1:18 - 2:16 the cross vs. man's "wisdom"
1:18 - 1:25 foolishness of the message
1:26 - 1:31 humble status of the believers
2:1 - 2:5 paul's weakness and humility when he was among them
2:6 - 2:16 the true wisdom of god
themes (subtext) this section highlights :
god's unwillingness to bend to man's sinful desire for glory (sinful
because it is untrue; all glory is rightfully god's)
god's use of men for his glory
the glory accorded to men who are used by god for his glory
I : 'status' is not a positive quality
god's unwillingness to bend to man's sinful desire for glory (sinful
because it is untrue; all glory is rightfully god's)
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according
to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
a. human status ('wisdom', 'might', 'nobility') is an impediment to the gospel
b. application : all humans have value, not only the ones our ranking system affords value to...
II : god choose the weak, foolish, and base for his glory
god's use of men for his glory
but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God
has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things
that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
so that no man may boast before God.
a. the foolish, weak, base, desipsed, and the things that are not
b. no man may boast before god (if some dare to presently, they will not be able to ultimately)
c. god uses men to further the revelation of his glory
III : god has given true status to us
the glory accorded to men who are used by god for his glory
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,
and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
a. we have true status ("you are in christ jesus")
b. we have true status 'by his doing' (v. 30)