Paul puts to rest the factions forming under speakers and leaders in Corinth by pointing to the Gospel (the "good news" of Christ and his saving achievement on the cross) as the ultimate source of truth and life. He clarifies that Christ sent Paul out primarily to share this truth, not to baptize. And to share this truth without dressing it up with "cleverness of speech."(v. 17) In fact, to use too many gimmicks can result in sabatoging the purpose for which the truth is being shared. This is what is meant by the Greek word "Kenoo" in verse 17 for the phrase "made void".
While we should be prepared to defend the truth of Christ's identity and accomplished purpose (1 Peter 3:15), we shouldn't manipulate it, or people, to make the truth look more appealing. Manipulating truth makes it false. Offering yet another false belief system to the world only hurts.
God acknowledges here that his method for our salvation sounds foolish to those who don't believe it. Humans have a very stubborn idea of what strength is, and it doesn't include dying on a cross. So much of what Jesus taught was counter-intuitive in his day and still is in ours! Love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Sinful thoughts make us as guilty as sinful actions (Matthew 5). The Jews were expecting a king to lead them in victorious battle, but Jesus came to die so we could have victory that lasts forever.
A few of his ideas are accepted among modern philosophers. Mostly his ideas about love. (Everybody likes love, right?) But his radical teaching about himself makes us uncomfortable. We start to wonder if this guy had a few loose screws. He tells his followers that he is God, but then proceeds to willingly allow himself to be brutally tortured and executed. If he was God, then God must be crazy, right?
The point of verses 18-31 is that God does things differently than we would. This makes perfect sense if God has infinite capacity for intelligence. Yet if God doesn't conform to what our finite minds consider intelligent, we call his message crazy or stupid.
The Jews believed following Christ would lead them away from God. The Greeks had resurrection stories among their gods, but these were considered myth at best, or even allegorized myth not even meant to be taken literally. Roman culture was defined by power and status. Crucifixion was considered a death for slaves. So for Christ to excercise power through his death sounded as nonsensical to them as it does to us. (For more information, see the IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Keener.)
Our own philosophies and spiritual ideas have not led us to God. We might believe we're really deep thinkers, but our conjured version of truth has only led us away from what is real. Thankfully, God is more than happy to intervene and set the record straight, even though he knows most of us will choose not to believe him. (v.21) He does this to be true to his word in Isaiah 29:14, which Paul quotes here from a Greek translation in verse 19.
In verse 22, Paul says that Jews and Greeks ask for signs and look for wisdom. Paul's response, in verse 23, is to teach about Christ's crucifixion. If we use historical evidence to see the validity of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, and if we dig into the Bible to understand the significance of this event, we will have a miraculous sign like none other and we will recognize the wisdom God excercised by carrying out his salvation plan the way he did. On the surface, this central element of the Bible seems strange and hard to believe. But in taking a closer look, we can understand why it is the most important event in human history.
There's something else that happens when God does things differently than we expect. Especially when he uses unconventional or weak people to accomplish his plans. Moses was terrible at speaking in public. (Exodus 4:10) King David was an adulterer and murderer. (2 Samuel 11) Jesus was born in a dirty stable and lived the life of a rugged carpenter. God uses people who are weak, flawed and of low status to accomplish his purposes for humanity. But why?
Verses 27-29 of this chapter give us the answer. God wants to demonstrate that he is bigger, stronger and just plain better than the best we have to offer in comparison. He uses weak vessels so that there can be no doubt that he was the one that really made it work. God wants all the credit, because he genuinely deserves all the credit. Although he allows us to be involved in the process, he's ultimately the one getting everything done!
In fact, verse 30 says that Jesus became the wisdom from God that we needed. He also became our righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Righteousness (Greek: Dikaiosune) means "conformity with the claims of higher authority." Sanctification (Greek: Hagiasmos, in this instance.) means, here specifically, "to be declared fit for and committed to, God's purposes". And redemption (Greek: Apalutrosis) means "payment made to secure freedom".
So because of God, through Christ, we have access to incredible wisdom. Those who trust in the identity and salvation of Christ are considered to perfectly meet God's perfect standard of morality. God considers them an appropriate fit to carry out his cosmic plans, and he has made the perfect payment to secure their freedom from their own sin and from eternal punishment.
Can anyone say, "wow"?
Next Week- A Look At Paul's Teaching Strategy
Coffee House Question- What reaction(s) have you received from non-Christians after they learn that you are a Christian? Did it change your interaction or relationship with them?
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