Is it True that ONLY People with a Low IQ
Believe in God?1 Corinthians, Chapters 1 & 2
Lorraine Day, M.D.
A recent article published in a journal erroneously named, “Intelligence” has stated that people who have high IQs are less likely to believe in God than those of average or below average intelligence. Obviously, their conclusion is that only stupid people believe in God.
But 1 Corinthians, Chapter 1 and 2, which follows this article, gives us the answer. Those who have the “wisdom” of the world, are not able to understand spiritual things.
As you read this article below, think about those who are considered to have a high IQ – people like:
Stephen Hawking who doesn’t even know how to be well, who is confined to a wheelchair with Lou Gehrig’s disease, a totally preventable and reversible disease, unable to walk, unable to talk, shake hands, feed himself, or go to the bathroom by himself;
Ted Kennedy, who died of brain cancer, a totally preventable and reversible disease, and a horrible way to die because one loses all his ability to control his bodily functions, and doesn’t even recognize his family as the cancer progresses;
Albert Einstein– was he a thief, a liar and a plagiarist?
ALBERT EINSTEIN is held up as "a rare genius," who drastically changed the field of theoretical physics. However, using the technique known as 'The Often-Repeated Lie=Truth,' he has been made an idol to young people, and his very name has become synonymous with genius.
THE TRUTH, HOWEVER, IS VERY DIFFERENT. Einstein was an inept and moronic person, who could not even tie his own shoelaces; he contributed NOTHING ORIGINAL to the field of quantum mechanics, nor any other science. On the contrary—he stole the ideas of others, and the Jew-controlled media made him a 'hero.'
When we actually examine the life of Albert Einstein, we find that his only 'brilliance' was in his ability to PLAGIARIZE and STEAL OTHER PEOPLE'S IDEAS, PASSING THEM OFF AS HIS OWN. Einstein's education, or lack thereof, is an important part of this story.
The Encyclopedia Britannica says of Einstein's early education that he "showed little scholastic ability." It also says that at the age of 15, "with poor grades in history, geography, and languages, he left school with no diploma." Einstein himself wrote in a school paper of his "lack of imagination and practical ability." In 1895, Einstein failed a simple entrance exam to an engineering school in Zurich.
This exam consisted mainly of mathematical problems, and Einstein showed himself to be mathematically inept in this exam. He then entered a lesser school hoping to use it as a stepping stone to the engineering school he could not get into, but after graduating in 1900, he still could not get a position at the engineering school!
Unable to go to the school as he had wanted, he got a job (with the help of a friend) at the patent office in Bern. He was to be a technical expert third class, which meant that he was not competent to hold a higher qualified position. Even after publishing his so-called ground-breaking papers of 1905 and after working in the patent office for six years, he was only elevated to a second class standing. Remember, the work he was doing at the patent office, for which he was only rated third class, was not quantum mechanics or theoretical physics, but was reviewing technical documents for patents of every day things; yet he was barely qualified.
He would work at the patent office until 1909, all the while continuously trying to get a position at a university, but without success. All of these facts are true, but now begins the myth.
Supposedly, while working a full time job, without the aid of university colleagues, a staff of graduate students, a laboratory, or any of the things normally associated with an academic setting, Einstein in his spare time wrote four ground-breaking essays in the field of theoretical physics and quantum mechanics that were published in 1905.
Many people have recognized the impossibility of such a feat, including Einstein himself, and therefore Einstein has led people to believe that many of these ideas came to him in his sleep, out of the blue, because indeed that is the only logical explanation of how an admittedly inept moron could have written such documents at the age of 26 without any real education. THE TRUTH IS: HE STOLE THE IDEAS AND PLAGIARIZED THE PAPERS.
There are many others who come to mind, including the evil Rockefellers, the Rothschilds, Henry Kissinger, Goldman Sachs, Bill Gates, all of whom are doing the work of Satan by promoting population extermination, destroying the peoples of the world to steal the natural resources of every country, spreading disease and death through vaccinations, destroying the economy of America and the world, promoting food control to bring famines on every country in the world, dumbing down the population of America and the world, and turning everyone in the world into their slaves.
These are the ones who are considered “intelligent” by human standards.
