Scandal and Folly
Notes
Transcript
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
The Church in Corinth had forgotten the scandal, folly, and transformational POWER of the CROSS!!
Background
Background
Corinth seems to be the most messed up church in the Bible…
Yet, the church today deals with the exacts same issues!
Date and occasion
Paul founded the church in Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey sometime around 50-51 AD.
Since then, Paul had heard of their issues, most notably their issue with sexual promiscuity. He wrote a letter to the church (before what we have contained as 1 Corinthians) detailing how to deal with such issues.
9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
Also, since establishing the church in Corinth, Apollos became a Christian and began to minister to the church their.
Apollos was from the Egyptian city, Alexandria, which was the 2nd largest city in the empire and had the largest library in the world. It would appear, or seam, as though Apollos brought an eloquence superior to Paul’s and a division between those who followed Paul and those who followed Apollos was created.
After writing the letter that we no longer have, word came back to Paul about the issues in Corinth - the division, the boastfulness, the sexual immorality. Also, at some point a letter from the church was delivered to Paul asking for clarification on some issues.
Paul, around 54-55 AD wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians, while in Ephesus on his 3rd Missionary Journey.
A Brief Note About Corinth
The geography of Corinth made it a melting pot of cultures. Formerly it was a Greek city, but had been conquered by the Romans. A number of Jews resided in Corinth. But, geographically speaking, Corinth’s location on an isthmus (a small strip of land between two bodies of water) made it an important trade city near two ports. Small ships could be portaged along the road on the isthmus and large ships could have their cargo offloaded from one ship and transported to another ship more speedily than going around the peninsula to the south of Corinth.
Also, due to the influences of Greeko-Roman Culture, Corinth had a number of pagan temples where meat offered to idols was readily available. Also, there were at least 2 markets in Corinth where this meat could be purchased. So, one would not have to participate in the temple sacrifices to be able to eat the meat that was offered there.
The temples were known for their temple prostitution - especially the temple to the goddess Aphrodite which was, at one point in time, on the hillside outside of Corinth. At its height (a number of years before the church was established) the Temple of Aphrodite was believed to have had 1,000 temple prostitutes (or priestess…)
This would lead to a diminished view of human sexuality that pervaded the culture. At an earlier point in time Corinth was known to be one of the most promiscuous cities in the world - it was the “sin city” of it’s day. So much so, that the Greek playwright Aristophanes coined the term “to corinthianize” to mean to be sexually immoral.
Based upon the content of this letter, and the reference to the lost letter, the cultural ideas had crept into the church (hmmmm).
There was also the concern for prestige and honor.
Corinth was known for its traveling philosophers who would speak eloquently about the mysteries of the universe and their solutions to the problems of life. They would stand on the street corners, or if they were really skilled, utilize the theater or places in the marketplace, and CHARGE people to hear them speak with eloquence and prestige.
This also lead to issues of status and prestige. People would be willing to pay for their status and honor in society. This would give them reason to boast and draw attention to their own self importance.
Those who wanted to be notoriety in the city also felt that there was notoriety in the church. Some began to boast of their position and their authority. This created factions and people began to relate their status in the church to who they were and who they followed. (I follow Apollos, or I was baptized by Paul etc...). Apparently, the church became a place where people earned their status, or solidified it. (Hmmm...)
But, the church was clearly made up of people of all status levels of society. There were high city officials (like Erastus mentioned in Romans 16:23), former priestesses, slaves, and others of relatively low status.
Ultimately the issue is UNITY
1 Cor. 1:10,
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it.
The church saw a lot of disunity...
Disunity over who to follow
Disunity over meat
Disunity over sexual practices
Disunity over spiritual gifts
Disunity over what it looks like to be a part of Christ and abandon our old life
Disunity over what it means to be a follower of Christ, and the church, in a multicultural, multi-religious world where everything can be justified, acceptable, practiced, and even honored (JUST LIKE OUR WORLD TODAY)
“Of all the books in the Bible, 1 Corinthians reads the most like a catalog of issues in the church today” - Kenneth Schewnch, 1 & 2 Corinthians: A Commentary for Bible Students
So Back to the Cross we must Turn...
So Back to the Cross we must Turn...
It is the message of the cross - a belief therein - that will solidify unity in the church.
Into this situation Paul reminds the church of the cross.
It is a scandal and it is foolish. But, yet, it is also God's wisdom to provide salvation.
Cokesbury Example...
Paul reminds us that the cross ONLY makes sense by faith - not reason, or logic, or history, or tradition - only FAITH.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO THOSE WHO DON’T GET IT...
Paul says it is a scandal to the Jews and foolish (folly) to the Gentiles.
Scandal = something that trips someone up
Not what the messiah was to do (Jewish scandal)
Messiah kills people - especially the Romans
Messiah is NOT to be killed by them!
Like a modern day Moses, leading people out of the Roman slavery/oppression
Many people claimed to be Messiah. They were all killed = NOT MESSIAH
If they were the Messiah they would not be killed; especially NOT crucifixion!
