Paul's Warning and Admonishment for Those He Loves

1Co 4:14-21  I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.  (15)  For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  (16)  I urge you, then, be imitators of me.  (17)  That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.  (18)  Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.  (19)  But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.  (20)  For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.  (21)  What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Paul here explains his previous statements and admonishments, explains why he says them. Paul loves the Corinthians as his children and that is why he warns them and admonishes them. He also gives another warning to those who are in the Corinthian church.  

1Co 4:14  I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

What he told them in the previous passages, could very well have made them feel ashamed, it very well could make them feel foolish. He gave them a picture of how much the apostles suffer, and then allowed the Corinthians to make the connection of how little they suffered. It very well might have made them feel ashamed because he just told them “You sit in comfortable houses, you have no persecution, the biggest difficulty you have is deciding ‘who you follow’, us, the apostles have gone to the point of death, we have been beaten, we have been persecuted in every way, WAKE UP”. But, as much as it might wake them up and make them feel ashamed, that wasn't Paul’s point, his point was to warn them. He changes his tone from sarcastic to one of loving mercy, one of genuine concern. He loves them as children because he was put in the place of “raising them” so to speak, and he loved them as God loves them. So, although he was harsh with them for a little while, as with children, you need to be just, but you also need to be doing it for the right reason: you love them. God loves us and his discipline is for our benefit and because he loves us. Psa 94:12-13  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,  (13)  to give Him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. God truly does discipline us for our good, and he warns us for our good, and the same is true for how the apostle Paul treated the Corinthians.

1Co 4:15-16  For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  (16)  I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Paul is their Spiritual father, there are many people who “guide” their spiritual lives, but really, only Paul was their “father” he cares about them more than their guides. This is a transition verse that explains both the previous verse and the next verse. It explains that he loves them as children and so his rebuke is not meant to be condemning, but it’s meant to be exhorting. It’s meant not to push them down, but to help them up. It’s transitioning into the next verse (16) because verse sixteen explains how their relation to each other should influence their actions. He calls them to imitate him because they are his spiritual children. Most children imitate their parents, he is an example of a godly spiritual father and he wants them to be a godly spiritual person just as he is, by God’s grace.

1Co 4:17  That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Paul Sent Timothy to the Corinthians because as much as we think we remember things, we are a drifting people, our habits, our likes, everything we do drifts with the waves of life. Paul knew that some of them had drifted from what he had taught them. Timothy was Paul’s representation, Timothy acted as Paul did, he knew what Paul knew, at least most of it. Therefore, Paul sent Timothy to them to remind them how they ought to act and how they ought to live. Moreover, Paul taught the SAME thing everywhere he went, he taught the gospel and the simplicity of it, and taught them how they ought to live, he didn't change it up everywhere he went, and he stayed consistent. We also ought to stay consistent because the gospel is consistent, not that we can't grow, we have infinite room to grow. However, we need to stay true to Christ. We need to be careful not to drift as most people do, we need to be careful not to drift as the Corinthians did. The real question Heb 2:1-3  Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  (2)  For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,  (3)  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, The Bible is clear what happens to those who do not stay with their faith to the end. If you pray a prayer and think that that’s your magic ticket to heaven, you are absolutely wrong, because if there is not a change in your life, you are in danger of Christ saying he never knew you. Mat 7:22-23  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23)  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'. Here in Galatians tells us how we should live. Gal 5:24-26  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  (25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Those that are saved will have fruit from the Spirit, they will have, as it says here, crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Do not become lazy in your faith, do not let it slip from your fingers. Do not become complacent in your spiritual life or in living for Christ.

1Co 4:18  Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

Some people clearly thought that Paul wouldn't come back to them because he was “scared” and “afraid” of those that thought they were so powerful. This is the same issue that is at work in our churches today, there are people that act as if Christ is not coming back, and people are acting as if THEY are more authoritative on scripture than scripture itself is. There are people who are trying to change God into something much less than he is, and raise people to much more than they are. The Pope is being raised up as godlike, and even some evangelical pastors are raised up as almost godlike and their word is taken as the gospel truth and people don’t even check the facts against scripture, which is the ONLY source of truth. Christ said this Mat 24:37-38  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, For we need to be ready for Christ to return as he promised, we can’t be like those in Corinth and doubt the return, they doubted the return of Paul, sometimes we doubt the return of Christ, sometimes we weary like the disciples in the garden, yet we need to stay vigilant. 1Pe 5:8-9  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  (9)  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. The easiest thing for Satan, is when the Christians are lazy and do not fight with the zeal that we get from the power of Christ.

