Wisdom, Division, and God’s Power: Foundations for a Unified Church
- Be God's Glory
- Nov 22
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 325 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
In these chapters, Paul addresses the spiritual immaturity and divisions that had emerged within the Corinthian church. He emphasizes that true wisdom and strength come not from human knowledge or status but from Christ and the power of God. Paul challenges the believers to reject worldly wisdom and pride, warning them that reliance on human leaders or clever arguments leads to division and weakness. Instead, he calls the church to unity, grounded in the gospel and the Spirit, highlighting that God’s ways are higher than human understanding. Throughout these chapters, Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God and lays the foundation for spiritual maturity and understanding in the Christian life.
1 Corinthians 1
Paul opens by addressing the divisions in the church, noting that some were aligning themselves with particular leaders like Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. He reminds the believers that Christ is not divided, and that their allegiance should be to Him alone, not human teachers. Paul emphasizes the centrality of the cross, explaining that the message of Christ crucified may seem foolish to the world, but it is the power of God to those who are being saved. He warns against relying on human wisdom, showing that God’s plan surpasses the wisdom of the world. The chapter calls believers to humility and dependence on God’s wisdom, rather than seeking status or recognition. Paul underscores that God chooses the weak and lowly to shame the strong and wise, emphasizing His sovereignty and purpose.
1 Corinthians 2
Paul continues by explaining the difference between human wisdom and God’s spiritual wisdom. He states that when he came to the Corinthians, he did not use lofty words or persuasive arguments, but instead relied on the Spirit to reveal God’s truth. The Spirit reveals the deep things of God, which cannot be understood through human reasoning alone. Paul highlights that spiritual truths are spiritually discerned, meaning that only those with the Spirit can truly grasp God’s wisdom. He contrasts the natural person, who cannot understand spiritual matters, with the spiritual person, who can judge all things through the guidance of the Spirit. This chapter emphasizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit for understanding God’s mysteries and living according to His wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3
Paul addresses the Corinthians’ continued immaturity, noting that their jealousy and quarreling are signs of spiritual infancy. He likens the church to a field and a building, showing that leaders are God’s servants working together to build His church, each with different roles but all accountable to Him. Paul warns against boasting in human leaders, explaining that the foundation is Christ, and everything built on Him will be tested by fire. He contrasts worldly wisdom with God’s wisdom, emphasizing that the Corinthians’ focus on human leaders reflects their spiritual immaturity. The chapter calls believers to unity and to value their work for God, remembering that it is God who ultimately sustains and rewards His church.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The book is named after the city of Corinth, a prominent Greek city known for its wealth, commerce, and cultural diversity. The name “Corinthians” simply refers to the people of Corinth, who were the recipients of Paul’s letter. Corinth was a major port city on the Isthmus of Corinth, strategically located for trade and travel, which contributed to both its prosperity and the moral challenges faced by its inhabitants.
Purpose of the Book:
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address divisions, moral issues, and questions about Christian conduct within the Corinthian church. The letter provides guidance on maintaining unity, living a holy life, understanding spiritual gifts, and navigating relationships within the church. Paul emphasizes the importance of relying on God’s wisdom rather than human wisdom, correcting sinful behavior, and reinforcing the gospel’s centrality, particularly the message of Christ crucified as the foundation for faith.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The Apostle Paul is the author of 1 Corinthians. Internal evidence supports this claim, as Paul identifies himself as the writer in 1 Corinthians 1:1–2: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God that is in Corinth.”Additional evidence includes:
2 Corinthians 1:1 and Romans 16:23, which reference Paul’s letters to Corinth and his co-workers.
Acts 18:1-18 documents Paul’s time in Corinth, establishing his close relationship with the church and confirming the historical context for the letter.
Early church historians such as Eusebius and references in the writings of Clement of Rome (c. AD 95) also acknowledge Paul as the author of the letter to the Corinthians.
Key People:
Paul – the author, apostle, and primary spiritual guide for the Corinthian church.
Sosthenes – co-sender of the letter, likely a leader or prominent member of the Corinthian congregation (1:1).
Apollos – an eloquent teacher and minister whom some Corinthians followed, causing divisions (1:12; 3:4-6).
Cephas (Peter) – referenced as another leader whom some church members favored (1:12).
Christ Jesus – central to the letter, as Paul repeatedly emphasizes reliance on Him as the foundation of faith (1:2, 2:2, 3:11).
