinthians 4:20 says, The kingdom of God is not in word but in power.1 Corinthians 15:43 ‘It is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength.’ This strength is power.Col 1:29 The power that works in me is the Word, the Christ,  the power of the Holy Spirit. So, wisdom appears in 1 Corinthians 1:19.“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’”He does not destroy people, but human wisdom.This wisdom has worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:20), that is, fleshly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12), and spiritual wisdom (Col. 1:9).It is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:7). That is why He tells us to seek Christ, who is wisdom (James 1:5).Then, understanding comes from what is realized (Ephesians 3:4). Biblical understanding (2 Timothy 2:7) and wisdom (Matthew 11:25) are not understanding that comes from a person’s IQ.A person’s understanding is of no use in understanding the Word.It means that God does not acknowledge it.However, when Ho Logos works in us as dunamis, we obtain true wisdom and understanding.We realize the Word of God with wisdom and make it our own with understanding. Therefore, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20).If there are the wise or the scribe or the disputer of the world, it means, “Come out,” but God does not acknowledge this. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21)Human wisdom is philosophy.Philosophy can never ascend to God.Nevertheless, since they are talking about humanities...Through evangelism, we can come to know God by his wisdom.No matter how well we express God, it is truly foolish words.If you are a person with God’s wisdom and understanding, you will know how foolish your preaching is.However, God is pleased with this.It is foolish, but He thinks well of it.So when we preach, He gives us the spirit of revelation that makes us know God, so that both the preacher and the listener know God.Therefore, those who testify to the word must have the spirit of revelation along with the knowledge of the word and pass on the revelation along with the word. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22)Jews ask for a sign just by hearing the name of God.They even followed Jesus around and asked for a sign.That’s why he said he would only show them the sign of Jonah.The message of the cross is the Christ of the cross. The Greek are a philosophical, so they seek the wisdom of the world. “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block,  and  to Greeks foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23)For Jews, everything must be held in hand. This is the characteristic of law faith.Therefore, the cross of Christ, which is invisible, is a stumbling block.The Greeks constantly seek enlightenment.However, it is completely illogical to believe that we died with the Lord and lived with the Lord, and that we have been forgiven of our sins and made righteous in Christ and have eternal life, so they see it as foolish.Even now, there are Jewish believers and Greek believers.However, whether they understand or criticize, we must preach only the message (Word) of the cross, Christ.The conclusion of 1 Corinthians is that the church must have Christ, that is, love (He Agape). “But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)To those who are called, Christ is given as the power and wisdom of God.It refers to churches that are not called into a building called a church, but are called into Christ.He pours out the spirit and life of Christ infinitely on the saints who follow the message of the cross.That is why we must hold on to the cross of Christ and love the cross.Because the Holy Spirit leads us to the cross, and the cross leads us to the Holy Spirit. The foolishness of God in 1 Corinthians 1:25 is a paradox of God.“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”1) Christ crucified (v. 23) 2) The work of preaching it (v. 21)3) The message of the cross (v. 18) All of these are foolish things when viewed from a human perspective.However, the foolishness or weakness of God cannot be compared to the wisdom of men. The content of 1 Corinthians 1:26 is a little different.“For you see your calling, brothers: how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.”The phrase "not many wise men after the flesh" does not mean that there are none.In other words, there are people with wisdom, ability, and noble, that is, people with genealogy, but they are not that many.If there were, they would still be treated as elites, right?In fact, if you look at churches, these days there are churches that are like high-class social clubs.The church has become a club where people hang out among themselves. Why did he choose the foolish?“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and thangs which  are despised, has God chosen, yea, and the things which are not, to bring to nought things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)The lowly people, the despised ones, and the ones who are despised like rejected stones.I don’t know about you, but I was someone who tried to fit in as if I was an elite, but now I like being foolish, weak, lowly, and despised better.God uses people who have nothing, people who have no value, to nullify those who are.He chooses the nonexistent and nullifies the existing.This is the essence of the message of the cross. This is why Paul cried out for the cross of Christ. “So that no one may boast before God” (1 Corinthians 1:29)No flesh dares to boast before God.Paul viewed Jewish circumcision as an act of boasting about one's flesh, that is, boasting about what one can see.However, Paul himself states that he boasts only in the cross of Christ, which is the invisible power and wisdom of God (Galatians 6:13-14)Paul is truly a great Christian legend. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God, and the wisdom is righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.Here, redemption means a ransom.The effectiveness of righteousness, sanctification, and redemption is eternally revealed to us through the wisdom of Christ.Therefore, 1 Corinthians 1:31 tells us to boast in the Lord."As it is written, Let the one who boasts boasts in the Lord."However, the church in Corinth boasted of people. They knew Christ according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16).Even now, there are many who know only Jesus who came in the flesh, followed Him to the cross and hung Jesus on that cross, saying, "Believe in Jesus, forgiveness of sins, believe in Jesus, and go to heaven, Amen, Lord Jesus, come quickly."Therefore, when preaching Christ, we should not boast only of His bodily resurrection. He is Originally, he was God. He just came in the flesh.Always boast that the spirit and life of Christ, the living resurrection and life, is in us.This is the true evangelism, the praise and testimony of Christ, the truth. Hallelujah! Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.Translated by  Nancy Chung COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION To God be the glory.