Unlocking the Scriptures 1 Corinthians 1-18-31

BIBL 360 Name: Amy A. Taylor U NLOCKING THE S CRIPTURES P ROJECT 1. Chapter Four Questions A. I have read the book of 1 Corinthians in one sitting. Highlight the correct answer: o Yes o No B. I have read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 in both a formal/word-for-word translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB) and a functional translation/thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT, or NCV). You will find a copy of these translations in your provided digital library or at BibleGateway.com. o Yes o No C. After reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 these three times, note your initial observations of this passage in the chart below. Verse(s) Observations 18 The Message of the cross is the focus of the passage. 19 & 31 Paul quotes the Old Testament Scriptures of Isaiah 29:14, Jeremiah 9:24 20 Paul asks where are the wise, the teachers of the law and the philosophers. 21 God can’t be known through the wisdom of man. God uses His message preached by ordinary people to reach people and bring them to Him. 22-25 Those who are wise according to man will not accept the Message of the Cross because their focus is on other things of importance to them. 23 The crucifixion of Christ must be preached. 26 God calls and uses ordinary people. 27 & 28 God chose! 29 & 30 Jesus Christ our Wisdom- our righteousness, holiness (sanctification) and redemption. 31 Boast about who and what Jesus Christ did for mankind.

BIBL 360 With your Bible open, reread 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and note fifteen additional observations from this passage. Verse(s) Observations 18 The Message of the Cross is foolish to people who don’t believe it, but for those who do, it is the Power of God. 20 God used Paul’s preaching to save those would believe the Message of the Cross. God made it so the world wouldn’t know Him through human wisdom. 22 Jews kept looking for the Messiah through miracles from Heaven. Greeks were so involved in their philosophy and intelligence; the Message of the cross didn’t make sense to either the Jews or the Greeks. 23 Jews and Greeks were offended by the thought of the Messiah being crucified and dying on the cross. 24 Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God to those who believe. 25 God’s plan is wiser than any human plan! God’s weakness is stronger than any human strength. 26 God called me! 27-28 God uses the ordinary to bring the Message of the Cross to the world. 29 Since God uses ordinary people, who are counted as nothing to the Powerful, no one can boast about what they have accomplished in the presence of God. 30 God has united us with Jesus. Jesus is Wisdom. Jesus makes us right with God. He made us pure, holy, and freed us from sin. 31 We should boast about what God has done and the Power of God and the Message of the Cross. 19,31 Paul quotes Old Testament Scripture of Isaiah 29:4 and Jeremiah 9:24. 30, 31 Honor comes from God and not from one’s own accomplishments. So, one should boast in the work of God and not on their own accomplishments. 26 The church was made up of mostly the ordinary. They lacked wisdom and influence. 25 Christ was crucified was God’s foolish plan.

BIBL 360 2. Chapter Five Questions A. Using the examples provided in the textbook and in the additional information folder as well as the provided student example construct a structural outline of 1 Corinthians 1:18- 31. The principles of structure should influence how you build this structural outline. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (CAUSE TO EFFECT) 20 Where is the one who is wise ? Where is the scribe ? Where is the debater of this age ? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (QUESTION POSED) 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom , 23 but we preach Christ crucified , a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles , 24 but to those who are called , both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God . (EFFECT TO CAUSE) 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (QUESTION ANSWERED) 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful , not many were of noble birth . 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (REPETITION) 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus , who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (CLIMAX)

BIBL 360 B. List and explain the principles of structure (comparison, contrast, repetition, illustration, question posed, question answered, etc.) that you have observed in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. These principles of structure should be reflected in the structural outline from the previous question. Verse(s) Principle of Structure Cause to effect Paul starts in vs 18 with starting with the cause of the Message of the cross Question Posed Vs 20, Paul asks the questions: where is the wise, the teacher of law, the philosophers of this age? Effect to Cause In vs 20-23, explains the foolishness of those who are wise and philosophical and intelligent missing the message of the Cross because they are too busy demanding signs or looking elsewhere. Question Answered In Vs 25- Paul answer the question that regardless of where the people listed in verse 20 are, Jesus Christ is the power of God and the Wisdom of God. God is wise and stronger than any human being. Climax Whom God chose and through the preaching of ordinary people, Christ Jesus is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We are made free of sin in Him, and we are united in Him. Repetition Vs 27 & 28- God chose. Repetition Vs 23,24,27 BUT God

BIBL 360 - Corinth Church - Had several problems: - Leadership, division in the church 4 - Immoral practices 5 - Flaunted spiritual gifts 6 - Legalistic group concerned about dietary laws 7 - Abusing the Lord’s supper 8 - False teachings 9 - Made up of Greeks, Romans, Jew and other pagan religions 10 - Social class of rich, poor and slaves 11 B. What? (Key truths or Events) -To give constructive and admonition that would lead to the solving of many problems in the congregation. 12 -Christ crucified: a “stumbling block” to the world is its wisdom; yet the power and wisdom of God. 13 -The Corinth church were infants in Christ- not understanding what true wisdom was. 14 - There is also proud human wisdom that spurns divine wisdom and leads only to destruction. 15 - New Testament wisdom is its identification of Jesus Christ as God’s wisdom. 16 - Christ is our sanctification through justification. 17 4 Dockery, David S., “The Pauline Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary , ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 552. 5 IBID., 552. 6 IBID., 552. 7 IBID., 552. 8 IBID., 552. 9 IBID., 553. 10 IBID.,553. 11 IBID., 553. 12 R. E. Glaze, R.E., “Corinthians, First Letter to The,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 346. 13 IBID., 347. 14 David S., “The Pauline Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary , ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 554. 15 Kantzer, Kenneth S., “Wisdom,” ed. Daniel J. Treier and Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017), 940. 16 IBID., 940. 17 White, Reginald E.O., “Sanctification,” ed. Daniel J. Treier and Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017), 771.

BIBL 360 C. Where? (Geography and Location) Corinth- Chief commercial cities of the Roman Empire. 18 - 2 Ports- Cenchrea (Aegean Sea) and Lechaeum (Adriatic Sea) 19 - Called the Bridge of the Seas. 20 - Destroyed inn 146 BC by Roman General Mummius. 21 - Rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 BC. 22 - Located on the Southwest end of the Isthmus, part of the Greek Peninsula. 23 - Corinth had a reputation for pleasure and vice, especially in the area of sexuality. “To Corinthianize” was a term coined by Aristophanes to refer to the practice of immorality, and the term “Corinthian girl” was slang for “prostitute.” A report even circulated that the temple of Aphrodite in Corinth housed around 1,000 prostitutes for use in worship. 24 - Church members included: Jews, Greeks, people from other pagan religions, rich, poor and slaves. 25 D. When? (Time factors) - The letter was written around AD 55 near the end of Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus. 26 18 Dockery, David S., “The Pauline Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary , ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 552. 19 IBID., 552. 20 IBID,. 552. 21 IBID., 552. 22 IBID 552. 23 Glaze. R.E., “Corinth,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 342. 24 Percer, Leo, “1 Corinthians,” in Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2022), 134–135 . 25 IBID., 134-135. 26 Dockery, David S., “The Pauline Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary , ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 552.