1 Corinthians Week 4

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 

¹ When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. ² For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 

Notice how Paul kept the main thing the main thing. He did not try to impress with his vocabulary and personality. His main message was about Jesus Christ who had been crucified not only for the world but also for the Corinthians to whom he was writing. Nothing was more important to Paul than talking about the crucifixion of Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Does this help you to understand how to be more effective in your Christian witness? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Romans 6:5-7 to see how the believer participates in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Visit with each other about what Jesus has accomplished for each of you. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 

³ I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. ⁴ And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 

It is easy to think the apostles were so strong in their faith they had no fears in sharing the gospel. Corinth was a corrupt place at this time—morally, religiously and economically. It was what one might call a “den of iniquity.” Paul did not seek to win anyone with his personality and wisdom; he wanted them to trust in the power of God.  

REFLECT 

As you think of the one who led you to place your trust in Jesus, was it the personality of the individual or the message the person presented? 

RESPOND 

Paul relied only on the “power of the Holy Spirit.” With a friend look at other passages that mention this same expression. See Romans 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Jude 1:19-21.  

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 2:6-7 

⁶ Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. ⁷ No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 

Paul contrasted human wisdom with spiritual wisdom. He referred to a “mystery,” which in the Bible refers to something previously unknown but is then being made known. God’s plan had been hidden from the beginning but would now be revealed. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize that the New Testament Church is never referred to in the Old Testament? Israel is the focus there, not the body of Christ known as the Church. 

RESPOND 

With a friend examine some passages that have to do with mysteries revealed in the New Testament. See Romans 11:24-26; Ephesians 3:1-6; 5:31-33; 1 Timothy 3:16. These verses reveal some of the plans God had that are revealed in the New Testament but were not in the Old Testament. 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 2:8-9 

⁸ But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Some use this verse out of context. On the one hand it seems to refer to things one could never dream about. On the other hand, the explanation comes in the following verses. Those verses will explain what “God has prepared for those who love him.” This is another occasion when a question that might arise from one verse or verses is answered later on. 

REFLECT 

Have you learned to keep reading when you have questions about what the Bible says? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read some verses in Revelation that makes one wonder about the meaning but is explained later. See an example in Revelation 1:11-12 about the “seven gold lampstands.” Then read Revelation 1:20 that explains what they are.  

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 

¹⁰ But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 2:9 said “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” Verse 10 reveals what God has revealed by His Spirit. The way one human can understand what another human’s thoughts are is because each has the same human spirit in them. To know God’s thoughts, one must have the same divine Spirit. This refers to the Holy Spirit. 

REFLECT 

Does this help you understand why the Scriptures became more understandable to you once you trusted Jesus as Savior and received the Holy Spirit? 

RESPOND 

Join with another and read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. This passage helps one to understand why an unbeliever thinks the gospel is foolishness and it seems hidden to him.