1 Corinthians: Not in VainSample

Do you remember those ‘magic eye’ drawings? You’d be looking at some strange and seemingly blurred image and then suddenly you might see a tiger jumping out at you, or a famous landmark. (Or perhaps you’re like me and while everyone else would be seeing it, you’d be staring at it for another five minutes and still be none the wiser!) 

So far in 1 Corinthians, Paul has talked a lot about Christianity being weak and foolish. And maybe that leaves us feeling slightly discouraged. Are Christians being asked to believe something that makes no sense? Does God want us to seem out of step with the culture just for the sake of it? 

Paul’s point today is that the gospel message really is wisdom – but it’s God’s wisdom for the spiritually mature, rather than a ‘wisdom of this age’ (v. 6). This is a sharp contrast. Apparently human wisdom has a best before date. In other words, it might bring us some recognition in this life, but in the grand scheme of eternity it brings us no spiritual benefit. On the other hand, God’s wisdom is about a plan ordained from ‘before time began’ and that ultimately involves our eternal glory (v. 7). It’s a stirring reminder that the message of the cross (1:18) is actually God’s timeless salvation plan. 

But if the gospel is so wise and wonderful, how come more people don’t see it like that? This is where the second half of the passage comes in. In verses 10–16 we’re shown that God’s wisdom is only revealed to people by God’s Spirit. We can’t work out God on our own. Rather God enables his people to see the gospel for what it truly is. Without his power at work in us we’d see it only as foolishness (v. 14).

Reflection

Do you ever get unsettled by people scoffing at the Christian message? 

How does remembering that it’s only through a work of God’s Spirit that someone can grasp the gospel help?