These are the “Pharisees” of today who consider themselves sophisticated, intelligent, and above everyone else. The Pharisees of the time of Jesus called for His execution. They, too considered themselves wise and intelligent, but they were so dumb and so blind that they didn’t even recognize their Messiah when He was standing right in front of them.
He came from Galilee – an area in Palestine that was populated by mostly uneducated, blue-collar working people. But Jesus spent most of His time in Galilee:
“. . . where the common people heard Him gladly.” Mark 12:37
Jesus chose all except two of His disciples from the ranks of the common working men; fishermen, tax collectors, etc. The two who were educated were 1) Judas Iscariot, the son of a Pharisee, Simon the leper, who not only stole money from the “bag” he carried as the treasurer of the group, but he also betrayed Jesus for money - 30 pieces of silver – just as the “Pharisees” of today would do, and 2) Paul, whom Jesus personally chose, on the road to Damascus, to replace Judas as the twelfth disciple.
Saul/Paul was a highly educated Pharisee who, in his position as a Pharisee, persecuted and killed Christians, before being converted by Jesus Christ. Jesus had to blind Paul physically because Paul was so very blind spiritually. It was through Paul’s physical blindness that he learned how to see spiritual truth.
The Pharisees of Christ’s time were too full of themselves to be willing to learn truth from Jesus Christ, a man they considered to be nothing more than an itinerant “preacher” who was stirring up the people against them (by telling the truth). They wanted Him dead!
So it is today, these rich and famous “Pharisees” of today, who consider themselves to be so intelligent that they have a right to rule the world and destroy anyone who obstructs their goal, will eventually “kill Christ” all over again by calling for the death of true Christians.
THAT is where worldly “intelligence” leads a person. THAT is the darkness in which these “rich and famous” are trapped.
The Wisdom of God
The Bible says,
“The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. He snares the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Cor 3:19
“Pride goes before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov 16:18
“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jer 10:23
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Prov 3:5,6
Below is the article from the journal, “Intelligence”!!
Guess Who Doesn’t Believe in God
People who have high IQs are less likely to believe in God than people of average and below average intelligence, according to Richard Lynn, emeritus professor of psychology at Ireland's University of Ulster.
Lynn claims that the general decline in religious observance over the last century is directly related to a rise in average intelligence. The smarter we are the more likely we are to shun religious services? Not so fast. Lynn's critics charge that his analysis is simplistic.
London's Telegraph reports that Lynn has previously provoked controversy with his research that links intelligence to race and gender. Now he's taking on God. Lynn insists that of all the population, university academics are the least likely group to believe in God. He bases this conclusion on a survey of The Royal Society, a learned society for science that serves as the academy of sciences in the United Kingdom, in which he found that only 3.3 percent believed in God, compared with 68.5 percent of the general population of the U.K. In the 1990s, a poll of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States found that only 7 percent of its members believed in God, while a 2008 Harris Poll found that 82 percent of the general U.S. population believes.
"Why should fewer academics believe in God than the general population? I believe it is simply a matter of the IQ," Lynn told the Times Higher Education magazine. "Academics have higher IQs than the general population. Several Gallup poll studies of the general population have shown that those with higher IQs tend not to believe in God."
And it's not just highly educated adults. Lynn says most children in elementary school believe in God, but as they grow into adolescence and their intelligence increases, many begin to have doubts. As the populations of 137 developed nations have become more intelligent in the past century, their religious beliefs have declined, he insists.
A dangerous trend: "Linking religious belief and intelligence in this way could reflect a dangerous trend, developing a simplistic characterization of religion as primitive, which--while we are trying to deal with very complex issues of religious and cultural pluralism--is perhaps not the most helpful response," Gordon Lynch, director of the Centre for Religion and Contemporary Society at Birkbeck College, London, told the Telegraph.
Still, Dr. David Hardman, principal lecturer in learning development at London Metropolitan University, acknowledged to the Telegraph, "It is very difficult to conduct true experiments that would explicate a causal relationship between IQ and religious belief. Nonetheless, there is evidence from other domains that higher levels of intelligence are associated with a greater ability--or perhaps willingness--to question and overturn strongly felt institutions." Including the church.
