Up to verse 18 of the third chapter of 1 Corinthians,
Paul has laid a foundation, for the first time, Paul calls
upon his readers to do something, to change something. The
key word is the word “Let” (3:18, 21; 4:1). Paul challenges
his readers to stop deceiving themselves and cease boasting
in men. Verses 18-23 are a call to repentance. Although Paul
does not use the word “repent” is these verses, the concept
of repentance is very clear. To repent is to turn around or
to change one’s mind. Paul calls for the Corinthians to
change their thinking and their actions regarding wisdom and
regarding their leaders. The errors so prevalent in the
Corinthian church are just as evident in the twenty-first
century church.
The Corinthians were arrogant, conceited, and took great
pride in their wisdom. Paul describes the Corinthians as
self-deceived. To keep on thinking and behaving in the way
they are proves the Corinthians were unwise, they were
downright foolish, at least in the sight of God. The one who
“thinks himself wise in this age” is proud and takes pride
in the wisdom of this age, rather than in the wisdom of God.
To become truly wise, wise as God views wisdom, wise in
those divine and eternal matters that God reveals through
His Word and His Spirit, we must forsake worldly wisdom and
embrace what the world regards as folly. In simple terms, we
must become foolish by embracing the simplistic and
“foolish” truths of the gospel.
The Corinthians had been saved by believing the gospel
message proclaimed by Paul, the message that Jesus Christ
died on the cross of Calvary for our sins, and was buried
and then raised from the dead, ascending into heaven and
being seated at the right hand of God. They had been saved
by the preaching of Christ crucified when Paul came in
weakness, fear, and much trembling, proclaiming the truths
of the gospel in a straightforward fashion. Since Paul’s
departure, some saints have begun to look down upon Paul,
his message, and his methods. They are being tempted to
follow others whose message has a worldly appeal, messengers
whose style is eloquent and impressive.
Paul now calls upon the Corinthians to repent, to change
their minds, and to turn around. Once again, as after their
salvation, they are to regard the world’s wisdom as folly,
and God’s folly, the gospel, the preaching of Christ
crucified, as true wisdom. They must admit their folly and
turn back to the gospel as first proclaimed by Paul, and
later confirmed and corroborated by Apollos and others.
In the Gospels, the scribes and Pharisees deemed themselves
to be “wise” in the interpretation of the Old Testament. In
their “wisdom,” the scribes and Pharisees planned the
crucifixion of Jesus. The crucifixion of Christ resulted in
the guilt and condemnation of these leaders, unless of
course they repented and acknowledged Jesus as their
Messiah.
Paul has shown us why the pursuit of worldly wisdom is
foolish. Worldly wisdom is merely temporal; it will not
last. Man’s reasoning is useless as far as eternity is
concerned. However, man’s reasoning is not just useless;
they are destructive. They not only lead us astray, but
actually become the means of tripping us up, of causing us
to stumble. It is no wonder that we should forsake worldly
wisdom, and pursue the wisdom of God that comes through the
Word and the Spirit.
