Don’t Change the Gospel to Please the Proud: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 1

>> This is our first session on 1 >> This is our first session on 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25 and I know that I Corinthians 1:18 - 25 and I know that I Corinthians 1:18 - 25 and I know that I didn't include verse 25 here and that's didn't include verse 25 here and that's didn't include verse 25 here and that's just so that it'll fit on the screen. just so that it'll fit on the screen. just so that it'll fit on the screen. I'll put it on later and the reason it I'll put it on later and the reason it I'll put it on later and the reason it doesn't fit on the screen is because doesn't fit on the screen is because doesn't fit on the screen is because I've included the Greek up here. We'll I've included the Greek up here. We'll I've included the Greek up here. We'll fix that later. fix that later. fix that later. We'll just take this part right here. We'll just take this part right here. We'll just take this part right here. That's all we're going to deal with in That's all we're going to deal with in That's all we're going to deal with in this session. this session. this session. Because and we'll relate that back to Because and we'll relate that back to Because and we'll relate that back to the preceding verse in just a moment. the preceding verse in just a moment. the preceding verse in just a moment. For because the word of the cross is For because the word of the cross is For because the word of the cross is folly, foolishness, folly, foolishness, folly, foolishness, to those who are being destroyed. I'll to those who are being destroyed. I'll to those who are being destroyed. I'll come back to that translation in just a come back to that translation in just a come back to that translation in just a minute. minute. minute. But to those who are being saved, being But to those who are being saved, being But to those who are being saved, being destroyed versus being saved, it is the destroyed versus being saved, it is the destroyed versus being saved, it is the power of God because and then he quotes power of God because and then he quotes power of God because and then he quotes Psalm 33:10. Psalm 33:10. Psalm 33:10. Because Because Because it is written, "I will destroy it is written, "I will destroy it is written, "I will destroy And this corresponds to this destroy And this corresponds to this destroy And this corresponds to this destroy here. This is the same Greek word both here. This is the same Greek word both here. This is the same Greek word both cases. I will destroy cases. I will destroy cases. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise the wisdom of the wise the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I and the discernment of the discerning I and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

will thwart." will thwart." So, Father, as we try to understand the So, Father, as we try to understand the So, Father, as we try to understand the argument here, the argument here, and argument here, the argument here, and argument here, the argument here, and the content of these two verses which the content of these two verses which the content of these two verses which are so are so are so tremendously important for how we tremendously important for how we tremendously important for how we present the gospel, how we think about present the gospel, how we think about present the gospel, how we think about the word of the cross, guide us, oh God, the word of the cross, guide us, oh God, the word of the cross, guide us, oh God, I pray. We need your help. [snorts] We I pray. We need your help. [snorts] We I pray. We need your help. [snorts] We need to be humbled because these folks need to be humbled because these folks need to be humbled because these folks are not humble. are not humble. are not humble. These folks here are proud. These folks here are proud. These folks here are proud. They regard the word of the cross as They regard the word of the cross as They regard the word of the cross as stupid. stupid. stupid. And oh God, we don't want to be in that And oh God, we don't want to be in that And oh God, we don't want to be in that position. Protect our souls, I pray, in position. Protect our souls, I pray, in position. Protect our souls, I pray, in Jesus name. Amen. So, what what went just before, which is So, what what went just before, which is being argued for? He had just said, being argued for? He had just said, being argued for? He had just said, "Christ did not send me to baptize, but "Christ did not send me to baptize, but "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel." That's the word to preach the gospel." That's the word to preach the gospel." That's the word of the cross. of the cross. of the cross. And here's the key thing. I'm not going And here's the key thing. I'm not going And here's the key thing. I'm not going to preach the gospel, the word of the to preach the gospel, the word of the to preach the gospel, the word of the cross, with words of eloquent wisdom.

