◄ 1 Corinthians 2 Devotional Commentary ►
1 Corinthians 2:1
How the flesh likes to be applauded by other people: "how well you sang," "that was a very encouraging sermon," "what a lovely devotional you wrote," "you pray so beautifully," etc etc.
Oh! how the flesh likes to be applauded by other people. But Paul in this verse clearly demonstrated God's method of doing things, when he wrote: "I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with read more...
1 Corinthians 2:2
When lives are lived on the un-sanctified wisdom of the world and people allow the clever oratory skills and philosophies of men to influence their own thought processes, in preference to the Word of God, those lives will be characterised by spiritual weakness, doctrinal error, and a tendency towards an inflated ego.
Paul was a man of many talents and had acquired much worldly wisdom and religious knowledge. Paul was a logical read more...
1 Corinthians 2:3
Corinth was a city of great orators and intellectual philosophers. It was a place where credibility was founded on one's academic ability, educational prowess, intellectual stature, and oratory skills. Paul however, had determined that he would not speak to the people in Corinth about God with flowery words or convincing arguments. He did not proclaim the gospel with great wisdom or politically persuasive rhetoric. Paul determined to know nothing except Jesus read more...
1 Corinthians 2:4
The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. And when Paul proclaimed the gospel message, it was not some convincing figment of man's imagination designed to tickle itching ears, nor was it a persuasive proclamation that was founded on worldly words of human wisdom.
The message that Paul delivered was a demonstration of the power of God as the Holy Spirit worked read more...
1 Corinthians 2:5
Human instinct is to rely on self, but Paul was humbled before the mighty hand of God and quickly learned that the wisdom of the world, which is so prized by men, is foolishness before God. Our physical abilities, human wisdom, and mental capacities, are of no account before the omniscient power of our holy and just God.
So when Paul first arrived in Corinth to preach the Word, he didn't dazzle them with superiority of speech or read more...
1 Corinthians 2:6
The focus of Paul's teaching was Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It was not using any persuasive words or relying on human wisdom, that motivated Paul in his ministry... nor was it his eloquent preaching style that exposed Paul's inner strength and godly wisdom.
His unswerving dedication to preach the pure gospel of God, in spirit and truth, was a demonstration of the indwelling Holy Spirit working powerfully in a consecrated read more...
1 Corinthians 2:7
The Corinthian Christians were a group of believers who delighted in their outwards gifts and talents... to the exclusion of an inner spirituality which centred on Jesus Christ and which would produce in them, the beautiful fruit of the Spirit... which is rooted and grounded in love.
By remaining immersed in division, discord, and even depravity, these believers identified themselves as carnal Christians who had reverted to read more...
1 Corinthians 2:8
The wisdom of God is very different from the wisdom of this age. Worldly wisdom, demonic wisdom, human wisdom, and wisdom that comes from the fallen rulers of this age (whether it be from the demonic spiritual realm or their human agents through whom they implement their nefarious plans), wisdom that is not from God is foolishness.
The wisdom of God is spiritually discerned and is only given to His blood-bought children. Indeed, read more...
1 Corinthians 2:9
Unregenerate man in his wisdom failed to know God, and so the wisdom of God is hidden to those that are perishing. Certain mysteries which were revealed to Paul for the Church were been hidden from the Old Testament prophets of God from before the foundation of the world, such as: "Christ in you the hope of glory." But many truths and teachings that were given to God's people Israel are also referenced in the New Testament, and we should pay read more...
1 Corinthians 2:13
Paul did not teach the wisdom of the age. He did not speak a message that emanated from human wisdom. Paul spoke out God's secret wisdom which had been hidden for ages and generations but has now been revealed to all who have trusted Christ for salvation. This wisdom from above is recorded in the Holy Scriptures and is freely available to whosoever will take the time and effort to seek it out.
God has revealed His wisdom to us by read more...
1 Corinthians 2:14
Paul gives a description of two types of Christians; the spiritual and the carnal. One is walking in spiritual and truth while the other is functioning in the flesh or under the law. One is dying to self while the other is living for self. One is being led and guided by the Holy Spirit while the other is resisting, quenching or grieving the Spirit of God. One is maturing in the faith while the other remains a spiritual baby, who is foolishly embroiled in worldly read more...
1 Corinthians 2:15
The Corinthians Christians had some serious misunderstandings about Paul's message and ministry, which gave rise to division within the church, immoral activities among its members, a selfish, self-serving attitude, and the stunting of their spiritual growth. The divisive, self-seeking behaviour of these carnal believers, dishonoured the Lord and was destructive to the Body of Christ.
Although positionally sanctified, they were read more...
1 Corinthians 2:16
Creation, redemption, the eternal ages to come, and all the mighty acts of God, were conceived in the eternal mind of the incomprehensible Lord. His purposes and plans were birthed into reality from the day that Adam sinned, and then were transmitted to us through holy men of God, who penned the written the Word of God, for our learning.
No-one can instruct the read more...