OK. 1 corinth 1:17-31: what does this passage mean?

[Steven]

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
20. Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23. but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24. but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are,
29. so that no one may boast before him.
30. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
:shrug: :doh: :huh: :read:

- Steven

www.informationgospel.net

[Pereynol of Sheer Dread]

This is one of my favorite scriptures. I think it concerns divisive and undue sectarianism, accompanying intellectual pride, and false expectations about how God works in the world, among other things. Its meaning is deep and multiform, as well as simple and straightforward. Neither the intellectual demands and expectations of the Greeks nor the Jewish penchant for signs will recognize the power of Christ in the gospel, but it is life for those who are being saved. And, though Paul is as learned and as anyone and as intellectually gifted as anyone, he relies upon God's power and the simplicity of the gospel message instead of upon the cleverness of his own mind. Christ crucified and raised, our humility before him, as well as the fact that, in Christ, all things are ours, ought to lift us out of the problems and sectarian divisions that beset the Corinthian church and often, the ecclesia of our own time as well.

However, this passage is most likely not advocating "anti-intellectualism" as it is conceived within certain contemporary quarters, nor should it be misconstrued as directly addressing the so-called "culture wars" within which we find ourselves embroiled today, IMHO. Paul did himself rouse his own learning and wit to counter live issues that confronted him in his own time and situation, and we certainly don't find him abandoning the life of the mind in favor of ignorance. Rather, as he asserted, we do preach a wisdom among the mature, but it stems from God, not man, and it exceeds the wisdom of man and the power of man. One really must read this passage in the context of the first several chapters, and really, within that of the entire book....

[Steven]

Perenyol,

Your reply is most encouraging. God has called us to be diligent in the Word of God; realizing at the same time that the things of this world are perishing and that the wisdom of this world is contrary to Grace and faith in our Lord Jesus. The cross, in all human wisdom, is indeed foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved, it is eternal life. The road of the cross brings peace that passes understanding and brings perserverance, character and hope in our Lord Jesus.

Thank you for the well-thought-out reply and I do hope to hear from you again.

- Steven

[Steven]

:juggle:

[Steven]

Pereynol;

I was reading some of your previous posts, and you said your wife was about ready to have a baby. My wife is about 3 weeks from her due date, our third.

Blessings, I hope you enjoy the experience; may you find joy in your children.

Steven

[Pereynol of Sheer Dread]

Thanks, Steven, for the well wishes and blessings,which I appreciate very much. May God bless you all too!

[AVmetro]

05-05-2003 @ 03:53 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=87712#post87712)
Steven:

Pereynol;

I was reading some of your previous posts, and you said your wife was about ready to have a baby. My wife is about 3 weeks from her due date, our third.

Blessings, I hope you enjoy the experience; may you find joy in your children.

Steven

Praise God for children. Your new addition to the family will bring you great joy. :wink:

-God bless you

[mickiel]

One would think God would choose the greatest amoung us to reveal things to, he has consistantly chosen the weakest to do that to. This destroys pride in those who call themselves into areas God has not. I think some of the passage can be misleading, in that Paul wrote of the weakness and foolishness of God, both are incorrect, God has no weakness and is never foolish. Men just perceive that of God, it is a false conception. God has a definte favortism toward sinners, a heart for them, he is truly not a respecter of popular personages.

[Steven]

iron metro,

When we were about ready to have our first child, I was pretty stressed out about how I was going to support the family; Not to mention the fact that I wasn't raised with any children. Despite my continual fretting, after our daughter was born the only thing i had to buy right away was hangers to put all the baby clothes that people gave to us on. Thus, the Lord has taken care of my family ever since, and I have learned to enjoy my children immensely.

Blesed be His name.

Thank you,

- Steven

[Steven]

mickiel,

God does take delight in the broken hearted, and those who weep now, but the proud he resists and gives grace to the humble.