1 Corinthians 2:1-5

These opening chapters of 1 Corinthians all make sense; they are all connected. 

·        1:10-17: the divisions caused by hero-worship will render the cross of Christ ineffective because someone is exalted other than Christ.

·        1:18-25: this message about the cross is foolishness and a stumbling block to others but to us it is the very power by which we are saved.

·        1:26-31: to honor others above Christ is to deny the truth about who we are.  We are nothing; only in Christ do we find true wisdom, true significance.

·        2:1-9: in light of this, what kind of ministry should we have?  “What kind did I have,” Paul asks?  The answer is consistent.  “I came in weakness, not exalting myself.  And the wisdom I preached was the wisdom of God!”  Why did he do this?  So that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (v5).

Consider the type of ministry Paul rejected.

o   Excellence of speech: pontification instead of preaching.

o   Excellence of wisdom: not like the philosophers in Athens (in Acts 17-18 Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill immediately preceded the ministry in Corinth).

o   Persuasive words of human wisdom: Paul could be persuasive when necessary.  But he did not appeal to people in an attempt to satisfy their fleshly desires of materialism, hedonism or pride of position (1 Jn. 2:16).

Then consider the type of ministry Paul embraced.

o   He preached Christ and Christ crucified.  Paul preached the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20,27).  But if you understand the wisdom of God in a mystery you realize that the whole counsel of God revolves around Christ.  The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10).  All Scripture speaks of Him (Luke 24:44-49).

o   He preached in weakness, fear and much trembling.  He didn’t overpower people or blow them away; he didn’t make the message about himself. 

o   He preached in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power.  Many assume this means Paul did miracles and powerful works of the Spirit.  But in the context God’s power is seen in the gospel, the word of the cross.  He may have performed miracles; that is the authority of an apostle (though Acts 18 records no miracles at Corinth).  But what Paul did do was to allow for the work of the Spirit referred to in the rest of the chapter, the ministry of illumination whereby the Spirit enables men to see and know Christ.

Again, we each need to consider how we do ministry.  Is it about the greatness and fame of the messenger?  Is it designed to appeal to the crowd’s worldly desires?  Or does it exalt the One and only One through whom the marvelous truth of v9 can become real: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!