1Co 4:19-20  But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.  (20)  For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Paul lets them know that he plans on going back to Corinth, and as soon as he can as long as the Lord wills that it is to be. He also tells them that he will find out what they are talking about, but more importantly, he will test their power, he will test them to see if what they are teaching is true and if they have the power of the Holy Spirit.  Because, what they say doesn't matter if they do not have the spiritual power to back it up. The kingdom of God doesn't consist of empty talk, but it consists of true power given by God.

1Co 4:21  What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

He then asks a simple question: Do you want me to come with discipline or with gentle friendship? The people were straying away from the gospel and this was his warning that they were following false teachers, if they didn't straighten up themselves, he would have to come with discipline and straighten them out. This is also a warning to us, although not spoken by Paul, God speaks this to us when we stray, if we don’t go back to him, we will be disciplined out of love, Heb 12:5-11  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him.  (6)  For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives."  (7)  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  (8)  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  (9)  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  (10)  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  (11)  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Discipline is not a bad thing, it is painful though, and if we act in righteousness, God doesn't need to discipline us. The Old Testament is full of God disciplining his people many times and each time it causes his people to come back to Him. Today, many of us don’t want to endure God’s discipline, this is completely wrong, we need to endure discipline and take it to heart for the sake of righteousness. Moreover, we need to identify when we are being disciplined because if we are to have a heart for God we cannot ignore discipline. Our attitude should be like that of David: Psa 94:12  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, David realized that discipline is a good thing when we stray away, for if we aren't being disciplined, do we truly have a father that loves us? No, it very well could mean that our father is Satan if we are not being disciplined for our wrongdoings. 1Jn 3:10  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. This doesn't mean that if you sin, you are a child of the devil, it means that those who continually practice sin are children of the devil, moreover, if you are a child of God and you continually sin, he WILL discipline you as he did the children of Israel. 

In conclusion, we need to be wary, we need to be diligent, we need to accept discipline, and we need to be ready. We need to be wary of teachers teaching things that are false, 2Pe 2:1-2  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. There will be false teachers and they will be popular, but they will bring destruction upon the church and upon the individuals that listen to them and follow them. We need to be diligent in our salvation, we need to be guarding our salvation Php 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, We need to be careful not to drift, not to fall away, we need to remain steady and consistent within our faith, because if we don't, we WILL fall away and we WILL either be found to not be followers of Christ, or we will be disciplined by him. We also need to accept discipline from God, because He tells us that it is an extension of His love and so we need to use it to adopt change. We also need to be ready for Christ to come back, in our personal salvation and in the spreading of his word. In the end, we need to continue to focus on Christ and live for Him and for His glory every minute of every day.

The Gospel - Folly to the Foolish and Wisdom to the Wise

1 Cor. 1:18  "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
1 Cor. 1:19  For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.' 
1 Cor. 1:20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 
1 Cor. 1:21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 
1 Cor. 1:22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 
1 Cor. 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 
1 Cor. 1:24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

1 Cor. 1:18  "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

The "word of the cross" is referring to the Gospel message of Christ dying on the cross and being raised again on the third day. If you don't believe something is true, then chances are you believe that it is a foolish idea, or thought, or statement. Paul is saying that if you are not saved, you don't believe the Gospel is true, and therefore believe it's foolish. However, if you are saved, you believe the Gospel, and you know that it is truth, and that it is where the power of God is shown. In the power of His grace and the power of our salvation, both in action (the paying the price), and in the saving of us (the beginning of our salvation).

1 Cor. 1:19  "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"  (Found in Isaiah 29:14)

Using the KJV will help to clear up what this verse is saying.
(KJV)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 
Paul's point is that anybody who thinks himself wise and has any faith in his own knowledge and understanding will be humbled and learn that it has no eternal value. When we die, all that will matter is our knowledge of and faith in Christ. When the earth gets destroyed, all its history, all the sciences, all medicine, all philosophy, all language will be useless to us due to it's imperfection.  When we get to heaven, it will all become unnecessary to remember the history we were taught, we will not need to know about science (at least science of today, we may still learn how God made things to work perfectly, but not man's pathetic shot at understanding it), medicine will be obsolete, philosophy will become false, and we won't need to worry about spelling or grammar. What you are taught in school will not gain you salvation, so in mind of eternity, it won't matter. Not to mention, most of our philosophy, history, science, and language, is full of misinformation, and/or human convention which will all be destroyed.