The study findings have been published in the journal Intelligence.
http://channels.isp.netscape.com/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/intelligenceandbelief/intelligenceandbelief&
The City of Corinth
It has been estimated that in Paul’s day, Corinth had a population of about 25,000 free persons, plus as many as 400,000 slaves. In a number of ways it was the chief city of Greece.
It’s Commerce: Located just off the Corinthian isthmus, it was a crossroads for travelers and traders. It had two harbors: (1) Cenchrea, six miles to the east on the Saronic Gulf, and (2) Lechaeum, a mile and a half to the west on the Corinthian Gulf. Goods flowed across the isthmus on the Dioikos, a road by which smaller ships could be hauled fully loaded across the isthmus, and by which cargoes of larger ships could be transported by wagons from one side to the other. Goods flowed through the city from Italy and Spain to the west and from Asia Minor, Phoenicia and Egypt to the east.
Its Culture: Although Corinth was not a university town like Athens (Athens is 50 miles to the west of Corinth), it was characterized nevertheless by typical Greek culture. Its people were interested in Greek philosophy and placed a high premium on “wisdom.”
Its Religion: Corinth contained at least 12 pagan temples. Whether they were all in use during Paul’s time is no known for certain. One of the most infamous was the temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose worshipers practiced religious prostitution. About a fourth of a mile north of the theater stood the temple of Asclepius, the god of healing, and in the middle of the city the sixth-century B. C. temple of Apollo was located. In addition, there was a synagogue in Corinth.
Its Immorality: Corinth was a center for open and unbridled immorality. The worship of Aphrodite fostered prostitution in the name of religion. At one time 1,000 sacred prostitutes served her temple. So widely known did the immorality of Corinth become that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.” In a setting like this it is no wonder that the Corinthian ecclesia (group of believers in Jesus Christ) was plagued with numerous problems.
Occasion and Purpose
Paul had received information from several sources concerning the conditions existing in the ecclesia at Corinth. Some members of the household of Chloe had informed him of the factions that had developed among the believers. There were three individuals – Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus – who had come to Paul in Ephesus to make some contribution to his ministry, but whether these were the ones from Chloe’s household we do not know
Some of those who had come had brought disturbing information concerning moral irregularities in the ecclesia. Immorality had plagued the Corinthian assembly almost from the beginning. From 5:9-10 it is apparent that Paul had written previously concerning moral laxness. He had urged believers “not to associate with sexually immoral people” (5:9). Because of misunderstanding he now finds it necessary to clarify his instruction (5:10-11) and to urge immediate and drastic action (5:3-5,13).
Other Corinthian visitors had brought a letter from the church that requested counsel on several subjects.
It is clear that, although the ecclesia was gifted (1:4-7), it was immature and unspiritual (3:1-4). Paul’s purposes for writing were: (1) to instruct and restore the ecclesia in its areas of weakness, correcting erroneous practices such as divisions, immorality, litigation in pagan courts, and abuse of the Lord’s Supper; (2) to correct false teaching concerning the resurrection; and to give instruction concerning the offering for poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem.
Theme
The letter revolves around the theme of problems in Christian conduct in the church. It thus has to do with progressive sanctification, the continuing development of holiness of character. Obviously, Paul was personally concerned with the Corinthians’ problems, revealing a true shepherd’s heart.
Relevance
This letter is timely for the believers of today, both to instruct and to inspire. Most of the questions and problems that confronted the ecclesia at Corinth are still very much with us – problems like immaturity, instability, divisions, jealousy and envy, lawsuits, marital difficulties, sexual immorality and misuse of spiritual gifts. Yet in spite of this concentration on problems, the book contains some of the most familiar and beloved chapters in the entire Bible – e.g., Chapter 13, on Love, and Chapter 15, on the resurrection, and Universal Restoration.
From the Introduction to 1 Corinthians from the New International Version of the Bible.
The Christians in Corinth, having been converted out of the abject paganism of Corinth, had problems similar to the Israelites in Egypt, who had been subjected to 400 years of slavery in an atheistic pagan country. Countries of today like Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary, that have also been subjected to many years of paganism, including communistic atheism, are suffering with the same problems – difficulty understanding right from wrong.
Right now I am dealing with some Serbians who call themselves “Christians” who are involved in Grand Theft and other crimes of thievery and can’t imagine that they’ve done anything wrong.