So the message of Christ crucified is a tripping point for the Jewish people. It is a scandal that they cannot accept.
Foolish and a point of folly, laughter, insanity, for the Greeks who value philosophy and reason...
Not a sign of power but weakness (Greek foolishness)
Romans were powerful. Those who were put to death by the Romans were shown to NOT have power; they were therefore WEAK!
Especially when it came to crucifixion. That was considered one of the worst, if not the worst, way to be executed. It was reserved for the worst criminals and those who rebelled.
It became a sign of the Power of the Roman Government to squash the rebels and those who took away the Peace of Rome. It was done in a public place so it could become an object lesson of what happens to those who threaten Roman Rule. SO parents can tell their kids, “Don’t be like that criminal…” It was a sign of great weakness for those who hung on the cross and great power for those who nailed them there!
Yet for those who accept the message of the cross, it reveals Gods great power...
3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul’s world wouldn’t accept this power and this way of the cross...
Athenian Statesman Aristitides (530BC-468 BC) said that on every street corner in Corinth one met a so-called wise man who had his own solutions to humanity’s problem.
Classical= Plato, Aristotle etc…
Gods are not weak. Gods cannot be weak etc…
Skeptic= had a negative view about gaining true knowledge. For this reason they would suspend their judgments on many things ethical or moral (that sounds familiar today…)
Stoics = High moral standard and devotion to duty. Reality is material and governed by a logos, a fiery, divine substance that pervades the world and gives it order/meaning/direction. In their view, this logos was resident within people, enabling them to make sense of the universe. The goal of the Stoic was a life lived in accordance with Nature. There was little difference/distinction between how Stoics discussed Nature. Logos, and God. (see John 1!!)
God flips the world’s wisdom and weakness upside down! The answer to the problem is found in the exact opposite place than our logic, reasoning, and strength would cause us to think it could be found.
The message of the cross makes clear that we cannot solve the human dilemma ourselves. More than that, this message makes clear that their is such a thing called a human dilemma.
If we can solve the human dilemma ourselves, then we can boast.
But, we have no soap box to boast from when God comes and solves our problem for us.
When we ignore the human dilemma we can create philosophy and ways of life, and even truth, fit whatever false narrative we have written. We can be the hero in that story, and then we can boast.
But, if we accept Christ crucified - there is no room to boast.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
We are ALL included in God’s plan of salvation NOT because of what we have done! Not because of our high or low status! Not because of our philosophy, wisdom, and learned degrees! We are made right with God because of the CROSS!! PERIOD!!!! And, this is what unites us
It is the CROSS that gives us our status!
Wrap it Up
Wrap it Up
And, it is the Cross that trumps and shames the wisdom and philosophy of our world! And it is the cross that will unite the church.
Today, there's a coffee shop/ starbucks on every corner full of people who have their answers to the world’s problems.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
Modern Day Philosophies?
Nice guys finish last…
Only the Good Die Young…
The American Dream
Success is measured in dollars and cents
Might is right
The one with the most toys wins…
Eat, drink, be merry…
Pragmatism = If it works keep doing it (but who judges if it works…?)
If it feels good, do it!
Pluralism/relativism = what works for you works for you and what works for me works for me. Don’t be critical of me…
Postmodern Tolerance - everyone is right… no judgments can be made about right and wrong etc…
God is love and won't send nice people to hell
There's more than 1 way to reach heaven/God
Why would God go through all that trouble of crucifixion/resurrection if anyone can reach him on their own effort?
Maybe we need to hear again, clearly, the message that solves humanity’s problem - CHRIST CRUCIFIED!
Paul’s words later in the letter still ring true…
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. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.
The question for the church is where is our foundation? What is our entry point into the Gospel story? Is it from our philosophy, our thinking, our own work and our boast? Or, is it from the cross?
In whom/what do you place your hope? Our man made, man explained, philosophies? Or, in the message of Christ and Him crucified?
These philosophies might be around 2,000 years from now - but, their presence does NOTHING to fix humanity’s problem. In fact, I would argue they make the problem worse - they separate us from God.
N.T. Wright in his book Simply Good News: Why the Gospel is News and What Makes it Good, summarizes a big problem with the Christian Church today. We’ve stopped sharing the Good News. We are great and giving good advice - But, we have done poorly sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ Crucified, Resurrected, Ascended and coming back. That is the ONLY GOOD NEWS because it is the only news that truly does something about the state humanity is in; separation from God.
May our hope be ONLY in Christ and Christ crucified. May that be the message we preach. May there be Good News coming from us through that message! May we NOT be compelled to follow hollow and deceptive ideologies; as tempting as they are.
And, may it be the CROSS that unites us - not how good we are, not how smart we are, not our status, NOT EVEN OUR SINFULNESS. May it be the cross and it’s power to transform!
May our searching, yearning, and desiring for greatness lead us to the source of true hope, true unity, and true greatness in Jesus Christ.
Benediction
Benediction
8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.