1 Cor. 1:20-21  "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."

I believe the reference to the "wise" is relating to the philosophers of the time in the Gentile world, the scribes would be the Jewish version of this, being the people who are "wise" within the Jewish culture, and the debater which would be the person who thinks they can confound people by their brilliance. Then, Paul goes on to say that God has made the wisdom of people into nothing, he has destroyed it, and it is worthless. His point is this: "See all these people whom you deem smart? Whom you think are brilliant? Well, they say nothing wise; it is all foolishness." The wisdom of God is the reason that world can not know God through wisdom. I know that's maybe difficult to understand, so let me try to re-phrase it. Not allowing men to find God through wisdom is what God deemed wise. Why did God decide that the only way to Him was through Christ and His death and not through worldly wisdom? Because if God allowed men to find Him through their own wisdom it would create pride in the fact that they found God, and others with less wit didn't.  I leave folly in quotation marks because it isn't folly, it is wisdom. But yet, to those who do not believe, (as it says in verse 18 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing") it is foolish; if it wasn't foolish to them, they would believe because who would pick folly over wisdom?

1 Cor. 1:22  "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,"

The Jews look for God in the signs, and the Greeks look for God through earthly wisdom. But neither will find Him. Because they only way to find God is through faith in the "folly" of Christ's death and resurrection.

1 Cor. 1:23  "but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,"

The proper translation would be "an offence to the Jews" The reason being that they expected a physical king, one who would save them from the world at large. What they didn't realize is that He came to save them from the carnality of the world and not from the rulers of the world. The reason that is is folly to the Gentiles, is that it goes against everything they know. Some guy, in Judea died and then His followers claim He rose again. Why would this make sense? Sacrifice does not make sense, and they hadn't ever seen anybody rise from the dead before. That is foolishness to the "rational" humanistic mind; why should we do something to better others if it hurts ourselves?

1 Cor. 1:24  "but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

The word "called":
"κλητός
klētos
klay-tos'
invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint: - called."
Basically, those who are saved: the believers in Christ. This is just a reiteration of what Paul says back in verse 18: "But to us who are being saved it is the power of God." We are saved by Christ, and even though it doesn't make sense from a humanistic-logical-sinful standpoint, it makes sense from God's viewpoint and believers see it as perfect wisdom on God's part.


The whole purpose of this passage is to reaffirm that Christ is true wisdom to the believer. And although those of this age may think they are smart and have wisdom but it will all perish, as will they. It says the Jews wanted signs, yet because of the lack of signs and the lack of Christ doing what they expected, He was a stumbling block and offensive to the Jews. To the Gentiles, it didn't make sense. Why would they care about some guy who died in a different culture? Yet, it is wisdom to us believers who think not with the foolish Gentile mind, nor with the tainted mind of the Jew. Instead, we think with the mind of the Holy Spirit Who was given to us by God to explain His mysteries and to guide us through our lives. 

Division, Unity, and Christ

1 Cor. 1:10  "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 
1 Cor. 1:11  For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 
1 Cor. 1:12  What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' 
1 Cor. 1:13  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 
1 Cor. 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 
1 Cor. 1:15  so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 
1 Cor. 1:16  (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 
1 Cor. 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

Divisions within the church disrupt both the growth of the people and the growth of the kingdom of God. Does this mean there is nothing we should disagree on? Yes, it does. Does this mean, however, that we won't disagree on anything? I don't think so...