cross, with words of eloquent wisdom. cross, with words of eloquent wisdom. This is oratory and philosophy and philosophy for the Greek itching ears. I'm not going to take the approach of I'm not going to take the approach of getting a following in Corinth or getting a following in Corinth or getting a following in Corinth or anywhere else in the Greek world by anywhere else in the Greek world by anywhere else in the Greek world by trying trying to sound like the best trying trying to sound like the best trying trying to sound like the best orator and trying trying to sound like orator and trying trying to sound like orator and trying trying to sound like an impressive philosopher, because if I an impressive philosopher, because if I an impressive philosopher, because if I do that, I will empty the cross of its do that, I will empty the cross of its do that, I will empty the cross of its power. power. power. The power of the cross The power of the cross The power of the cross consists precisely in consists precisely in consists precisely in undermining undermining undermining dependence on self-exalting oratory and dependence on self-exalting oratory and dependence on self-exalting oratory and self-exalting self-exalting self-exalting impressive philosophy. So, I'm not going impressive philosophy. So, I'm not going impressive philosophy. So, I'm not going to preach the gospel with eloquent words to preach the gospel with eloquent words to preach the gospel with eloquent words of wisdom, because of wisdom, because of wisdom, because And now he introduces another argument. And now he introduces another argument. And now he introduces another argument. Because the word of the cross Because the word of the cross Because the word of the cross is is is folly folly folly to those who are being destroyed.

to those who are being destroyed. to those who are being destroyed. But it is power to those who are being But it is power to those who are being But it is power to those who are being saved. What What's the What's the saved. What What's the What's the saved. What What's the What's the argument? argument? argument? The argument is, "Look, The argument is, "Look, The argument is, "Look, if you try to take this word of the if you try to take this word of the if you try to take this word of the cross, and the cross, of course, is so cross, and the cross, of course, is so cross, and the cross, of course, is so shameful, and so weak-looking, and so weak-looking, and so foolish-looking, [snorts] and so and so ego- ego- ego- humbling. humbling. humbling. I mean the the cross is just everything I mean the the cross is just everything I mean the the cross is just everything about it is different about it is different about it is different from from from self-exalting oratory, self-exalting self-exalting oratory, self-exalting self-exalting oratory, self-exalting philosophical prowess. If you try to philosophical prowess. If you try to philosophical prowess. If you try to take that cross and do this with it, take that cross and do this with it, take that cross and do this with it, what do you what do you accomplish? what do you what do you accomplish? what do you what do you accomplish? You accomplish people You accomplish people You accomplish people who are being destroyed thinking, "I've who are being destroyed thinking, "I've who are being destroyed thinking, "I've got it. I've got it. Yeah, that makes got it. I've got it. Yeah, that makes got it. I've got it. Yeah, that makes sense." sense." sense." Now that you fixed the the word of the Now that you fixed the the word of the Now that you fixed the the word of the cross with oratory, now that you fixed cross with oratory, now that you fixed cross with oratory, now that you fixed the word of the cross with philosophy, the word of the cross with philosophy, the word of the cross with philosophy, "I've got it."

"I've got it." "I've got it." They don't have it and you would be They don't have it and you would be They don't have it and you would be confirming them in their destruction. confirming them in their destruction. confirming them in their destruction. And the those who are being saved, if And the those who are being saved, if And the those who are being saved, if you if you doctored the word of the you if you doctored the word of the you if you doctored the word of the cross with with the self-exalting cross with with the self-exalting cross with with the self-exalting impressive oratory and philosophy, impressive oratory and philosophy, impressive oratory and philosophy, they'd say, "What happened to the they'd say, "What happened to the they'd say, "What happened to the gospel?" gospel?" gospel?" So, the very people that are being saved So, the very people that are being saved So, the very people that are being saved would lose the gospel if you do that. would lose the gospel if you do that. would lose the gospel if you do that. And the very people that are being And the very people that are being And the very people that are being destroyed would think that they've destroyed would think that they've destroyed would think that they've gained the gospel. So So, don't do that. gained the gospel. So So, don't do that. gained the gospel. So So, don't do that. That's the basic argument. That's the basic argument. That's the basic argument. Now, a couple of observations that are Now, a couple of observations that are Now, a couple of observations that are so so so crucial. Usually this is translated perishing, Usually this is translated perishing, which leaves which leaves which leaves um um um implicit but not explicit. And I think implicit but not explicit. And I think implicit but not explicit. And I think it is explicit in Greek because of the it is explicit in Greek because of the it is explicit in Greek because of the correlation between the passive voice correlation between the passive voice correlation between the passive voice here and the passive voice here. Since here and the passive voice here. Since here and the passive voice here. Since this is an act of God, and you can see this is an act of God, and you can see this is an act of God, and you can see that by comparing this that by comparing this that by comparing this word down here. Jews demand signs, word down here. Jews demand signs, word down here. Jews demand signs, Greeks seek wisdom, we preach Christ Greeks seek wisdom, we preach Christ Greeks seek wisdom, we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, folly to Gentiles, but to those who are folly to Gentiles, but to those who are folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called called called this Christ crucified is the power of this Christ crucified is the power of this Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God. In other God and the wisdom of God. In other God and the wisdom of God. In other words, this work of God in calling words, this work of God in calling words, this work of God in calling people from Jews and Gentiles enables people from Jews and Gentiles enables people from Jews and Gentiles enables them to see the cross as wisdom, enables them to see the cross as wisdom, enables them to see the cross as wisdom, enables them to see the cross as power, which is them to see the cross as power, which is them to see the cross as power, which is the very same as saying God is saving

