1 Corinthians - Chapter 2 (Week 4) – Leader Guide

Vs 1-5 How Paul delivered the message (message, to method, to mindset)

a. No Eloquence – excellent speech

b. No Wisdom
c. Knowing only Jesus and him crucified
d. Weakness – lit. weakness of body as in illness
e. Fear
f. Much trembling (word tramos, get trama from it)
g. Not with persuasive words of man’s wisdom
h. Demonstration of Spirit’s power (the person of the Godhead addressed many times in
this letter)

The message was the “martyrdom of God”

For Paul, he usually loses his audience because of his speech not because of the subject matter

His coming was not in human power but in power of God – that’s the point

Vs 7 – Spiritual maturity is the acceptance of God’s message even in the face of worldly ridicule

Vs 8- human rulers

Vs 9 - (Eph 1:4) God chose you before the foundation of the world Vs 9 comes from Is 64:4 loosely

Nothing captures God by surprise – one thing God can’t do is learn. Eph 2:8,9 – Grace you are saved, by
faith that’s not yours (answers verse 7)

How does God show infinite love? Knowingly make man that he knew would make the choice to sin and
that the only price to get him back would be the death of God’s one and only.

Vs 10 (Eph 3) The mystery was revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit (common theme). If we
understand anything in the Scripture, it’s because of the Spirit, not us.

All three of the Godhead in your salvation – Father’s election, Son’s sacrifice, Spirit’s conviction

Illustration of a hologram: Fourier transform – two elements, 3D and a broken film can show the whole
picture. The Bible is like that – where is the chapter on salvation, sanctification, Love… The truth is
diffused throughout the book and because you can take out half the Bible and still don’t lose the central
truth.

The Word and the Spirit must go together is the point.

Vs 12 – The Spirit is the key player in the letter – Seals us, temple, gifts, fruits, liberates, etc.
Vs 13 – The very words in the scripture are a product of the Spirit of God. He also takes those words and
embeds them in our spirit, mind and heart.

Vs 14 - Key to the chapter. Until you are converted by the Spirit, you can see every aspect of the Bible
except its intent. Jesus could not be a good teacher, for example, unless what he taught was right. (Eph
2:1). After you are saved, the Bible comes alive.

Psychology (study of the soul) can never win: Heb 4:12 – Word is living… divides soul and spirit. The
most inner part of you is the spirit. Jer 17:9 – who can tame the heart, its incurably wicked. Who can
know it?

The soul/spirit is a software problem , not a hardware problem. That part of you is eternal.

Vs 15 – You have heard that we are not to judge. Not true. Non-believers do judge us (abimelech and
Abraham). We are called to judge fruits, spirits, fellow Christians when having issues. (1 Thes 5:21, 1
John 4:1, 1 Cor 6:1-5)

Prov 28:5 - Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all [things].

Vs 16 – (quote from Is 40:13) Paul is equaling the “Lord” – YHWH with Christ. (Be Ye Transformed –
Nancy Missler)

Mind: Rom 8:5-7, 12:2

Soul = mind, will and emotions (you have control)

Spirit = (God has control)

Body = 5 senses

We’ve dealt with the natural man, spiritual man – chapter 3 deals with the carnal man.
1 Corinthians - Chapter 2 (Week 4) – Handout
1. Vs 1-5 How Paul delivered the message
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Vs 9 - (Eph 1:4, Is 64:4, Eph 2:7-9) Vs10 (Eph 3) Vs 14 (Eph 2:1, Heb 4:12, Jer 17:9) Vs 15 (1 Thes 5:21, 1
John 4:1, 1 Cor 6:1-5, Prov 28:5) Vs 16 – (quote from Is 40:13, Rom 8:5-7, 12:2)