1 Cor. 1:10  "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (ESV)

1 Cor. 1:10  "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (KJV)

I think that the KJV translates this verse better than the ESV because of the difference of words "agree" and "speak." The difference is that is is impossible for people to agree on everything unless they are all perfect and of one mind with God. Now, "speaking the same thing" means that men can say the same things, even if they do not believe all of the same specifics. Let me explain - all believers should agree on the basics of the faith - we are sinners, Christ died for our sins, only through Christ can we be saved, it's through faith, and not works that we are saved, etc. These are the things that we should be speaking about in public, the Gospel message, and the basics of the faith. Things we disagree on, should not be debated in public, because it puts a face of disunity on Christianity. When we do disagree on things that are not of such importance, instead of assuming that the other person is wrong  and condemning them as not being saved. We should remember that we aren't perfect, so there is a possibility that they are right. The first reason you shouldn't condemn them is you might be wrong. The second reason is that you are not God, you can't judge their hearts, neither can you know if they are saved or not. Now, this isn't saying you can't discuss your differences, but don't be broadcasting that they are not saved, or they are 100% wrong. How do you know which one is wrong and which one is right? You have your opinion, you are convinced in your own mind which is what matters because of what it says in Romans 14:23b, "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." and in Romans 14:5, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."  These include any of your beliefs, and anybody else's beliefs.  The latter verse is talking about the Sabbath. Some believe that there is no difference between the Sabbath and any other day; others believe there is. This is one issue believers disagree on once in a while. What matters is that you are convinced, not if you esteem Sundays ahead of the other days or not. Unity in one mind and with the same judgement is again referring to the fact that we are all under Christ, the Holy Spirit should be our mind and our judgment on all things of life. We are not to be the same person, but we are to be under the same Person.

Galatians 5:25-26 reads "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Prior to this, Paul is explaining the fruits of the Spirit, three of which I would like to highlight: gentleness, patience, and kindness. We should be gentle with all people despite disagreeing, we should also be patient with people who believe things different from us, we should also be kind to each other despite different beliefs. For example, if you believe that one translation of the Bible is superior  to any of the others, why should you condemn, disgrace, and disassociate from other believers who believe the use of another is superior to yours or who believe one is not better than another? You both believe Christ is Lord, you both believe you are sinners, and you are both convinced in your own mind that you are right, so there is no reason not to get along, even if you do disagree. You are both saved, and you will know the true answer in heaven... and there is a chance both of you were wrong!

1 Cor. 1:11-12  "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.'"

In the previous verse Paul tells them that they should not be divided, and that they should be united under Christ. These verses go on to say that divisions have been among them, and he explains what he means, (which also gives us context to the previous verses.) The divisions among them (which were also referenced in the previous verse) consist of them following distinct people: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. They didn't realize that they are all under Christ, not each under their minister. They thought that each had his own beliefs instead of realizing that under Christ are different teachers, none that are perfect, but all that are under Him. The fact that they followed teachers, instead of Christ, led to dissension, quarreling and disunity within the church. Going back up to verse ten, it also explains why Paul is telling them to be of the same mind (from the Holy Spirit, and therefore Christ.) They are of different minds, not of the same mind, they were probably judging and accusing each other based on who they were "following." Paul is trying to tell them that they should not base their or anybody else's salvation on who taught or baptized them but on the deity of Christ.

1 Cor. 1:13  "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

I love Paul's sarcasm here, it really drives home his point that Christ was crucified, not Paul; they were baptized in the name of Christ, not Paul; Christ is the one who saved us, not Paul. This continues the thought from the previous verses very well. The last verses he says "this is what you say," now he is saying "Oh really? So is Christ really divided like that?". Then he says "So was I crucified for you? Did I save you?" The obvious answer is no, he did not die for them, he was not the one to save them. His other obvious question is "Is Christ divided?" the answer is no, how can and should we apply this? Are you a Calvinist? Are you a Baptist? Are you a Lutheran? I say you are none of the above, because of this verse. You are a CHRISTIAN! You are a follower of Christ, you shouldn't be a follower of Calvin; you shouldn't be a follower of Luther; you should be a follower of Christ. You may study their works, you may believe what they did, but you still are a follower of Christ because neither Luther nor Calvin died for your sins.

1 Cor. 1:14-16  "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)"

Paul doesn't want to become the people's idol because it is God that is the focus, not him. If none were baptized by him, none can say they were baptized in his name. Therefore it makes it harder for people to put him at the center of their religion.

1 Cor. 1:17  "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

Paul wasn't sent to baptize, he was sent to preach and spread the Gospel. He wasn't sent because he was a great orator, but because he was following Christ. The power of the cross is evident when people accept the Gospel, even when it doesn't sound good and when it wasn't persuasive. If he was eloquent, people would say that he convinced them because of his eloquence and persuasive voice and that it had nothing to do with the power of Christ's death.