the very same as saying God is saving the very same as saying God is saving them so that they can see the cross as them so that they can see the cross as them so that they can see the cross as the power of God. the power of God. the power of God. This here This here This here God calling and this here God saving is God calling and this here God saving is God calling and this here God saving is an act of God. an act of God. an act of God. The passive voice The passive voice The passive voice is an expression of a work of God. is an expression of a work of God. is an expression of a work of God. >> So is >> So is >> So is >> this. And we know it not only because >> this. And we know it not only because >> this. And we know it not only because it's the same form, even though that it's the same form, even though that it's the same form, even though that could be middle, it could be translated could be middle, it could be translated could be middle, it could be translated perishing. I'm not denying that the word perishing. I'm not denying that the word perishing. I'm not denying that the word can be translated perishing, but the can be translated perishing, but the can be translated perishing, but the correspondence to the ground clause here the cross is folly to those who are the cross is folly to those who are being destroyed because being destroyed because being destroyed because it is written, "I will destroy the it is written, "I will destroy the it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." wisdom of the wise." wisdom of the wise." That's the connection. And so this is not simply a And so this is not simply a passive being um um um passive being um um um passive being um um um perishing, it is an act of God. "I will perishing, it is an act of God. "I will perishing, it is an act of God. "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." And so destroy the wisdom of the wise." And so destroy the wisdom of the wise." And so these people that are being destroyed these people that are being destroyed these people that are being destroyed here are under the sentence of God here are under the sentence of God here are under the sentence of God because of their self-reliance, because of their self-reliance, because of their self-reliance, self-exalting self-exalting self-exalting love of oratory and wisdom.

love of oratory and wisdom. love of oratory and wisdom. So their regarding the cross as folly is So their regarding the cross as folly is So their regarding the cross as folly is judgment. judgment. judgment. God has consigned them God has consigned them God has consigned them to blindness. to blindness. to blindness. These people he is calling out of These people he is calling out of These people he is calling out of darkness into light so that they are darkness into light so that they are darkness into light so that they are able to see the cross able to see the cross able to see the cross as power and wisdom. as power and wisdom. as power and wisdom. We have nothing to do We have nothing to do We have nothing to do with God's free setting his favor with God's free setting his favor with God's free setting his favor upon us. upon us. upon us. We'll see that more clearly when we get We'll see that more clearly when we get We'll see that more clearly when we get here. here. here. So, that's the first observation I So, that's the first observation I So, that's the first observation I wanted to see besides the nature of the wanted to see besides the nature of the wanted to see besides the nature of the argument. This is an act of God argument. This is an act of God argument. This is an act of God supported by the parallel with being supported by the parallel with being supported by the parallel with being saved, being destroyed, and especially saved, being destroyed, and especially saved, being destroyed, and especially by the argument of quoting by the argument of quoting by the argument of quoting the Psalm 33, the Psalm 33, the Psalm 33, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise." And this is an example of how he's doing And this is an example of how he's doing And this is an example of how he's doing it.

