Résumé of Those Called

International Sunday School Lesson February 5 2023 Lesson #10

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ESV  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.  (19)  For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  (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?  (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.  (22)  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  (23)  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  (24)  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  (25)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  (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.  (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;  (28)  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,  (29)  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  (30)  And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,  (31)  so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ESV

Notes

Background

• The city was very rich.
• It controlled the transportation of goods from Asia to Italy.
• It had these super wealthy and also had a large number of normal working folks.
• It had these super wealthy and also had a large number of normal working folks.
• It had a very bad reputation for sexual vices.
• JFB That Church was founded by Paul on his first visit (Act 18:1-17). He had been the instrument of converting many Gentiles (1Co 12:2), and some Jews (Act 18:8), notwithstanding the vehement opposition of the countrymen of the latter (Act 18:5), during the year and a half in which he sojourned there. The converts were chiefly of the humbler classes (1Co 1:26, etc.). Crispus (1Co 1:14; Act 18:8), Erastus, and Gaius (Caius) were, however, men of rank (Rom 16:23).

False Folly — 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

• Acts 17:16-18 (ESV) Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. [17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Save Those that Believe — 1 Corinthians 1:20-21

• Dake [world]Greek: aion(G165), age. The age was one of speculation (Act 17:21). The word for “disputer” in Hebrew is darshan (from darash(H1875)), and in Greek: suzetetes(G4804), propounder of questions; the seeker of allegorical, mystical, metaphysical, and cabalistical interpretations of the Scriptures by Jewish rabbis and Greek philosophers.

Preach Christ Crucified — 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

• JFB Greeks seek … wisdom — namely, a philosophic demonstration of Christianity. Whereas Christ, instead of demonstrative proof, demands faith on the ground of His word, and of a reasonable amount of evidence that the alleged revelation is His word. Christianity begins not with solving intellectual difficulties, but with satisfying the heart that longs for forgiveness. Hence not the refined Greeks, but the theocratic Jews were the chosen organ for propagating revelation. Again, intellectual Athens (Act 17:18-21, etc.) received the Gospel less readily than commercial Corinth.

Stronger than Man — 1 Corinthians 1:25

• 2 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV) For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

Not Many — 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

• James 2:5-6 (ESV) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?

Boast in the Lord — 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

• Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV) Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, [24] but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Conclusion

• Don’t be prideful.
• Focus on the lord.