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"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Two
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To appreciate Paul's method of proclaiming the gospel
2) To see the need for inspiration and understand the process by which
it took place
SUMMARY
Continuing to demonstrate the folly of boasting in human wisdom, Paul
reminds them of how he came to them. Instead of depending upon
excellent speech or persuasive words of wisdom, he proclaimed Jesus
Christ and Him crucified, confirming his testimony with a demonstration
of the Spirit and power (1-4). This he did that their faith might rest
in God's power, not in the wisdom of men (5).
He did proclaim a type of wisdom, however, that wisdom which comes from
God (6-9). He describes the process by which God has revealed this
wisdom through His Spirit (10-13). Paul then contrasts the difference
between the "natural man" (one who depends upon his own human wisdom)
who does not receive the things of the Spirit, and the "spiritual man"
(one led by the Spirit of God, such as Paul) who has the mind of Christ
(14-16).
OUTLINE
I. PAUL'S MANNER OF PREACHING (1-5)
A. HE PREACHED "JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED" (1-3)
1. Declaring the testimony of God without excellence of speech or
wisdom (1)
2. Determined not to know anything among them but Jesus and Him
crucified (2)
3. Done in weakness, fear and much trembling (3)
B. WITH DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER (4-5)
1. Not with persuasive words of human wisdom (4)
2. That their faith would rest in the power of God, not the
wisdom of men (5)
II. THE TRUE WISDOM OF GOD (6-16)
A. THE "HIDDEN" NATURE OF GOD'S WISDOM (6-9)
1. The apostles do speak a sort of wisdom (6)
a. Among those who are mature (6a)
b. But it is not the wisdom of this age or its rulers, which
is coming to nothing (6b)
2. The wisdom of God they speak has been a "mystery" (7-9)
a. Ordained before time began, but hidden (7)
b. Unknown by the rulers of this age, which is why they
crucified the Lord (8)
c. Man had not discovered what God has prepared for those who
love Him (9)
B. THE SPIRIT'S REVELATION OF GOD'S WISDOM (10-13)
1. Revealed through His Spirit (10-11)
a. The Spirit searches for the deep things of God (10)
b. Only the Spirit of God can know the things of God (11)
2. Made known to the apostles (12)
a. Who have received the Spirit from God (12a)
b. So they might know the things freely given by God (12b)
3. Spoken now by the apostles (13)
a. Not in words according to human wisdom (13a)
b. But in words taught by the Spirit, comparing spiritual
things with spiritual (13b)
C. THE "NATURAL MAN" VERSUS THE "SPIRITUAL MAN" (14-16)
1. The "natural man" (e.g., a philosopher) does not receive the
things of the Spirit of God (14a)
a. They are foolish to him (14b)
b. Because they are "spiritually" discerned (14c)
2. But with the "spiritual man" (e.g., an apostle), such is not
the case (15-16)
a. He is able to judge all things properly (15a)
b. No one is able to properly judge him (15b)
c. For he has "the mind of Christ" (16)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- Paul's Manner Of Preaching (1-5)
- The True Wisdom Of God (6-16)
2) How does Paul describe his preaching among them? (1-2)
- Not with excellence of speech or of wisdom
- Determined to preach only Jesus and Him crucified
3) How does Paul describe his feelings among them? (3)
- In weakness, in fear, and in much trembling
4) What accompanied Paul as he preached the gospel? (4)
- Demonstration of the Spirit and of power
5) What six phrases in verses 9-13 help to explain the process by which
the hidden mystery of God was made known?
- "Things which God has prepared"
- "God has revealed...through His Spirit"
- "We have received...the Spirit"
- "That we might know the things...freely given to us by God"
- "These things we also speak"
- "In words...which the Spirit teaches"
6) What phrase teaches the concept of "verbal inspiration"? (13)
- "not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit
teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual"
7) What is said about the "natural" man? (14)
- Does not receive the things of the Spirit of God
- They are foolishness to him
- He cannot know them, for they are spiritually discerned
8) What is said about the "spiritual" man? (15-16)
- Able to judge all things
- None can rightly judge him
- Has the mind of Christ
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