Other unnamed members of the Corinthian church – involved in disputes, immorality, and questions that prompted Paul’s guidance.
Conclusion
The book of 1 Corinthians addresses the struggles of a young church learning to live out its faith in a challenging cultural context. Paul calls the Corinthians to unity, humility, moral integrity, and dependence on God’s wisdom rather than human pride. He emphasizes that Christ is the foundation of all spiritual life and ministry, and that God’s power is made perfect in human weakness. The letter is both corrective and instructive, offering timeless guidance for believers navigating divisions, moral challenges, and the pursuit of spiritual maturity. It remains a foundational text for understanding Christian conduct, church unity, and reliance on God’s wisdom.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
1 Corinthians 1
God’s character in this chapter is sovereign, powerful, and wise beyond human understanding. He demonstrates His strength through what the world considers weakness, choosing the lowly and humble to confound the proud and wise. God’s wisdom is not aligned with human logic or status; it is revealed through the gospel of Christ crucified. The lesson here is that we are called to humility, to rely on God rather than worldly wisdom, and to place our faith fully in Christ rather than human leaders.
No specific Hebrew names of God are explicitly mentioned in this chapter. However, the teaching emphasizes God’s role as the ultimate source of wisdom and power, highlighting His sovereignty and purpose in using what the world rejects to accomplish His plans.
1 Corinthians 2
In this chapter, God is revealed as the source of spiritual wisdom, mystery, and discernment. His character is intimate and enlightening, granting understanding of spiritual truths through the Holy Spirit. God does not reveal His deepest truths through human reasoning or eloquence but through His Spirit to those who are spiritually receptive. The lesson for believers is to seek God’s guidance through the Spirit, trust His wisdom over worldly knowledge, and rely on Him for true understanding of His plans.
No Hebrew names of God are specifically mentioned in this chapter. The focus is on God as the revealer of mysteries and the one who equips believers spiritually to understand His truth.
1 Corinthians 3
God’s character in this chapter is both just and nurturing. He is a wise builder, giving each believer a role in His church and holding them accountable for their work. God’s sovereignty is displayed as He lays Christ as the foundation, and everything built upon Him is tested by fire, showing that He rewards what aligns with His purposes. The lesson here is that believers should pursue unity, humility, and diligence in serving God, recognizing that human leaders are instruments in His hands and that ultimate growth and reward come from Him alone.
No Hebrew names are mentioned in this chapter. The emphasis is on God as the wise and righteous foundation of the church, teaching us to rely fully on Him rather than human strength or wisdom.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does God’s choice of the weak and lowly in 1 Corinthians 1 reveal His sovereignty and wisdom?
In what ways does God demonstrate His power through what the world considers foolish?
How does 1 Corinthians 2 show that God’s wisdom is revealed through the Spirit rather than human knowledge?
What does God’s role as the builder of the church in 1 Corinthians 3 teach us about His justice and care for His people?
How does God’s character challenge human pride and self-reliance in these chapters?
How can understanding God’s wisdom and power affect the way we approach challenges in our own lives?
In what ways do these chapters encourage believers to trust God’s timing and methods over worldly solutions?
Questions About Themes:
Why was division in the Corinthian church such a serious issue, and what does it teach about unity in Christ?
How does Paul contrast human wisdom with God’s wisdom throughout 1 Corinthians 1-3?
What is the significance of the “message of the cross” being called foolishness to the world but power to believers?
How do jealousy and quarreling among believers reveal spiritual immaturity, as seen in 1 Corinthians 3?
Why is it important to understand that leaders in the church are servants, not ultimate authorities?
How does the imagery of building on a foundation (Christ) help believers understand their role in God’s work?
How do these chapters show that true spiritual growth comes from reliance on God, not human leaders?
Reflective Application Questions:
How can you examine your own life to ensure you are not relying on worldly wisdom instead of God’s guidance?
What practical steps can you take to promote unity and avoid division in your church or community?
How do you personally respond to God’s wisdom when it conflicts with popular opinion or culture?
In what ways can you humbly serve others without seeking recognition, following the example in these chapters?
How can you build your life and faith on Christ as a foundation rather than temporary human influence?
What areas of your life need the “refining fire” of God to strengthen your spiritual foundation?
How can the lessons from 1 Corinthians 1-3 inspire you to depend more on God’s Spirit for wisdom in daily decisions?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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