Apostle Pauls Teaching to the Corinthians, part II

From the teaching 3/17/2012


Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Corithians part II



Theme: I Corth. 1:1: Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:


I Corth. 2:1: And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
For I had decided that while I was with you I would speak of nothing but, the knowledge of Jesus Christ alone and the fact of his death upon the cross.

 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Weakness: This weakness could be physical or utter dependence on God.
if it was physical no doubt the result of Paul's stripings, beatings, and other sufferings. (II Corth. 24:27). The fear and trembling could be a state of
mind, dreading lest he should grieve God and bring reproach upon truth.

 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

That your faith might have its foundation not in the wisdom of men
nor philosopy of men.

 6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Perfect defined, GK: teleios: Here it is used of full growth, as men, and not
children in Christian knowledge thoroughly instructed and deeply
experienced.

 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

None of the rulers of this present world had come to know or understand it.

 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For The Spirit explores all things-even the inmost depths of God.

 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

a. For what human being can understand a man's thoughts except
that person himself.
b. So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God-except the Spirit
of God.

 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

a. We have not received the spirit that belongs to the world, but, the
Spirit that comes from God.
b. That we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.
c. That we might get insights into the blessings God has graciously given us.

 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

And we speak of these gifts not in language taught by human philosopy
but in the very words given us by The Holy Spirit.

 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

a. A man gifted with The Spirit can judge the real value because it takes
spiritual insight to see it's true value.
b. But his own true value no unspiritual man can see.

 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

a. For who has comprehended the mind of The Lord as to be able to
instruct him?
b. But we have the mind of Christ-we who are spiritual have the very
thoughts of Christ.
c. Our thoughts are Christ's thoughts.