Subtitled: Paul's Simplicity in Profundity
First Corinthians
chapter 1:10, all the way through to Chapter 4 is one unit of thought. The issue is disunity, divisions and
dissension in the Church. Paul has heard
evidence of hostility, strife & quarreling, jealousy & envy and
pride. All of this bears the assessment
that the Church is acting like Corinth and not Christ.
Paul sees humanity in
2 very simple categories: perishing (1:18) or saved (1:18). In the category of those
"perishing" there is, according to Paul's analysis another two
general groups of people: Jews and Greeks. The Jews simply desire a sign
(1:22); and the Greeks desire wisdom (1:22).
The "Jews", in their search for God say, "Do something to
convince me." The
"Greeks", in their hunt for the Divine say, "Say something to
convince me."
The Gospel answer to
both is the Cross. †
The Cross is a
stumbling block to the Jew for it seems to be the antithesis of power, i.e.,
weakness.
The Cross is
foolishness to the Greek for it is the antithesis of wisdom, i.e., foolishness.
But to the
"saved" – those that "believe" (that other category of
humanity), it is neither weak nor foolish.
It is "it is the power of God.” [1]
Why is the Cross the power of God unto
salvation? Because it destroys the
foundation upon which the perishing stand – human reasoning. Therefore in the end: “This foolish plan
of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger
than the greatest of human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25, NLT)
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