Lessons From 1 Corinthians – Lesson 2
After starting the letter with giving the Corinthians assurance of their salvation, he started dealing with the first issue that he is going to address.
And that has to do with giving glory to men. In a way Idolizing preachers.
Using eloquent speaking and wisdom of men as well as personality as a measuring stick for the quality of preaching and the value of the preacher. This is an issue for many today as well.
They had created divisions in their church over this. Some were saying I am after Apollos, others I am of Cephas, and others I am of Paul.
And before chapter 1 is over Paul has made good headway on this. Paul declared that he was not sent to preach the gospel with wisdom of words.
That God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and that God has chosen the foolishness of preaching. That the foolishness of God is wiser than men. And that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many Nobile are called.
Instead God choses the foolish and the weak and the base things. And that no flesh should glory in His presence.
That was a lot. But he is nowhere near done with this. In fact you see the end to this line of thought in
1 Cor 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. That is the main issue being dealt with here.
So from after the opening statement in chapter 1 to verse 6 in chapter 4 it is all somehow connected to this issue of thinking too highly of specific men. Of giving men glory and status that they should not have.
Paul spends a lot of time on this before he gets into other areas that need addressed. I think there could be serval reasons he deals with this first and so thoroughly.
One thing is if you are involved in praising men and thinking so highly of them that it causes divisions among you, then you are grieving the Spirit of God that you so badly need.
To live in a way pleasing to God and to have a good walk with God, you need the help of the comforter and the teacher.
So Paul is going to really lay out this issue. And next he is going to use himself as an example.
1 Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1st Paul was not eloquent. And God chose him as an apostle. Paul is an example of God choosing the base things and weak things and NOT those with wisdom in the flesh.
1 Cor 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
And he gives a reason for why this is God’s way.
1 Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
If a man just simply repeats God’s precious word. And without man wisdom of eloquent speech and emotion manipulation, then faith that comes from that comes from the power of God.
When faith comes from simple preaching, the kind that does not entertain, the kind that does not have you sitting on the edge of your seat. When faith comes from that it is because God moved. So God gets the glory for it. God burdened the heart, and God opened the eyes.
Preaching needs to be without the wisdom of this world.
1 Cor 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
When reading Paul’s letters you have to watch for a parenthetical statement. A fancy word for additional information. It is like putting a pause on the main topic, giving other information that has some bearing on the topic at hand and then going back to the main topic.
We know the main topic does not end in Chapter 4 verse 6.
Paul just said that his preaching was not by the enticing words of man’s wisdom, and that is so that their faith would not stand in the wisdom of men.
So Paul has brought the topic of wisdom into his argument. Specifically the difference between man’s wisdom and God’s wisdom.
So Paul pauses for a moment and does a parenthetical statement on wisdom.
He deals with this. We don’t use man’s wisdom, however, we do use wisdom. God’s wisdom.
1 Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Cor 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
And this wisdom that we use comes from the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:12 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.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
And those who are not saved do not have this wisdom because the lost do not have the spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
God’s wisdom is above all. It is perfect. Nothing and no one is greater.
Anyone who is saved has the spirit and thus can have this wisdom. However, not all are willing to listen. Even though God’s wisdom is perfect.
1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1 Cor 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
And now Paul closes the additional line of thought on wisdom that we use and its source and who can’t have it. And now gets back to the main point.
Using God’s wisdom and not man’s wisdom in preaching has bearing on this issue so Paul took a little side step and dealt with the issue of wisdom.
Now back to their issue of division because of thinking too much of certain preachers.
1 Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1 Cor 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
So thinking too much of certain preachers and causing division over it, is evidence that you are carnal.
Paul is now going to make the point that the men who are preaching in and of themselves are nothing. It really is God who does the real work.
1 Cor 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1 Cor 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Cor 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
It is God that gives the increase. It is God and only God that can work in the lives of people and prepare them ahead of time to really hear.
It is God and only God that can bring real conviction and only God that can open eyes. Yes God has ordained that some man must open his mouth or give out tracts. But that is all man can do. All of the real work, God does.
A question might then come if the preachers are all nothing and God does all the real work, then if I am a preacher and am nothing, then am I going to get nothing for my effort.
If God does all the work, then does it even matter what I say or how I preach. Does God even care? Paul heads all of these kind of questions off at the pass. Does not even let them get started.
So Paul kind of side steps and deals with this thought, since it does have some bearing on the big issue.
1 Cor 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
We are nothing, and God does all the real work, however, our labor does please God. And our labor is needed, our labor is important, and every man will be rewarded according to his own labor.
So if I plant a seed, and if another comes along and reaps, then since I had a part, I will be rewarded. Even though I did not lead the soul to Christ, I had a part.
God is keeping track, and He is faithful and good and will reward everyone according to his own labor. Even though God does all the real work. Convicting, working in lives, opening eyes, and drawing.
Our simple labor is critical and God is watching and keeping track of all our labor.
But what if our labor is done wrong. What if our motivation is wrong, what if we build our work on the wrong things. All good questions.
So since this came up and since it does have some bearing on the big picture, Paul takes another side step and deals with this.
1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
How will it be determined what work you will be rewarded for and what you will not.
It will go thru the judgment of God, if your work was wood, hay, and stubble type, it will burn up and be as if you never done it.
If it is of the precious stone type, you will be rewarded.
If all your work is burned up at the judgment, you are still saved. Just with no reward.
Verse 18 we get back to the issue of, with the worlds wisdom.
1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1 Cor 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
And now we are fully back to the main topic. A topic comes up as Paul goes along, so he side steps deals with that, then back to main topic, another topic comes us, so Paul side steps and gives more information on that topic.
And then back to the main topic.
And along the way we learned that the man of God is to preach simply, plainly in the wisdom of God and not in the wisdom of men.
And that the man of God gets this wisdom from the Holy Spirit. And so since it is not man’s wisdom but God’s then the man is nothing but all glory belongs to God. It is God that gives the increase. It is God that does all the real work.
And all of this runs counter to people giving man glory for preaching in man’s wisdom.
And if a man preaches with only God’s wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit, then he will be rewarded for that and if not it will burn up and there will be no rewards.
They were giving praise and glory to preachers and putting one preacher over another and arguing about it. Causing division over this. So Paul deals with all the issues that have bearing on this.
From man’s wisdom vs. God’s wisdom, to glory, to rewards, and so on. Paul touched on a lot of things and in some way they are all related to the main issue of holding certain preachers in high regard over other preachers.
And now comes the wrap up of the issue.
1 Cor 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1 Cor 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1 Cor 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Let no man glory in men. Think of preachers as just stewards. Just men who are servants of God who simply repeat God’s word and who let God do the work and who give God all the glory for it.
And a final word. A steward is required to be faithful, and it is God that will judge the work of preachers.
In the end judging preachers is not man’s job. Now as far as judging if you will follow a preacher, that is something each person is to do. As far as judging if you will support his work, you are responsible for that.
The bible does teach that we are to use spiritual discernment on all things.
But judgment on who is a better preacher than who, and as far as judgment on what ministries which preacher is or is not involved in.
I think you know what I am talking about. Well so and so has a eat wild animals night for the men and your preacher does not. Since so and so has a bus route, then all preachers must.
Leave all of that to God. God does use different men in different ways.
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Cor 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1 Cor 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
God sees it all, God will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. So let God deal with that.
1 Cor 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Do not think of men above what you should. Amen and Amen!