1 Corinthians 1:18 - 2:5
About the Text
(18) Who are the ones Paul calls the "perishing"? Unbelievers, as opposed to believers "who are being saved."
(18) What is the "message of the cross"? That the divine Jesus Christ became like scum of the earth, and died a horrible death on a cross, that would result in cleansing the believer from all sin, regardless of what he's done or will do, and with the result of supernaturally transforming his character and will. To many in this world, this truth is confusing, ludicrous, superstitious, unacceptable, or just plain weird.
(19) Does this mean that God is against the intellect? No. God made our intellect and designed it for us to use for His glory. Paul's statement in this verse is referring to one's use of his intellect alone to reach God or to answer the great divine mysteries of the world.
(20) Then whom was Paul speaking of when he refers to "the wise man," "the philosopher," and "the scholar"? He was speaking of the popular Greek philosophies of the day, such as the thoughts of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Epicurus (cf. Acts 17), and the Stoics. In such circles, it was customary to debate back and forth, listening to new ideas conjured up in the minds of creative men. The problem, Paul implies, is that this kind of "religion by human design" ends up with a view of God that is very different from the truth.
(21) Why would the Christian message be considered "foolishness" to the philosophers and Greeks? Because it didn't make sense, when compared to their own "sensible" religion that they dreamed up themselves. It lacked the polished rhetoric, persuasive argumentation, credible debate, and anti-supernaturalism that many Greek required in order to be "respectable." Their problem was that Reason was their God. The God of the Bible didn't fit into their limited view of a god of higher civilization. See Acts 17:16-34 for an example of the Greek philosophers' reaction to Paul's preaching of the resurrection of Christ.
(22) Why would the Christ's cross be a "stumbling block" to Jews? Because of they had the Old Testament, they thought they had God all figured out. They remembered Deut. 21:23 - "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse." To them, a Messiah meant power, splendor, triumph. A crucifixion meant weakness, humiliation, defeat. To the Jew, a crucified Christ was a contradiction in terms, like "fried ice." Thus, they kept asking for more miraculous signs as proof of divine power.
(24) Whom does the phrase "to those whom God has called" refer to? All those whom God has chosen to become believers now or in the future. Note that this verse implies that God's call is effectual; that is, when God calls a chosen person to believe, he believes. Those who die as unbelievers were never called by God. See the use of the term "called" in verses 1, 2, and 9.
(24) In what way is Jesus Christ "the power of God"? Jesus Christ brings out the power of God mostly clearly when faltering speakers bring a strange message to a rag-tag audience, results in miraculous conversions, an end to quarrels, healed relationships, a transformed character, and all the other blessings of salvation.
(4) What did Paul mean by his preaching "with a demonstration of the Spirit's power"? Although it may include his miraculous "signs and wonders" (cf. 2 Cor. 12:10), the context makes it lean towards its reference to the dramatic conversions that result from Paul's preaching.
Insights
Key Memory Verse
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and
him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and
my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the
Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's
power." (1 Cor. 2:2-5)