Ezekiel Kimosop

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 

The Strong's Greek lexicon renders the Greek word "sophia" for wisdom as a broad and full intelligence used of the knowledge of very diverse matters. In order to appreciate what Paul meant by this statement, we need to understand that the Greek society of the New Testament day took pride in the search for wisdom as a solution to understanding the universe and its complex system. Intellectual discourse was a defining mark of Greek culture which was famed for great philosophers such as Socrates. If a matter did not appeal to the mind of a Greek man, then it was considered illogical. For example, Greek mythology held that the gods dwelt exclusively in the heavens, detached and uncontaminated by the earth and its contents which were considered inherently evil.

It was on this basis that the Greek rejected the teaching of the incarnate birth of the divine Christ and His dwelling in human flesh because it could not appeal to their rational minds. The Greek also rejected Christ's atoning death and resurrection because it was inconceivable that a deity would manifest in human nature to save men from their sins, while Himself remaining holy. The Jews on their part were offended by the fact that Jesus died on a tree. Galatians 3:13 says "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree". 

So what does 1 Corinthians 1:30 mean? Paul is stating that just as the Greek wisdom was a source of pride to the Greek, so is Christ the wisdom of God to those that are being saved. 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 gives the context and we now examine it closely. 

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 carries the passage idea and condenses Paul's argument that he developed from 1 Corinthians 1:17-22 before he makes his terse statement. Paul declares "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

These verses read together with 1 Corinthians 1:30 clearly confirms that despite the resistance to the gospel by the Greek and the Jews because of their respective theological problems, God was able to reach out to the two societies by His grace and bring a harvest of souls to Christ. This was a reason to rejoice. Christ was symbolically and ironically the wisdom of God to those whom God has called to Christ. Why? Paul was asking the Corinthian church to esteem their salvation which God miraculously wrought in their midst against all odds. 

That God would raise for Himself a congregation of faithful saints from among the Greek and Jews despite the hostile cultural realities was an act of divine proportions and clearly demonstrates that God's wisdom is higher than man's and is incomprehensible to the human mind. 

This message speaks to our circumstances today where Christ is the subject of scientific and intellectual inquiry and His message has been rejected for failing to appeal to the numbed senses of a lost sinful world. Thankfully, Christ is God's precious gift to the millions who choose to place their faith in Him and in His unchanging promise contained in Scripture. This is the joy of the church because our God works in inexplicable ways..."the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16).

God declares "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

Christ is truly unto us the wisdom of our Great God.

January 18 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tony Flores Tony Flores a servant of Jesus Christ

There is intelligence and wisdom that man has acquired from their own experiences and book learning from other men. They teach it in schools and colleges and give you degrees for learning it. That is man's wisdom.

God has given us wisdom from his own mind in the form of the Bible and the Holy Spirit that lives in the Christian and His son, Jesus Christ, which is more superior to Men's knowledge or wisdom. That is why God sent His own son to give us a glimps of His knowledge and wisdom. If we knew that Bible and its examples that God has given us, our lives would be happier and we would worship Him because we would know how much He loves us.

Jesus Christ, whom was sent by God, came to bring us the Truth, the Way and the Life that God wants for us, but men rejected His Son and His wisdom and crucified Him on a cross because they rather follow their own wisdom and knowledge.

The world is headed for destruction and chaos because we failed to follow Him, the God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and all the other examples of godly living on this earth. The only Way of true wisdom is Jesus Christ, so if you don't know Him and the way to Salvation and eternal life, then you are missing the mark, for He is the only way to salvation and eternal life.

January 18 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report