Division - we need to be careful not to divide the church of God. We need to have grace when it comes to beliefs other than those central to our faith such as the Deity of Christ, the Trinity, His death and resurrection, etc. If what you believe stems from faith and doesn't go completely against the Bible, maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong, but what matters is that you believe it from faith and you are willing to be gracious, kind, and patient with those who disagree with you. I am not saying you can't disagree, or even discuss, but that you shouldn't quarrel or fight about it. Moreover, you follow CHRIST. You don't follow Paul. You don't follow Calvin. You don't follow Luther. You follow Christ. You may believe what Calvin said, and that is fine, but you are a Christian. Like Paul said, did  Calvin die for you? Were you baptized in Calvin's or Luther's name? I think not. Remember that the power of the cross is not shown when we are eloquent, or when we are good at speaking, but when the Holy Spirit speaks through us. No one can say we were good orators, no one can say it was we who convinced them; it was the Holy Spirit who convinced them. So, even if you are not good at talking, even if you are not good at sharing the Gospel, do it anyway. Let Christ reveal Himself to other people through you and despite your mistakes, showing His power and not your eloquence.

The gift of....

1 Cor. 1:1  "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 
1 Cor. 1:2  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 
1 Cor. 1:3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
1 Cor. 1:4  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 
1 Cor. 1:5  that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—
1 Cor. 1:6  even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—
1 Cor. 1:7  so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
1 Cor. 1:8  who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
1 Cor. 1:9  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 

I started in chapter two, so I'm going back to chapter one, then I'll go to chapter 3, (I'm just trying to confuse you).

1 Cor. 1:1  "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,"

Paul was called by the WILL of God - His determination, or His choice. He is an Apostle; he asserts his authority because of the many things he will chastise the Corinthians for, and the many things he will teach them. He wishes to make sure they know he is from God and has the authority to say what he says. Sosthenes is talked about one other time in Scripture, in Acts. 

Act 18:17  And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. 

1 Cor. 1:2  "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:"

Something interesting that was once pointed out to me about this passage is that this isn't "Paul's church," or "John's Church," it's God's church. All churches are God's, if they are seeking to follow Him, which you can tell when Paul says "to those sanctified", for when we are sanctified, we are saved, and therefore we belong to the church of God. Being Saints, which means we have been sanctified, brings us together in Christ with all other people who have been sanctified in and by Christ.

1 Cor. 1:3  "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Although you may see this as his common greeting, it has meaning to it.
Grace is favor from God, both in giving us salvation and in giving us provision, and in everything He has given, both to the human race and to Christians. 

Paul also wishes the Corinthians peace, which means to have stillness of mind. The only true peace you can have is if you fully and totally trust in God, in which case your mind should never be in conflict with itself or have anxiety. Grace is given to all people, and peace is given to those who are willing to trust in God fully.

1 Cor. 1:4-5  "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—"

Even though the Corinthian church had problems, Paul still thanked God for what He had done for them, through Christ. Paul sets an example here that we should note. He is thankful for what God has done, he doesn't complain about what He hasn't done. Paul says that the Corinthians abound in "speech" and "knowledge". Speech may refer to them speaking in tongues, for both in this and the next letter Paul talks several times about the Corinthians' ability to speak in tongues, and possibly to prophesy. When he speaks of knowledge, he is probably referring mostly to doctrine. Christ gave the Corinthians strong doctrine through Paul; however, just because they were given strong doctrine and the body of this church, as a whole, had strong doctrine does not signify that each individual, within the body at Corinth, had strong doctrine. This can be seen as we continue through the rest of the book of Corinthians (both one and two). There are many places where Paul has to dispel some kind of false doctrine within these two books.

1 Cor. 1:6  "even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—"

Testimony means evidence. Therefore, this verse is saying "as the evidence of Christ was proven to be among you." The phrase "even as" refers back to verse 5, which says "You were enriched in all speech and knowledge," so it is saying that they were being enriched in speech and knowledge while the testimony of Christ was being confirmed among them.

1 Cor. 1:7-8  "so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"So that"..... what is the "so" referring to? It is referring to this comment in verse four: "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus."  Paul gives thanks because of this grace, because they are not lacking any gift.
This is the definition of "gift" here, in this passage.
χάρισμα
charisma
char'-is-mah
From G5483; a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: - (free) gift.

