1 Corinthians Chapter 1 (NLT)- 18-31 Verses.
What did we learn previously?
We seen Paul addressing the fighting go on about baptism, and wisdom of men of oh look who done this for me, rather than focusing on the Lord Christ Jesus, who was going to return back to get them, according to the first several verses. Paul told them to stay focused and trust in God and God would keep them spotless and blameless when the Lord would return, as they were God's chosen holy people, who were invited to be in partnership with the Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul came to them only knowing the Life; Death; Resurrection and sharing the Good News with them, so the Cross of Christ would not lose it's power and get lost out in the wisdom of men, and fighting of others and who were better.
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”[
e]
20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
Verse 18: Paul is saying the message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction because of their own worldly wisdom and not looking towards God. Those who are being saved know the cross - life, burial, and resurrection of Christ - is the very power of God.
Verse 19: Scriptures say - "God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and discard the intelligence of the intelligent, - Probably not the best use of scripture here but lets try to figure out this.
God will - destroy the wisdom of the wise -> It is possible for God is a consuming fire to burn down the wisdom of the wise if they come to the knowledge of the truth, though right now the cross seems foolish to them.
So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the worlds brilliant debaters?
Verse 20: Paul is asking -> God is going to destroy the wisdom of the wise.
Who can stand up against God? No one, -> Looking towards God who can bring back the dead to life, wisdom of the word seems foolish when you come to the truth about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
Verse 21 : God by his wisdom saw that the world would never know him through human wisdom -> God has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.
Paul described earlier he came not preaching in trying to sound wise, (can't find the reference) - but he came not in wise speech or trying to sound intelligent yet He came to speak the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and his life, death, and resurrection. (Which sounds crazy to some now today) The foolishness of delivery may come off confusing, but God uses it for the benefit of seekers of Truth in God.
Verses 22: It was was foolish to the Jews who ask for signs in heavens : Jews considered the cross a foolish thing, because they desired signs and heavens. It was foolish to the Greeks who seek human wisdom rather than wisdom of God.
Verses 23: Paul says we we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it is all nonsense. They choose not to believe, they say ah who cares about that, or you are offending me by speaking these things.
24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,[
f] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Verse 24: Paul goes on to say; Those who are called by God unto salvation both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
So people who make the choice to believe in the message of the Gospel of Christ in learning about his life, and his death, and the resurrection and make the choice to believe on God and the promises that are being made through this Gospel realize that it is the the death of Christ, and his resurrection is the power of God, and also the wisdom of God and not of men.
Verse 25: The foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
So God's plan was wiser than any other plan a human could make.
God's weakness - because people saw Christ as weak and not truly the Son of God and thought he was crazy - > Was stronger than than the greatest of human strength.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[
g] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
Verse 26: Paul reminds the brothers and sister; that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God has called you - and you accepted and turned to Him by your choice.
Now you are wise, because you made the choice to believe in God, and his wisdom and strength rather than that of anyone else.
Verse 27: Paul reminds them God chose the things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.
(Some consider Love a weakness?) Christ Jesus - Showed love, humility, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and love.
And he chose the things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
(Many considered because of the way Jesus Christ was he was powerless and weak.)
28 God chose things despised by the world,[
h] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
Verse 28: God sent his Son Jesus Christ who was despised by the world, and the world considered him nothing at all. Using Christ Jesus Christ to be far more important over what the world considers important.
Verses 29: As a result no one can ever boast in the presence of God -> You have been saved by grace through your choice of believing and having faith.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”[
i]
Verse 30: Paul reminds them the people at Corinthians : God has united you with Christ Jesus.
For our benefit God made Christ Jesus to wisdom itself.
Christ made us right with God - (to them then - Christ Jesus has made us pure, and holy, and freed us from sin (we also to are freed from sin).
Therefore scriptures say, if you want to boast -> Boast only in the Lord not what men and their wisdom teachs.
Glad this is over haha, this take a lot of time to go verse by verse
Done with 1 Chapter!
God is good, hope anyone who reads gains something out of it: Glory to God for it, and look towards the Lord Jesus Christ for wisdom.