it. it. One more observation. One more observation. One more observation. Why Why Why does Paul does Paul does Paul correlate correlate correlate folly folly folly or foolishness or foolishness or foolishness and power and power and power instead of folly and instead of folly and instead of folly and weakness or folly and wisdom? weakness or folly and wisdom? weakness or folly and wisdom? Why didn't he say Why didn't he say Why didn't he say the cross is the cross is the cross is foolishness, folly foolishness, folly foolishness, folly to those who are being destroyed, but to to those who are being destroyed, but to to those who are being destroyed, but to those who are being saved, it's wisdom? those who are being saved, it's wisdom? those who are being saved, it's wisdom? Or why didn't he say Or why didn't he say Or why didn't he say the cross is weakness to those who are being destroyed, but to to those who are being destroyed, but to those who are being saved, it is power? those who are being saved, it is power? those who are being saved, it is power? Cuz Cuz Cuz there is both there is both there is both power power power and wisdom and wisdom and wisdom in the cross of Christ. in the cross of Christ. in the cross of Christ. And those who are being saved can see And those who are being saved can see And those who are being saved can see both the power of God and the wisdom of both the power of God and the wisdom of both the power of God and the wisdom of God in it. And the corresponding word God in it. And the corresponding word God in it. And the corresponding word here on the negative side is here on the negative side is here on the negative side is folly.

folly. folly. And the corresponding negative word here And the corresponding negative word here And the corresponding negative word here is weakness. is weakness. is weakness. Now, why didn't Paul Now, why didn't Paul Now, why didn't Paul use the ordinary corresponding pair? He use the ordinary corresponding pair? He use the ordinary corresponding pair? He didn't. didn't. didn't. Why did he do it this way? Contrasting Why did he do it this way? Contrasting Why did he do it this way? Contrasting folly with power instead of folly with folly with power instead of folly with folly with power instead of folly with wisdom. wisdom. wisdom. Here's the reason I'm going to suggest. Here's the reason I'm going to suggest. Here's the reason I'm going to suggest. Can't prove this. I'm just offering a Can't prove this. I'm just offering a Can't prove this. I'm just offering a suggestion. suggestion. suggestion. Because Because Because in interchanging in interchanging in interchanging um the power um the power um the power pair with the foolishness pair, pair with the foolishness pair, pair with the foolishness pair, he shows that for these people, he shows that for these people, he shows that for these people, those who are being destroyed, those who are being destroyed, those who are being destroyed, the folly the folly the folly of the cross, the foolishness of the of the cross, the foolishness of the of the cross, the foolishness of the cross, really does consist cross, really does consist cross, really does consist in its weakness. in its weakness. in its weakness. And that is what those who are being And that is what those who are being And that is what those who are being saved saved saved can see. It really is power. These can see. It really is power. These can see. It really is power. These people really think it is weak.

people really think it is weak. people really think it is weak. And they don't like looking weak or And they don't like looking weak or And they don't like looking weak or following a weak savior. following a weak savior. following a weak savior. And therefore, the essence of their And therefore, the essence of their And therefore, the essence of their concern is that it is concern is that it is concern is that it is folly in the sense that it is so weak. folly in the sense that it is so weak. folly in the sense that it is so weak. Paul draws that out by leaving the power Paul draws that out by leaving the power Paul draws that out by leaving the power in place here rather than just in place here rather than just in place here rather than just contrasting folly with wisdom. contrasting folly with wisdom. contrasting folly with wisdom. The root stumbling block The root stumbling block The root stumbling block for these Greek philosopher oratorical for these Greek philosopher oratorical for these Greek philosopher oratorical lovers of self-exaltation is lovers of self-exaltation is lovers of self-exaltation is the cross is shamefully the cross is shamefully the cross is shamefully weak, and we love weak, and we love weak, and we love power. So, therefore, So, therefore, oh, oh, oh, listener to look at the book, listener to look at the book, listener to look at the book, don't take don't take don't take the gospel. the gospel. the gospel. Don't take Don't take Don't take the word of the cross the word of the cross the word of the cross and dilute its power or its wisdom and dilute its power or its wisdom and dilute its power or its wisdom by trying to doctor it up so that with by trying to doctor it up so that with by trying to doctor it up so that with some kind of philosophical some kind of philosophical some kind of philosophical impressiveness or oratorical impressiveness or oratorical impressiveness or oratorical skill, you could make it more appealing skill, you could make it more appealing skill, you could make it more appealing to those who are being destroyed.