"Christ and Him Crucified" A New Episode of the Blessed Hope Podcast (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
Episode Synopsis:
The cross of Jesus Christ is utter foolishness to those who are perishing in their sins. Yet, Paul tells the Corinthians that through message of the cross God reveals his wisdom and power. In the closing section of the first chapter of his first Corinthian letter, Paul explains how and why the preaching of Christ crucified confounds all those who seek mere human wisdom from sages, holy men, philosophers, prophets, and gurus across the ages, all of whom claim to be seeking after wisdom, but in reality are looking in all the wrong places.
The cross might be a shameful thing and a scandal in the minds of those Greco-Romans who think themselves to be wise, but it is here where we see how God rescues the weak and lowly to shame the wise–those who do not think it necessary to be redeemed from the guilt and power of sin. Paul’s audience in Corinth (Jews who seek after signs and Greeks who seek after wisdom) cannot grasp how the wisdom of God is revealed in a crucified Savior. For Jews, the cross is a stumbling block. For Greeks it is only so much foolishness. Both see the cross as the ultimate sign of weakness, humiliation, and shame. A crucified savior is a contradiction. Why would anyone embrace a dead and humiliated savior?
Yet, as Paul points out, the preaching of the cross turns the tables on those who think themselves to be wise. Through the proclamation of Jesus Christ and him crucified God saves his people from the guilt and power of sin, he calls the weak and lowly to faith in Jesus, he reveals true wisdom, and he shames the self-professed wise and powerful exposing them to be the fools.
The gospel of Jesus Christ confounds all those who see no need of a savior. It did so in the Greco-Roman world, just as it does in our own. But to those who have been called to faith in Jesus through this message of shame and scandal, “Christ Jesus, became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Show Notes:
This episode came in at a bit over an hour. Airplane noise, neighbor’s dog barking, neighbor’s gardener, neighbor’s motorcycle were all caught during the recording. But I think I’ve successfully removed it all.
Episode Links:
Attacking a Straw Man: N. T. Wright and the death of Jesus
A Review of “The Day the Revolution Began” (from RTS)
A look at the Greco-Roman world
J. I. Packer: God Only Wise
Series Bibliography:
Kim Riddlebarger, First Corinthians --Lectio Continua (RHB, 2024).
F. F. Bruce, Paul: The Apostle of the Heart Set Free. A bit dated but still remains the best biographical study of Paul
Douglas J. Moo, A Theology of Paul and His Letters (2021). A helpful big picture survey of Paul’s theology and epistles.
Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians : An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (2018). A good and modern commentary on 1 Corinthians. If you buy one commentary, this ought to be it.
Charles Hodge, I & II Corinthians, reprint ed (Banner, or the volume on 1 Corinthians published by Crossway. This has long been the Reformed standard commentary on 1 Corinthians. Theologically solid, but badly dated.
Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT (1987). Good material, especially on background and context, but charismatic in its orientation.
Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, (2010). A good academic commentary, although there are several solid ones from which to choose.
Music:
(Shutterstock): Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op 92m, second movement, Allegretto (A minor)