The Bible says this will happen
“. . . in the latter times, when some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Tim 4:1,2
This is clearly what has happened to these people.
Those who today call themselves “Christians” in Serbia and other countries under Communist rule for many years, are no different from those in who called themselves “Christians” in Corinth 2,000 years ago. And they’re not much different from those who call themselves “Christians” today in America.
So Paul’s letters regarding Christian Conduct are relevant for our times, as well.
1 Corinthians
1 Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God: and Sosthenes, a brother, to the ecclesia of God that is in Corinth.
Paul’s right to apostleship had been questioned in Corinth. Here, and later in this epistle (chapter 9) Paul fearlessly affirmed and vigorously defended this right. Paul emphasizes the fact that it was God’s will that he should be an apostle. He knew that he was not appointed to the ministry by man, but by God (see Gal 1:1).
It is not known who Sosthenes was, except the he is a follower of Jesus Christ.
2 hallowed in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word “Grace” has a biblical definition that is rarely understood in theological circles. Many believe it to mean “unmerited favor” – the idea that Jesus is going to allow us into heaven, even though we don’t deserve it.
But the true meaning of the word “grace” is that Jesus does it ALL. We don’t “make a decision for Christ” because the Bible says there are NONE righteous. No not one” (Rom 3:10) The only way that we can come to Christ is if we are dragged there. Jesus said,
“No one can come to Me unless the Father draw (literal = Drag) him.” John 6:44
God must put in our heart the desire and ability to surrender to him because none of us can do that on our own. So if God puts it in the heart of some people to come to Jesus, why won’t He eventually put it in everyone’s heart?
The answer is, “He will!”
4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God that is given you by Jesus Christ;
As Jesus Christ does in Revelation, in the messages to the 7 ecclesias, before giving a rebuke, Paul commends them for the good he can find in them.
5 That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all discourse and in all knowledge.
Paul points out that God had greatly bless the Corinthian believers. He had rescued them from the grossly corrupt environment in which they lived, raised them from the depths of vice and sin, and conferred upon them spiritual gifts to that they came “short in no gift” (b. 7). Thus abundant provision, far beyond their actual needs, had been made, so the ecclesia had no excuse for backsliding and apostasy.
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that you are not deficient in any grace (not “gift); waiting for the revelation (literal: unveiling) of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When one has the character and disposition of Christ living in him, then Jesus will be making all the decisions in his life – and he truly will be blameless. Jesus said;
“You SHALL be perfect; as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matt 5:48
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul is pointing out the absolute dependability of God. God’s promises, like His character, are unchangeable. This should be a source of constant comfort to the Christian living in these troubled times, but unfortunately, almost no Christians believe that God’s promises are sure.
“He forgives ALL our sins, and heals ALL our diseases.” Psalm 103:3
“I will give you back your health again, and heal your wounds.” Jer 30:17
If you follow My laws, commandments and decrees, I WILL keep you FREE from EVERY disease.” Deut 7:11-15
“God is the Savior of ALL mankind.” 1 Tim 4:10
“Behold, the Lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the sin of the (whole) world.” John 1:29
“It is impossible for God to lie.” Heb 6:18
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
“Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:11
“I watch over My Word to perform it.” Jer 1:12
Even though God gives us all these wonderful promises, Christians don’t believe Him. They prefer to worry and fret and fuss, and become discouraged and depressed. They prefer to trust in “man” (pastors, doctors, psychologists, support groups, fellow church members) rather than trusting in God.
They are in such darkness they think that if they can’t figure out the solution to the problem, then neither can God, even though God is at least 100 trillion times smarter than we are. They forget that God created the Universe out of - - Nothing!
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all have a uniform testimony, and that there be no dissensions (schisma in Greek = schisms) among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same opinion.
Frequently, the organized churches use this passage to try to get everyone “in line” in churches, saying that if anyone studies the Bible on his or her own and comes up with what may be “new light” – that person is often rebuked and told to submit to the teachings of the pastor and the denominational leaders.
