Lesson 2040

(Lesson 2040)(06-03-17) 1 Corinthians 2:1-8

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

In today's quote, Paul, separating himself from the great orators, made the point that though his own manner of speech was coarse, and not so eloquent, with the power and voice of the Holy Spirit to guide, he had preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to perfection.

In the latter part of the quote, Paul provided that the doctrine of Jesus Christ is a "mystery" to those who are outside the Spirit of God. Only those of us who have accepted God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and who have received the power of the Holy Spirit, have the ability to understand the mystery of that doctrine. This was done so that; "your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" rather than in the selfish wisdom of mankind.

In the last part of the quote, Paul says, in essence, that had the Jew actually understood who Jesus was, they would never have crucified Him.~