(Strong)

This can mean a lot of things, perhaps the free gift of salvation, or it may be referencing the previous verses talking about "speech and knowledge," or it may possibly be referring to the other spiritual gifts. You could probably accept any of the previous explanations but, looking ahead to verse 8, you will see that these gifts are going to help keep you guiltless till the day of Jesus. Because of the phrase that follows, I would say that salvation, specifically sanctification, and spiritual gifts are being spoken of in this instance. Sanctification will be continued forever after you have been saved, thereby qualifying it as the only thing that will keep you holy till the end, unless you become perfect on earth. Sanctification brings you to perfection in God's eyes. 

This guiltlessness is what is being talked about in this passage. In order to be sustained to the end, you must be holy, in order to be holy, you must be either perfect by nature (which according to Paul when he wrote Romans, is not possible "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God") or you must be sanctified. To be sanctified, you must have Christ die for you, which is exactly what God has given to us. "Revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ..... in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" 

These are both referring to the second coming of Christ, which is talked about right before he goes to the cross, as well as in Hebrews: Heb 9:28  "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him." The second coming of Christ is when we will be saved eternally from the effects of sin and death.

1 Cor. 1:9  "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

This verse is reinforcing the previous verse, "who will sustain you". This verse, is saying that God is faithful, and will follow through with His promises. He brought you into fellowship with Christ, He will never let down His side of the covenant. As it says in Romans, 8:35-39:  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Once God has brought us into fellowship with Christ, we can't ever "lose" our salvation. To me, it sounds like Paul is saying "Don't worry, God will bring your salvation to completion." He says a similar thing in Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  He is saying that God doesn't start something He doesn't intend to finish. If you are saved by Him, you will continue in your salvation into eternity. We are brought into salvation by a faithful God who will sustain us till the end. We can be sure that we will reach the end, where He will complete the good work He began in us.

This verse has an interesting idea in it that a casual reading may not reveal. He says we were called by God. A call to arms, or being called to the mission field. Once He has given the call, we have to follow that call in order for our salvation to be complete. By disobeying the call, you are thereby sinning once again and more or less, spitting in the face of God. Who knows if you will receive a second call if you pass by the first? This should also dispel the notion of us initiating salvation, because if God has to call us then He is the one who initiated our chance for salvation.Without God opening our hearts and minds we have no choice to accept his salvation because we are dead in sin, a dead man can't do anything but stay dead. However, it should also dispel the idea of God completely controlling us and salvation having nothing to do with our choices. He raises us from out death in sin, and brings us to life in Him, allowing us to answer His call. However it is a call, not a command, nor does it say God forced anybody to be saved. You have to answer a call to arms, and you have to answer a call to the mission field. It is up to you to act on what God has called you to do. After saying this, I need to say that God may convince you like he did Paul, the only way out of your situation may be to follow God.


Paul gives thanks in this passage for all that God has done. He then gives some testimony to what God has done (not lacking in any spiritual gifts, they were given speech and knowledge,  and that Christ was shown to be among them.) He then confirms that God will continue to bless the church, and those who are sanctified by saying that He WILL sustain them, and that God IS faithful. This is his greeting to the church before he gets to the the real "issues" at hand.

Wisdom and the Holy Spirit

1 Cor. 2:6  "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 

1 Cor. 2:7  But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 

1 Cor. 2:8  None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

1 Cor. 2:9  But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him'—

1 Cor. 2:10  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

1 Cor. 2:11  For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 

1 Cor. 2:12  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 
1 Cor. 2:13  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 
1 Cor. 2:14  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 
1 Cor. 2:15  The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 
1 Cor. 2:16  'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." 

In my last post, I asserted that all you need to witness, is the Gospel - that Christ died and He rose again.

1 Cor. 2:1  "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom." 

This holds true. What happens sometimes, though, is that we never move on from this point.

1 Cor. 3:1  "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 

1 Cor. 3:2  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready."

When we are first saved, we are infants in Christ. This faith has to be brought from infancy to adulthood. 

In contrast to what I pointed out in my last post, we are supposed to give wisdom and knowledge to people, but to those that are already saved and growing. 

I shall continue where I left off, at 1 Corinthians 2:6.