This is NOT what Paul is saying. What he is saying is that when everyone truly knows the Lord, and the Lord is living in each person, then they will all be “walking in lock-step” because the Lord will be directing everything in each person’s life. Then it will be impossible for there to be “schisms”
11 For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are quarrels among you.
Obviously, the dissensions must have been for someone from the house of Chloe to travel to Paul, who was in Ephesus, to tell him of the problems among the Corinthian believers. Ephesus is approximately 250 miles from Corinth – a half hour by plane or 4 or 5 hours by car today – but many days’ travel during Paul’s time.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas and I of Christ.
“Every one of you…” It appears that everyone was affected by the discord.
“Apollos was a follower of the teachings of John the Baptist, a man “eloquent” and “mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24, 25). He received his instruction in the tenets of the Christian faith at Ephesus from Aquila and Priscilla. From there he journeyed to Achaia, and for a time labored in the church at Corinth (Acts 18:27, 28; cf. 1 Cor. 3:5–7). His learning and eloquence led certain in the church to exalt him above Paul.
“When Paul first preached the gospel in that metropolis his labors had been adapted to meet the minds of those ignorant of spiritual truth (1 Cor. 2:1–4; 3:1, 2). Privileged to build upon this foundation, Apollos had been able to give instruction beyond the rudiments of the faith (ch. 3:6–11). His personality, manner of labor, and the type of message he bore appealed to a certain class, who began to show preference for him. Others refused to swerve from a loyalty they felt toward Paul, the one who had first brought the gospel to them. As far as Paul and Apollos were concerned there was perfect harmony between them (see vs. 5–10). When dissensions arose, Apollos left Corinth and returned to Ephesus. Paul urged him to return, but Apollos resolutely refused.
“Then some were fans of Peter (Cephas) Doubtless those belonging to this party believed that there was special merit in claiming attachment to one of the original Twelve. Peter had been intimately associated with Jesus and had been one of the leaders of the twelve apostles. This fact, they believed, ranked him above either Paul or Apollos. There are those who believe that the presence of this party indicates that Peter at some time must have visited Corinth. However, such a conclusion is not required, nor is there evidence elsewhere that such a visit ever occurred.” SDA Commentary
Here were supposed Christians behaving like teen-agers arguing about their favorite Rock Star. This is the height of immaturity for any adult, much less an adult who claims to be a follower of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul is strongly rebuking their childish behavior, pointing out the absurdity of it all.
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Apparently Paul did not baptize anyone, but had his associates, Crispus and Gaius do the baptizing, precisely to prevent these types of disputes. Crispus was the former chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:8).
15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Stephanas was an early convert of Paul’s from Achaia, an area in the Peloponnese region of Greece.
17 For Christ send me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul was anxious that Christ alone should be exalted, and that men and women should be won to Him; therefore he made it clear that it was not his main business to baptize, but rather to preach the Good News regarding the ”Savior of all mankind.” (1 Tim 4:10).
Paul did not speak to the ecclesia in Corinth in the learned methods of disputation and polished eloquence of the orators of the day, those who chose a philosophical style of rhetoric. His teaching and manner of speech were not such as called forth the praise of the sophisticated Greeks. They did not regard his preaching as wise. He was anxious that the glory of the cross of Christ should not be obscured by human philosophy and elegant oratory, and thus the glory be given to man instead of to God.
Church members don’t realize that when they clap in church, whether after a musical rendition by a singer or instrumentalist, or when they clap after a sermon, they are exalting man – and not God. They are clapping for a “performance” – rather than being lifted up spiritually.
18 For the word of the cross is to them that are lost (not “to them that perish), foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The preaching of the “cross” is the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
“To them that are lost”… is incorrectly translated “perish” in virtually ALL versions of the Bible. The Greek word used here is apollumi, the same Greek word used for the “lost” sheep and the “lost coin” in parables told by Jesus. Neither the sheep nor the coin had “perished,” or were “perishing.” They were just “lost” waiting to be found!
The Bible translators used the word “lost” for the sheep and the coin, but when the same Greek word is used for a human being, the translators incorrectly translate it as “perished” or “destroyed” or some such word that denotes annihilation – just to make God look harsh, and to endorse the false doctrine of a literal “hellfire.”
The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ appeared as the height of foolishness to the philosophy-loving Greek and to the ritualistic-minded Israelite.
