1 Cor. 1:19-31 - Observations and applications

I've been reading 1 Corinthians carefully during my devotions for a couple of weeks, and wanted to share something I noticed today that I hadn't noticed before. I'm copying in the ESV text of 1 Cor. 1:19-31 because what I noticed is easier to show than tell. I'm highlighting related words and ideas in the same colors.

19 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

This passage is part of Paul's argument in the first half of 1 Cor. 1 which he continues in 1 Cor. 2. His point is that the Corinthians shouldn't subscribe to factions within the church, but should recognize and embrace their unity as believers.

This passage contributes to Paul's argument by demonstrating that it's foolish to form a faction around a person, whether that's Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or anyone else (1 Cor. 1:12-13).

​Why? Because the message of the cross touches our hearts, not because of the work of any evangelist/apostle, but because of God's calling. Otherwise, we couldn't understand the message - it's unintelligible to the natural man (1 Cor. 2:14).

Though it appears foolish, the message of the cross speaks to what humans long for: power and wisdom (verse 22). That longing is innate, and there is no satisfaction for it outside of identifying with Jesus, God's wisdom and power (verse 30). Jesus as the answer to our longing is so paradoxical (verse 23) that our response to the message of the cross can be nothing but the result of God's call (verse 24).

This prohibits us from forming a sect around a particular preacher, evangelist, or even apostle. This prohibits preachers, evangelists, and apostles from seeing souls saved as personal trophies - no soul is saved except by the calling of God.

This encourages all Christians to embrace their unity with the worldwide body of Christ. We are not scattered strangers, but members of a single family. We are in Christ (verse 30) - we share that identity with the many who find their home in Him. The problem, that we were not of noble birth (verse 26) and had nothing going for us - no power, no wisdom (verse 26) - is solved by our union with Christ (verse 30).

This encourages preachers, evangelists, and apostles by reminding them that God is the one responsible for calling. Their best will always be too weak to save anyone, yet God chooses to use their collaboration to facilitate His calling.