1 Cor. 2:6  "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."

The mature, those are those who are complete in Christ, those who have been saved, and already know the basics of the faith and understand the Gospel.  This wisdom is Spiritual in nature, not earthly wisdom.  God is not interested in us winning Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; God is interested in us knowing about Him and who he is, Then show us how to live. This verse is repeating what He says in chapter one, verse nineteen:

1 Cor. 1:19  "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'" 

The wisdom of this age, and of those who deem themselves wise, He shall destroy. It shall not endure through eternity.
This wisdom is the same wisdom as Solomon talked about in Proverbs three:

Prov. 3:19  "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; 
Prov. 3:20  by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew." 

This wisdom is God's power. This wisdom is His actions. This wisdom is His plans, and His wisdom shows who He is. 

1 Cor. 2:7  "But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory."

"We" refers to those who preach the Gospel.  This same "mystery" or "secret" is talked about several times in the Gospels and in Paul's letters. For example:

Rom. 16:25  "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages." 

Eph 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 

Eph. 1:8  "which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 

Eph. 1:9  making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ 

Eph. 1:10  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth."

This Wisdom is the Gospel, His plan of salvation, and His plan to show His power and glory.
Conversely, this also brings us glory, and its purpose is to bring us glory. The glory we will receive is when we reach heaven, it is our salvation, and our reward for obeying Christ. This glory however, is still God's glory because it's nothing we did, but what He did. He was the One who supplied us with His glory; He is the one who created it.

1 Cor. 2:8  "None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Those who crucified Christ did not understand the Gospel. Had they understood the Gospel, they would have believed in Christ and believed that He was the Savior of the world. They would have then had nothing to do with condemning Him to death in the physical sense, (although through their previous sin they already condemned Him).

1 Cor. 2:9  "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'—"

This passage can be used both for our current lives, and also for our future lives. Life isn't going to be peachy in our current life because we are saved. However, we will be given things like joy and peace beyond anything we could have imagined if we had not been saved by Christ.

Rom. 14:17  "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

As stated here, in Romans 14, part of the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are in the Holy Spirit, we will have joy and peace; if we are not in the Holy Spirit, we will have unrest and not exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit. If we are not in the Spirit, how can He give us His fruit?

The second part of this verse is talking about future glory in heaven. This can be read about in Revelation twenty-one and twenty-two. Also, Christ talks about it in John 14: 

John 14:1  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.

John 14:2  In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also."

1 Cor. 2:10  "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

The Holy Spirit should be everything to the Christian. He is our guide; He is the one to whom God has given the responsibility to reveal His will to us. The Spirit knows more about you, than you do; He knows more about God than all the angels and people combined, because He is God. This verse refers to the previous verse in the context of our being able to know some of what God has in store for us through the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor. 2:11  "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

We know our thoughts, because our Spirit, the Holy Spirit knows God, because He is the Spirit within God.  We cannot understand all of God's thoughts, the Holy Spirit does, and therefore reveals some of His thoughts to us. However, we can't comprehend God or His thoughts. If we could, we would be God. Hence, we have to have the Holy Spirit reveal to us what we can comprehend of God.

1 Cor. 2:12  "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."

The spirit of this world is referring back to the wisdom of this world, the Holy Spirit doesn't give us that kind of wisdom, but He gives us Wisdom of God, Wisdom from God, and Wisdom in God. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of God and His hidden wisdom.

1 Cor. 2:13  "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." 

This is a very similar to the latter part of verse  six: "although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."
This verse finishes Verse 6, because it talks about what this wisdom actually is. Not a human wisdom, but one that is from the Holy Spirit, and one that is about God. The Holy Spirit interprets the Bible for us, if we interpret it without the Holy Spirit, we will not have the truth. 

1 Cor. 2:14  "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

Just because you are wise according to worldly standards, does not mean that you are wise in godly wisdom. In fact, if you are not in the Holy Spirit, you will not understand spiritual truths. Because you don't understand them, they will seem foolish to you. Moreover, if you are wise in worldly wisdom, you will have less of a reason to follow Christ and to lean on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is much easier for those who are not wise (considered foolish)to become Christians.  The reason for this is shown in these verses:

1 Cor. 1:26  "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 
1 Cor. 1:27  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 
1 Cor. 1:28  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 
1 Cor. 1:29  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 
1 Cor. 1:30  And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 
1 Cor. 1:31  so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

If you are not already considered wise, smart, or noble, there is nothing for you to boast about if you are saved, except in who gave you wisdom and salvation.