“This power of God is demonstrated by the transformation of character that accompanies the sinner’s acceptance of God’s grace. The gospel is much more than a statement of doctrine or an account of what Jesus did for mankind when He died on the cross; it is the application of the mighty power of God to the heart and life of the repentant, believing sinner, making of him a new creation (see Rom. 1:16; cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). Ibid.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent (Isaiah 19:14).
“All the efforts of men to find a way of salvation through human philosophy and godless thinking will be rejected by the Lord and brought to nought.” Ibid.
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
“By the “wise” Paul probably had in mind particularly the Greek, with his love for worldly philosophy; by the “scribe,” the Pharisaical Israelite with his emphasis on the authority of the law; and by the “disputer,” both Greek and Pharisaical Israelite, who were fond of philosophical argumentation. This verse points out the complete unreliability of all forms of human thinking and reasoning as a means of achieving salvation.” Ibid.
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of the message preached to save them that believe.
Philosophy never teaches anyone about the true God. But God can work through the most profound foolishness of man ultimately to bring salvation to “all mankind.” 1 Tim 4:10
22 For the Judeans (believers) require a sign, and the Greeks (nations = unbelievers), seek after wisdom:
The Israelites (Judeans – believers) wanted a sign, as in Matt 12:38-40:
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.
“Jesus answered them saying, “A generation, wicked and adulteress, seeks for a sing, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For even as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, thus will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.”
The Greeks (nations= unbelievers) were famous for their philosophical and intellectual achievements and by their dependence on reason. They believed that the human intellect was able to penetrate into and to comprehend everything.
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Judeans a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks (unbelievers) foolishness;
The Judeans (believers, Israelites) believe that their Messiah would come to set up an earthly kingdom, so they – the Israelites – could rule the world. Obviously, preaching that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was a humble “man” who was crucified and died a painful and humiliating death on the cross, would be a great stumbling block to the Judeans (Israelites).
24 But unto them which are called, both Judeans (believers) and unto the Greeks (unbelievers) foolishness;
“To those who relied on philosophy, logic, science, and intellectual discoveries, the idea that one who was put to death by the most humiliating form of punishment used by the Romans—crucifixion—could save them, was sheer nonsense (see AA 245). The difficulty the philosophical mind experiences in accepting a crucified man as the Son of God is reflected in the following passage from Justin Martyr: “For with what reason should we believe of a crucified man that He is the first-born of the unbegotten God, and Himself will pass judgment on the whole human race, unless we had found testimonies concerning Him published before He came and was born as man, and unless we saw that things had happened accordingly” (The First Apology 53; ANF, vol. 1, p. 180). In ch. 13 the apologist declares, “For they proclaim our madness to consist in this, that we give to a crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God.” Ibid.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
This means that what God has devised for the salvation of man appears to be folly and weakness to those who are blinded by human philosophy. The language is rhetorical. There is, in reality, no foolishness or weakness with God, but His dealings with the human race seem to the unregenerate heart of man to be utterly foolish. But God’s plans are vastly superior to man, and God’s plans can never fail.
26 For consider brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
Jesus picked the vast majority of His disciples from the uneducated people in Galilee. A recent article in the journal Intelligence contends that those with a higher IQ are less likely to believe in God. (See article at the end of this study.) That’s not at all surprising because the more capable a person believes he is regarding running his own life, the less likely he will recognize his need for God to run his life for him.
But eventually, either in this life, or after the second resurrection at the Judgment, every person will have enough severe trouble in his life to finally understand that he needs God.
In general, the higher I.Q. a person has, the more arrogant and self-sufficient he or she is. But when massive trouble eventually becomes real, there will be nowhere else to turn, but to God.
Judas Iscariot was the only educated disciple of the first twelve. He was the son of a Pharisee. And, of course, he is the one who was arrogant, the one who was stealing from the “bag” (the purse that contained the money for the group), the one who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and the one who eventually committed suicide.
When Judas Iscariot is resurrected for the Judgment, he certainly will realize that “his way” didn’t turn out very well.
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound (put to shame) the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things (considered by the world to be “weak”) of the world to confound (put to shame) the things that are mighty;
“Jesus was considered an uneducated itinerant “preacher.” The Pharisees looked at Him with contempt. Yet were astonished by the wisdom of Jesus, and asked, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15). They could not understand how anyone who did not attend the schools of the Pharisees could appreciate spiritual truth.
