1 Corinthians 2:1-5
by Mark Allan Powell
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When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come
proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For
I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much
trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible
words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of
power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the
power of God.
We don’t know whether Paul was a very good preacher or not. Some of
his opponents apparently thought he wasn’t as impressive as other public
speakers of the day (see 2 Corinthians 10:10). Either way, Paul says
that when he brought the gospel to the Corinthia
ns,
he did not try to impress
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In addition to questions found in this
study, here are some general questions that can
be used:
1. What is God saying to us through this
passage?
2. What does this passage tell us about
God?
3. How does this passage speak to us as a
community?
4. What does this passage teach us about
our neighbors and our world? |
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them with his own eloquence or intellect. He knew that he was just a
weak and fearful man with but one thing to offer anyone: Jesus Christ,
who had been crucified. But why would anybody put their faith in a
crucified messiah? They wouldn’t ... unless the Holy Spirit got
involved! So, Paul took the risk: preach Christ crucified and if anyone
responds, their faith will rest “not on human wisdom but on the power of
God.”
Would you tell them that he was “born of a virgin”? That he “ate with
tax-collectors and sinners?” That he taught “the Golden Rule”? Over
time, Paul must have told the Corinthians many things about Jesus (see,
for example, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; 15:3-8), but he indicates here that
he always kept the message of the cross “front and center.” The message
of the cross not only conveys God’s gift of salvation to poor sinners
but also serves as a reminder of how believers are to live in this
world. It is the sign of unselfish love, a love that gives and serves
and dies for those who are unworthy and, often, unappreciative. Our
world regards this message as foolishness; it tells us to look out for
our own interests, not the interests of others. But through the cross,
Jesus Christ has shown us another way (see Phil. 2:4-8).
ELCA Christians are marked with the cross of Christ. We are among
those being saved, whose faith rests on the power of Go
d.
We are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world, but what
do we have to offer? Are we strong? Are we brave? Are we powerful? Are
we wise? We know that we have nothing to offer this world but the
unselfish love of a crucified messiah. We trust in the cross for our
salvation and we offer Christ’s unselfish love to everyone — family
members, neighbors, strangers, and enemies.
Mark Allan Powell teaches at Trinity Seminary in
Columbus, Ohio.
Questions on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
- Why would anybody put their faith in a crucified messiah?
- If you could tell people one thing about Jesus, what would it
be?
- What does the cross of Christ mean to you? To your community? To
the world?