1:19-21
Here Paul continues the discussion that he introduced by the second half of v. 17: not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. He intends to show clearly how the ways of self-reliant humanity are totally opposed to the ways of God. Human wisdom and God's wisdom are two different things. In the Corinthians' love for human wisdom, they are in danger of failing to understand God's wisdom.
In v. 19 Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14. If you get a chance, read Isaiah 29; it is a beautiful and profound chapter. First God says that He will fight against and humble Jerusalem. Then He turns to the enemies of Israel, stating that they will be destroyed when He comes with thunder and earthquake and great noise. Of course this is referring to the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus returns to earth with a mighty arrival.
Then the chapter turns to address those who come near to God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him. These are people who practice the outward things of faith/religion but who really depend on this world and on themselves for life. Their worship is made up of rules taught by men. They are proud, self-reliant and stubborn people. Therefore, they are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and they cannot understand the gospel nor the wisdom of God.
These are the types of people that Jesus often rebuked, and He used quotes from Isaiah 29, such as in Matthew 15:7-9.
Paul uses Isaiah 29:14 to describe the proud, worldly-wise, intelligent people who cannot understand the gospel. It is not through this world's wisdom that people will understand God's truth about Jesus, but only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Since "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble," (James 4:6) it is the humble people who receive and are able to accept the gospel, because God gives them grace to understand it.
Does this mean that intelligent people can't grasp the message of Christ? No. Paul was very intelligent. But it takes God's Spirit to open our eyes to understand. Paul needed the Damascus road experience to grasp the gospel - his human intellect wasn't enough. Our intelligence and wisdom alone is not enough to give us understanding. We must have a humble, teachable heart that WANTS to find God.
It is God's plan to reveal Himself to the humble, the needy, those who want Him. It is also His plan to hide Himself from the proud and arrogant. That is what Paul means in verse 21 when he says "the world through its wisdom did not know" God. The proud people in the world ("wise man, scholar, philosopher of this age") depend on this world's wisdom for guidance and to know God. But this world's wisdom cannot get us to God. That is why the gospel, the true Way to God, has "made foolish the wisdom of the world."
The tower of Babel in Genesis 11 represents proud humanity's attempt to reach up to God by its own power, wisdom, strength and hard work. The tower was man's building upwards in pride and self-reliance. This world says "If you DO enough, try hard enough, you will get to God." Christianity says, God came down to us, and we need to do things His way, not by our own strength. Salvation comes through the "foolishness" (according to the world) of preaching the gospel of Jesus.
When we humble ourselves and ask God for His help, He answers us. If we are committed to doing things the way that everyone else does them, and figuring everything out according to the wisdom of this world, then God resists us.
In v. 19 Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14. If you get a chance, read Isaiah 29; it is a beautiful and profound chapter. First God says that He will fight against and humble Jerusalem. Then He turns to the enemies of Israel, stating that they will be destroyed when He comes with thunder and earthquake and great noise. Of course this is referring to the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus returns to earth with a mighty arrival.
Then the chapter turns to address those who come near to God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him. These are people who practice the outward things of faith/religion but who really depend on this world and on themselves for life. Their worship is made up of rules taught by men. They are proud, self-reliant and stubborn people. Therefore, they are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and they cannot understand the gospel nor the wisdom of God.
These are the types of people that Jesus often rebuked, and He used quotes from Isaiah 29, such as in Matthew 15:7-9.
Paul uses Isaiah 29:14 to describe the proud, worldly-wise, intelligent people who cannot understand the gospel. It is not through this world's wisdom that people will understand God's truth about Jesus, but only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Since "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble," (James 4:6) it is the humble people who receive and are able to accept the gospel, because God gives them grace to understand it.
Does this mean that intelligent people can't grasp the message of Christ? No. Paul was very intelligent. But it takes God's Spirit to open our eyes to understand. Paul needed the Damascus road experience to grasp the gospel - his human intellect wasn't enough. Our intelligence and wisdom alone is not enough to give us understanding. We must have a humble, teachable heart that WANTS to find God.
It is God's plan to reveal Himself to the humble, the needy, those who want Him. It is also His plan to hide Himself from the proud and arrogant. That is what Paul means in verse 21 when he says "the world through its wisdom did not know" God. The proud people in the world ("wise man, scholar, philosopher of this age") depend on this world's wisdom for guidance and to know God. But this world's wisdom cannot get us to God. That is why the gospel, the true Way to God, has "made foolish the wisdom of the world."
The tower of Babel in Genesis 11 represents proud humanity's attempt to reach up to God by its own power, wisdom, strength and hard work. The tower was man's building upwards in pride and self-reliance. This world says "If you DO enough, try hard enough, you will get to God." Christianity says, God came down to us, and we need to do things His way, not by our own strength. Salvation comes through the "foolishness" (according to the world) of preaching the gospel of Jesus.
When we humble ourselves and ask God for His help, He answers us. If we are committed to doing things the way that everyone else does them, and figuring everything out according to the wisdom of this world, then God resists us.
posted by Rob | 8:54 AM
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