“The same situation still obtains today. The value attached to a man’s teaching is often calculated simply by the amount of formal education he has had. True education is that which makes the Word of God central and all-important. One who has obtained such an education will be humble, meek, and wholly surrendered to the leading of the Lord.” Ibid..
28 and the insignificant things of the world, and things that are despised, hath God chosen, yes, and things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are:
“Insignificant” = literally “of no family” hence used to describe a man of no name or reputation. This Greek word agenes signifies those who are held of no account among men. Paul is emphasize the thought that God is in no way indebted to human skill or learning for the accomplishment of His purpose in the redemption of men. Humble, fully surrendered instruments are used by the Lord to show how vain and impotent are those who trust in worldly rank, power, and learning,
Jesus chose His disciples from among the uneducated and the poor for 2 reasons: (1) because they would not be arrogant, and would be far more willing to learn, and (2) because Jesus was showing that when a person’s heart is changed by the Lord, and his mind is opened to truth, he becomes a powerful witness for the Lord.
God doesn’t scan the earth looking for someone who has the ability and education to work for Him. God chooses a person, irrespective of his or her talents, and then provides in that person ALL that he or she needs to do the job Jesus Christ has given him or her. God is showing that “it is ALL of God, and NONE of us.”
29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.
There is no human being that can boast about his or her ability. Everything we have, talents, intellect, special abilities, honorable characteristics, have all been provided for us by God. There is nothing about us for which we can boast.
30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God became for us wisdom, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
It is getting to know the Lord that makes us strong and wise. All wisdom comes from God. (James 1:5) All ability to understand spiritual things, including the Bible, comes from God. (1 Cor 2:14)
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
There is nothing in us for which we can boast. We must glory only in the Lord,
1 Corinthians, Chapter 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
Paul did not try to win men by brilliant rhetoric or superior powers of oratory, even though that’s what the Greeks expected. Neither did he rely on philosophy, what the Greeks considered “wisdom” in order to prove the truth of he gospel. The new Christians in Corinth were unskilled in divine matters. Paul had to teach them as “babes in Christ.”
2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
“Paul’s decision as to his new method of labor was not an idea of the moment, but a carefully thought-out plan formed before going to Corinth. At Athens the apostle had used scholarly argumentation and philosophy to combat the heathen idolatry of the Greeks. His efforts had met with little success. As he reviewed his experience at Athens, he decided to adopt a different method of preaching in Corinth. He planned to avoid learned discussions and detailed arguments and instead, to present the simple story of Jesus and His atoning death.” Ibid.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling.
Paul knew that he had many enemies in Corinth. Some of the Christians did not consider him a “real apostle” like Peter was. Paul was not one of the original 12, so had not walked and talked with Jesus. The Christians may even have doubted Paul’s extraordinary story of seeing Jesus in a vision on the Road to Damascus.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with persuasive words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Paul purposely chose to refrain from using the oratorical methods of the Greeks in their philosophical discussions. He realized that he may have been criticized for not sounding erudite. The “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” referred to the many in Corinth whose heart had been changed by Jesus Christ – something that no human being can do for another.
5 That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
That message is just as important to convey to Christians today as it was in Paul’s time. Christians “think” they have faith in God – but their faith is in the wisdom of men (doctors, pastors, psychologists, etc.). They believe that God “works through” these experts.
It is not by the will or efforts of man that anyone is led to surrender himself to the Lord, but by the convicting power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are mature: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this age, that come to nothing:
This introduces the second section of the argument in chapter 2, in which Paul shows that it is only those who are “mature in Christ,” those who have rejected the wisdom of the world, and have chosen only the true wisdom of God and have surrendered everything to Jesus Christ, that are able to understand and appreciate the gospel.
Paul had not approached the Corinthians with philosophy – the wisdom of man – but, instead, he had brought them a treasure of true wisdom from Jesus Christ.
“Come to nothing.” Worldly-wise great men, with all their learning and achievement, are constantly being proved unreliable in the realm of spiritual truth. In the light of the wisdom taught by Christ, they are found to be ignorant and powerless.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God predetermined before the ages unto our glory:
God predetermine the plan of salvation before He created the “ages” – the periods of time of human history. The wisdom of God certainly is “hidden” from those who do not have at least some of the character of Jesus manifested in their life. That’s why so many Christians do not understand the true plan of salvation – which is Universal Restoration. Jesus Christ IS going to restore to Him every person He has ever created.