1 Cor. 2:15  "The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one."

Those in whom the Holy Spirit lives, are to "judge" or discern all things in the world. He will be able to discern many spiritual things because the Holy Spirit reveals it to him. However, those who are in the world, because they do not understand the wisdom of God, and do not have the Holy Spirit they are unable to judge a Christian because they lack discernment given by the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor. 2:16  "'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."

Paul asks an interesting rhetorical question, here. He asks who has understood the mind of the Lord. The obvious answer is no one (except the Holy Spirit who is part of the Godhead). He then goes on to make an interesting statement: "we have the mind of Christ." Did not Paul just finish saying that only the Holy Spirit understood the mind of God? Does it actually make sense that he would then come out and say we have the mind of Christ? The answer is yes; it does make sense. We don't understand it because it is above us, however the Holy Spirit is in us, and has the mind of Christ, and therefore we always have access, through the Holy Spirit, to the mind of Christ. The Spirit will then help us to understand the truths and thoughts contained within it.

Wisdom; there are two kinds. The first is earthly wisdom. This wisdom is of man; it is fleeting, it doesn't last into eternity. The rulers, and those considered wise are the people that have this wisdom, and since they will not last into eternity, neither will their wisdom. The second wisdom is of God, from God, and in God. It lasts into eternity because God is eternal. By those considered wise, it is foolish, by those considered foolish, it is considered wise. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the true, eternal wisdom. The Holy Spirit is in God, the Holy Spirit searches God, and brings to us His wisdom, which is why we always have access to the mind of Christ. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, which then gives us judgement and discernment. This is unattainable for those who do not have the Spirit in them. The purpose of this passage is to dispel the myth that we should never seek the deep things, and to clarify that the deep things are of God, and are only revealed through His Spirit.

Just the Basic Gospel?

1 Cor. 2:1  And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 
1 Cor. 2:2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 
1 Cor. 2:3  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 
1 Cor. 2:4  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 
1 Cor. 2:5  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 
(ESV)
I find this passage very interesting, and I think it is a good reminder of how we should be witnessing to others.

"And I, when I came to you, brothers,"
Paul went from Athens to Corinth, and stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and made tents with them, for they were tent makers. On the Sabbath, he went and taught and witnessed and probably debated in the synagogue. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half before leaving for Syria (Acts 18:1-18).

"did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom."
When Paul came to Corinth, he preached the Gospel: you are sinners, Christ came to save you from your sins, repent and you shall be saved.  He didn't come to prove that he was smart or that he was better than than those to whom he spoke.  He came to share the simple truth. Now, I think the key word is "simple," as we will see in the following verses.

 "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
Paul preached the very simple Gospel - nothing more nothing less - Christ died for you.  That is how he witnessed.  When he came to Corinth, he witnessed, not using deep doctrine, but he witnessed using only the Gospel: You are a sinner, you need to be saved, and Christ came to save you.

" And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,"
Why would Paul, one of the pillars of Christianity, be afraid?  Was he afraid of people hurting him? Was he afraid of being rejected?  I think not.  I think he was afraid of letting Christ down; that, in some way, his doctrine might not be correct, or that he might say something he didn't mean to say. He is afraid of leading others astray by accident.

"and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,"
The Gospel doesn't make sense logically.  Why would a God send down his own Son to die for sinful men?  You can't figure it out through logic because it just doesn't make sense. Then, you might ask why anybody would believe it, and here is my answer to you: "demonstration of the Spirit and of power."  The Holy Spirit has so much power to move men's hearts, that you can't imagine it.  He uses His infinite power to save men, and move their hearts.

"so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God"
If our faith rested in the wisdom of men, it would draw away from the power of Christ and His death. Not only that, but it wouldn't make much sense, and we would be fools since what we believe does not make sense without the Bible to explain it.  If Paul had been able to convince people based on logic, or based on reasoning, or because of his eloquence they would not have stood faithful; they would have reasoned themselves to false theology and doctrine. When people are saved by God's power, that is where they will always look for wisdom, or at least that is where they should look for wisdom, because God promises us that He will grant us wisdom.

Jas. 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 
Jas. 1:6  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

So next time you witness to somebody, keep in mind that the basic Gospel is all you need to use, because it will show His power, and it will be to His glory.