Tuesday in the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

God’s Wisdom: Not a Wisdom of This Age

Up to this point Paul has been speaking of human or worldly wisdom, a wisdom which these Corinthian Christians had foolishly thought they should pursue.  Paul is now going to introduce them to God’s wisdom, the very wisdom which they as believers should have appropriated and cultivated.  Be forewarned that Paul is not discussing a higher wisdom or “second blessing” which some believers receive over and above other believers; that is exactly the worldly concept of wisdom he has been opposing since the beginning of the letter, a secret wisdom only known to a select few.

But Paul indeed goes on to speak of a “secret and hidden wisdom of God.”  And what is this secret and hidden wisdom, this mystery now revealed?  None other than that of which he has already spoken: Jesus Christ and him crucified.  It is this event that has defeated the rulers of this age both seen and unseen, for if they had understood what they were doing when they marched Jesus up that hill, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”  But crucify him, they did.  And the result now is that God is saving a people and giving them a new mind and a new heart through the Holy Spirit given to them.  The problem of the Corinthians is that they don’t seem to think that the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit is enough; they want something more, like knowledge or wisdom, so called.  They don’t seem to realize that in receiving the Spirit of God, they have indeed received all things (3:21).  And so have we.

And so now with the Spirit dwelling within, the believer has an anointing that the unbeliever does not have, which does provide him with an ability to discern and understand the things of God provided for us richly in Christ Jesus.  It is not something magical, though it is otherworldly. Put simply, it is the ability to understand the things of God and then the things of this world as God would have us.  And how is that?  Through the light of Scripture as the Holy Spirit enlightens our minds to understand God’s word.  By doing this, we order matters in our lives differently from the world, we value the things that God values, we gladly part with worldly things while cherishing godly things.  And the world does not understand this, because the world does not have the Spirit, and never shall.  So the Christian way of viewing and doing things makes no sense to it and even threatens it.  And so in many nations of the world, the Bible is banned and Christianity persecuted.  But we know that we have been handed over to another world while this world passes away, “which God decreed before the ages for our glory.”

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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