“Behold the lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the sin Of The WORLD.” John 1:29
“For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only Son; that whosoever Believeth in Him should NOT be lost, but have eonian life.” John 3:16
“God is the Savior of ALL mankind: especially of those who Believe” (those who believe without seeing, meaning those who have faith). 1 Tim 4:10
8 Which none of the rulers of this age knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
“None. . . knew.” Because of their false interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Israelites, including their leaders – the Pharisees – did not recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Deliverer. Their traditional belief that the Messiah would come as an earthly ruler to make Israel the dominant nation in the world led them to reject the Savior.
Similarly erroneous beliefs and traditions today blind the eyes of men to the truth of the second advent of Christ. The evangelical Christians, as a perfect illustration, believe that Jesus will return to rule on this earth from literal Jerusalem, co-reigning with the literal present-day Jews as His “chosen people.”
This is a clearly erroneous interpretation of the Bible that many churches either have already, or will, accept as doctrine.
History is clearly repeating itself. If these Christians studied their Bible they would realize that the Israelites were wrong 2,000 years ago, and those who believe this same false doctrine are wrong today. 2,000 years ago, the Israelites and their leaders, the Pharisees, called for the crucifixion of Christ. Soon, the present-day Christian dispensationalists with their allies, the present-day Jews, will again “crucify Christ” by calling for the execution of the true followers of Jesus Christ.
“Lord of glory.” Christ is here described as the “Lord of glory” in sharp contrast with the ignominy of the cross.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.
It is impossible to understand the truths of God with one’s five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling. In order to understand God’s Word, one must have spiritual discernment that is only present when a person has at least some of the character of Jesus Christ manifested in him.
Knowledge, the collection of facts, is gained through the five senses, but it requires wisdom to reach the right conclusion in interpreting the Word of God. And wisdom ONLY comes from God.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, without reproach, and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
10 But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Understanding of the things that God has planned – the “deep things of God - are revealed to those who have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ – those who demonstrate the character and disposition of Jesus Christ.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
The unspiritual man understands the wisdom of man, but the things of God can only be known by those with spiritual wisdom – the wisdom of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The “spirit of the world” is opposed to the Spirit of God. Its possessors find no pleasure in heavenly things, but concentrate on the temporary things of this life. In fact, those who have the “spirit of the world” look on spirituality in Jesus Christ as not only unsophisticated, but downright stupid! They view those who believe in Jesus Christ as ridiculously uneducated and in need of a “crutch.”
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Man’s wisdom – silly philosophy – teaches a man nothing but “doubt.” In philosophy, everything is to be doubted, so to man, there is no real truth. Everyone can make up his own rules for life.
But the wisdom that comes from the spirit (breath) of God is taught in spiritual terms, terms and concepts that the unspiritual man cannot understand.
God – in His genius - has written the Bible in such a way that the unspiritual man will read it in a literal fashion, with no spiritual discernment, and it will appear to be foolishness, as well as contradictory to itself.
Only when one is filled with the spirit of Jesus Christ will he be able to understand spiritual things.
14 But the natural (soulish) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know (understand)_ them, because they (spiritual things) are spiritually discerned (understood).
The unspiritual man, the man who only understands with his five senses (the definition of “soulish”), cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. They appear to be nothing but foolishness to him because spiritual things are only understood when one has the true spirit of God living in him.
The “soulish” man, the man with an unregenerate heart, can only understand human philosophy, not the spiritual things of God.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth (literal = discerned) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
The spiritual man examines and carefully judges matters that come to his attention, as he is guided by God’s spirit, thus he can draw the proper conclusions.
Yet, those with an unregenerate heart, may attempt to “judge” the spiritual individual, but are unable to do so. The worldly-minded “natural” man cannot understand the joys and expectations of the spiritual man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
No unregenerate man can understand the divine operations of the Lord; hence he is not in a position to teach the spiritual man who has Christ living in his heart and mind, the one who has the “mind of Christ.”